Uplifting BIPOC Youth in Conservation Science, Regenerative Farming and Ranching

Ten teenagers circled around a picnic table, their eyes focused on a cloth sack softly wriggling in Zach Hutchinson’s hands. Slowly opening the bag, he pulled out a Black-capped Chickadee and carefully placed it between his fingers and palm in a “banders grip.” Eyes wide, one student exclaimed, “There’s a bird in there?!”  

Earlier that morning, Hutchinson, a community science coordinator for Audubon Rockies, caught the chickadee in a mist net at Majestic View, a farm run by food justice and advocacy organization FrontLine Farming. The group of teenagers, part of FrontLine Farming’s Black Teen Cultivators program, watched eagerly as Hutchinson gently clamped a metal bracelet around the bird’s leg. He explained that the lightweight band causes no harm to the bird and contains a unique code that allows researchers to identify the individual.  

After finishing the banding and data collection, the group moved over to an open area of the garden. Hutchinson gently placed the bird in one of the teen’s open palms. The bird paused for a moment, then lifted off, floating up to the surrounding trees.  

Ask any of the teenagers, and they will tell you that bird banding was a highlight of the National Audubon Society’s event held last month in partnership with FrontLine Farming. In addition to learning field science techniques, the group of teenagers discussed the importance of grassland conservation for birds and working lands, and the interconnectedness of our food systems. Held over two days at a FrontLine Farming plot and an Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly ranch, the event exemplified the growing partnership between FrontLine Farming and Audubon, centered on supporting and educating a growing community of food equity practitioners and advocates. 

“Events like this are crucial for inspiring the next generation of agriculturalists and conservationists and offering the idea that the two not only can co-exist, but are interdependent,” said Louisa Kimmell, range ecologist for the Audubon Conservation Ranching program in Colorado.  

Formed in 2018, FrontLine Farming works to elevate the agricultural interests of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and young or beginning farmers and ranchers. The Denver-based organization offers student programs centered on food sovereignty and production, including the Black Teen Cultivators, which is focused on sustainable agricultural and community leadership.  

“Partnering with Audubon gave our Black Teen Cultivators an opportunity to see the connection between farming, ecology, and conservation in a hands-on way,” said Kourtnie Burse, FrontLine Farming’s education manager. “Over the two days, our youth not only learned about birds and their role in healthy ecosystems, but they also deepened their understanding that caring for the land means protecting all of the life it supports. Partnerships like this help expand our youth’s vision of what environmental stewardship can look like and inspire them to see themselves as future leaders in agriculture and conservation.” 

Jacelyn Downey, Shelby Foery, and Hutchinson from Audubon Rockies’ Community Naturalist team led the first day at Majestic View Farm in Arvada. They covered a range of conservation topics, from best practices for handing birds to climate change’s impact on wildlife and our food systems. FrontLine Farming’s staff served an organic lunch, almost entirely sourced from their gardens and No Cost Grocery program.  

On day two, Lance Wheeler taught students about regenerative ranching at his working cattle ranch in Simla. As Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly Land, Rafter W Ranch follows strict protocols for habitat management, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability. Audubon Conservation Ranching team members Dusty Downey, Chris Wilson, William Walker VI, and Kimmell explained the benefits of bird-friendly grazing practices for wildlife and people, such as providing habitat, improving water quality, storing carbon, and sustaining resilient ranching operations.  

On a pasture walk, Wheeler taught the Black Teen Cultivators about the nature-based principles of ranching. The group spotted grassland birds scattered across the ranch’s pastures and riparian area, including Horned Larks, Lark Sparrows, Lark Buntings, and Western and Eastern Kingbirds. The day concluded with a community barbecue with burgers from Rafter W and greens supplied by FrontLine Farming.  

“As part of the community building team, sharing in the wonder of birds with the Black Teen Cultivators will be a lasting memory,” Hutchinson said. “The passion for community-driven food sovereignty already kindled in these future leaders provided the foundation to have open conversations and experiential learning about the intersection of conservation and sustainable food production. Our time banding birds on an active farm and watching prairie birds moving in family units on the Rafter W Ranch will hopefully ensure the idea that conservation is accessible to all.” 

Building on this success, Audubon looks forward to partnering with FrontLine Farming on future educational events and programming that continues the conversation about the connections between food production and grassland conservation, from supporting birds to creating resiliency on working landscapes. 

“We are honored to get to work with organizations like FrontLine Farming, who run incredible programs that immerse youth in regenerative agriculture and nature, and who are open to incorporating new ideas into their programming, such as Audubon’s work surrounding bird conservation and ranching,” Kimmell said. “I left this event feeling hopeful and confident in the future leaders of regenerative agriculture and conservation and excited to continue to work with FrontLine Farming in the future!” 

To learn more about Audubon’s Community Naturalist Program in the Rockies, please contact Zach Hutchinson at [email protected]. For more information about Audubon Conservation Ranching in Colorado, please reach out to Louisa Kimmell at [email protected]. For national program information, contact [email protected].  

About Audubon Conservation Ranching  

Audubon Conservation Ranching partners with ranchers to sustain healthy grasslands, abundant birdlife, and resilient rural communities. Through our bird-friendly land certification and science-based approach, we empower land stewards to enhance habitat, improve soil health and water quality, and strengthen the connection between conservation and ranching. By purchasing products from Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly Land, consumers become conservationists, helping protect America’s grasslands and the birds, wildlife, and people that depend on them. For more information, visit www.audubon.org/ranching.