Where Land Stewardship Meets Stockmanship in Kansas
- 17 minutes ago
- 3 min read
It was a beautiful day for learning and connection on the land. Keith and I were honored to host a Holistic Management International workshop with guest speaker Dawn Hnatow from Cattle Up Stockmanship. The workshop, Stewardship and Stockmanship, explored how communication, timing, and feel can transform both livestock behavior and human relationships on the ranch.
We began the day inside, focusing on the Holistic Management Framework—the foundation for how we think, plan, and make decisions. I shared how the framework guides our work on the land and how its core principles—clarity of purpose, awareness of the whole, and testing decisions for social, ecological, and economic soundness—connect directly to effective stockmanship. Holistic Management shapes how we think. Stockmanship is how that thinking shows up in action.
Before lunch, Dawn shared her deep experience in effective stockmanship, helping participants understand how animals respond to pressure and release, and how our timing, position, and mindset influence their movement. Her examples and insights created a strong bridge between principles and practices, showing how our decisions, presence, and awareness affect not just livestock but also people and land.
After lunch, we moved outside, where Keith shared more about how and why we do what we do on our land—how grazing planning, animal impact, and recovery periods are rooted in observation, timing, and adaptability. His perspective grounded the discussion in real-world application, showing how intentional management translates into daily practice and tangible results on the land.
From there, we dove into practicing what Dawn had shared earlier in the day, connecting her lessons on timing, feel, and communication with the Holistic Management principles we discussed that morning.
When we bring those two together—thinking with intention and acting with awareness—we create the conditions for healthier ecosystems, more resilient enterprises, and stronger working relationships.
Where Ecology, Economy, and Community Intersect
Holistic Management helps us see the connections between the ecological, economic, and social aspects of what we manage. Stockmanship is where those connections become tangible.
When we handle livestock with awareness and intention, we’re influencing more than just animal behavior. We’re improving the land through better grazing patterns and recovery. We’re enhancing enterprise success by reducing stress, improving weight gains, and fostering efficiency. And we’re strengthening the social fabric of our teams and communities through calm communication and respect—with each other and with the animals we steward.
The outcomes we seek in Holistic Management are all interconnected, and effective stockmanship offers one of the most visible and practical ways to see that relationship play out in real time.
Building Community and Confidence
This workshop wasn’t just about learning techniques; it was about building community. Ranchers and educators came together to share stories, ask questions, and reflect on how we can each apply these principles at home.
There’s something special about standing shoulder to shoulder with people who share the same challenges and the same hopes for the future—healthy land, thriving livestock, and meaningful work.
At the end of the day, it was clear that we all walked away with something more than new skills. We left with a deeper appreciation for how the way we handle—animals, land, and people—shapes the results we get.
Reflection
As educators and practitioners, we often focus on teaching systems and processes. But at its core, this work is about connection—between people, animals, and landscapes.
When Holistic Management and effective stockmanship work together, we create operations that are not just productive, but truly regenerative—rooted in clarity, confidence, and communication.
It was a great day to build community and learn together. I’m grateful for the sunshine, the company, and the shared commitment to stewarding animals with skill, respect, and purpose.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to the Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition for supporting this event, the Tallgrass Legacy Alliance for sponsoring tuition for three students, and Jane Koger of Homestead Ranch for providing lunch. Your generosity helped make the Stewardship and Stockmanship workshop a success and supported meaningful learning on the land.
About the Author
Linda Pechin-Long is a Certified Educator with Holistic Management International and a lifelong advocate for people, land, and profit working in harmony. Alongside her husband, Keith Long, she manages a diversified livestock operation in the Kansas Flint Hills and facilitates workshops and coaching sessions that help farmers and ranchers make values-based, regenerative decisions. She helps farmers and ranchers strengthen clarity, confidence, and communication in their decision-making—creating operations that are regenerative, resilient, and profitable.
