For Immediate Release
December 11, 2024
Colorado State Land Board Announces 2024 Lessee and Partner Award Winners
DENVER, CO — On Dec. 11, 2024, the Colorado State Land Board proudly celebrated the 2024 winners of its annual lessee and partnership awards. These awards recognize outstanding stewardship, innovative management, and meaningful contributions to Colorado’s state trust land. This year’s recipients have demonstrated exceptional commitment to land conservation and sustainable resource management.
Lessee of the Year Award: Mike & Danna Camblin
This premier award is granted to an outstanding State Land Board lessee who demonstrates:
- Superior stewardship practices,
- Cooperation with agency staff and other State Land Board lessees, and an
- Ability to generate significant revenue for the agency's beneficiaries.
Mike and Danna Camblin have revitalized much of their 100,000-acre ranch operation in central Moffat County, which includes 2,655 acres of state trust land, 6,000 acres of deeded land, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) State Wildlife Area, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land. The Camblins are pioneering the use of adaptive grazing management techniques, including virtual fence (Vence) technology and grassland carbon management. The family’s lease on the land has spanned at least 84 years, underscoring their deep connection to the property.
Mike’s leadership extends beyond his ranching operation. He serves on several water-related boards, including the Yampa-White-Green Basin Roundtable, and was instrumental in the Maybell Ditch Improvement Project. This collaborative irrigation diversion initiative benefits agriculture in Moffat County, enhances conditions for Upper Colorado River endangered fish, and improves boater safety on the Yampa River. Mike brought together a diverse group of stakeholders—Moffat County ranchers, The Nature Conservancy, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service—to complete this complex project.
Outstanding Partner Award: Josh Tashiro
The Outstanding Partner of the Year award is presented to an outstanding partner to recognize that their collaboration with staff and/or our lessees has helped the State Land Board more successfully fulfill its mission.
Josh Tashiro, the State Resource Inventory Coordinator for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), has been an invaluable partner to the Land Board and its lessees. Josh has worked closely with lessees across the state to develop and implement grazing plans that improve the health of state trust lands. His expertise and dedication have made a lasting impact on Colorado’s agricultural and natural resources.
Bloom Stewardship Award: Mike & Julie Livingston
The agency created the Bloom Stewardship Award seven years ago to specially honor our lessees who go above and beyond to take care of the land they lease from us. The award is named after Former Commissioner Mike Bloom who was a champion of our agency’s stewardship mission.
Mike and Julie Livingston have transformed their ranch into a model of adaptive grazing management through hard work and exceptional stewardship. Their operation, which produces purebred livestock in a challenging sandy environment, showcases a thriving range that supports both livestock and wildlife.
The Livingstons manage eight sections of State Land Board trust lands, dividing them into about 35 paddocks and rotating cattle every four to five days. Their careful management has resulted in well-maintained land and healthy livestock. Mike also serves on the State Land Board’s grazing rates roundtable, contributing his insights and expertise to support sustainable grazing practices.
Legacy Lessee: Steven Payne
Steven Payne’s dedication to fostering the next generation of ranchers is a testament to his legacy. Rather than assigning his lease to a family member or an experienced rancher, Steven entrusted his lease to a dependable neighbor with a dream of becoming a livestock producer. This selfless decision reflects his commitment to supporting the future of agriculture and sustainable land management.
The Colorado State Land Board extends its heartfelt congratulations to all the award recipients. Their exemplary stewardship and leadership set a standard for all who work on Colorado’s state trust lands.
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About the Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners: The Colorado State Land Board is a constitutionally created agency that manages a $4.4 billion endowment of assets for the intergenerational benefit of Colorado’s K-12 schoolchildren and public institutions. The agency is the second-largest landowner in Colorado and generates revenue on behalf of beneficiaries by leasing nearly three million surface acres and four million subsurface acres for agriculture, grazing, recreation, commercial real estate, rights-of-way, renewable energy, oil, gas, and solid minerals. The agency is entirely self-funded and receives no tax dollars.
View more information about the Colorado State Land Board and its annual lessee awards, here.
Media Contact: Emily Barbo
Outreach & Communications Manager, State Land Board
Phone: 720-854-3330
Email: emily.barbo@state.co.us