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Jan 14

Meet our newest Land Trust team member, Lisa Simmo

Meet our newest Land Trust team member, Lisa Simmons:
I majored in Anthropology and Art History at the University of Kansas (KU) where I also graduated with a Masters Degree in Museum Studies in 2003. After graduating from KU, I went on to work with non-Western art collections at the Denver Art Museum, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the Baltimore Museum of Art. Most recently, I held positions as an educator, community outreach coordinator, and curator at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyoming. The common thread for all of these positions was working to study and interpret artistic representations of wildlife from around the world. I’ve always been fascinated with ways in which human values and beliefs shape our understanding of wildlife and wild places.

I also worked as a Park Ranger at Arches and Grand Teton National Parks, interpreting natural, historic, and cultural park resources for hundreds of visitors from around the world. During this time in my life, I often wished I could more actively participate in the conservation of the landscape that I helped to educate others about. In my new role as Development Associate for the Land Trust, this dream is now a reality!

Tell us about your family:
My immediate family currently lives in central Delaware, a great place to observe large-scale bird migrations along the Atlantic Flyway. I met my husband Riley in Moab, Utah. We moved to the Tetons together about six years ago. Our son Alder completed our family in 2017 along with our sibling kitties, Shipwreck and Kraken. We are happy to have made our home in Teton Valley.

What are your hobbies/what do you do for fun?
I have practiced yoga for almost twenty years now. Last year, I became a beekeeper, a hobby that I dearly love. I also love looking for ancient marine fossils on mountain peaks. When I lived in Moab, my favorite hobby, which quickly became a passion, was looking for petroglyphs. I’m also an avid hiker. My husband is a rock climbing guide so I picked up that sport about six years ago. I also love river sports, playing the violin, skiing, and looking for Yeti with my four-year-old son.

Thanks Lisa!

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Jan 13

This year, we are proud to offer not just one but

This year, we are proud to offer not just one but two $1,000 scholarships to graduating high school seniors in our region who plan to pursue studies in an environmental or agricultural field. The scholarship is in honor of Michael B. Whitfield who helped to found our organization in 1990 and served as the Executive Director for 18 years. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 4th. Go to our website (link in bio) to check out the information and application.

Last year's scholarship recipient, Gavin Nelson, Rigby High School graduate.

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Jan 6

Thank you so much to Susan Rose’s family for the

Thank you so much to Susan Rose’s family for the very meaningful gift of this beautiful work of art!

Her niece Lisa wrote “To the Teton Regional Land Trust - thank you for the work that you do and for being a space for Susan to share her two passions: art and nature. We hope that this painting is hung as a reminder of her beautiful spirit.”

We are honored♥️

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Jan 4

The staff and board of Teton Regional Land Trust a

The staff and board of Teton Regional Land Trust are very grateful for our amazing Land Trust family♥️

Thank you so much for helping us make our 2021 fundraising goal - a great way to end the year!

We look forward to seeing you all in 2022.

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Dec 31

We sincerely want to thank you for all of your lov

We sincerely want to thank you for all of your love and support this year!

Thanks so much to all of our members, landowners, partners, grantors, volunteers, and event sponsors and supporters who made this year such a great success.

Cheers to you all!

There is still time to be a part of this year's success, you can donate by midnight on Friday, December 31 on our website (link in bio) or mail a check dated December 2021 to help us meet our 2021 fundraising goal.

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Dec 30

Just days before Christmas, 34-acres of wetlands a

Just days before Christmas, 34-acres of wetlands along Paradise Creek near Victor were permanently protected by local landowners. Though the land is relatively small in size, protection of this ground contributes to the complex of nearly 3,000 acres of conserved land in the neighborhood, benefiting sensitive water birds including Trumpeter Swan, Sandhill Crane, and Long-billed Curlew, all considered “species of greatest conservation need” (SGCN) according to the State Wildlife Action Plan adopted by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game in 2017. Numerous other waterbird species utilize the property’s emergent wetlands, making this property a perfect fit for the Land Trust's Upper Snake River North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant, geared at conserving wetlands in the Upper Snake River watershed.

Let's raise a glass to more land conserved in Teton Valley!

You can help us continue this important conservation work, by becoming a member or giving a year-end gift. There is still time to be a part of this year's success. Donate by midnight on Friday, December 31 through our website (link in bio) or mail a check dated December 2021 to help us meet our 2021 fundraising goal.

Thank you for all of your amazing support!

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Dec 29

A message from Jeske Gräve, Development Director

A message from Jeske Gräve, Development Director

As winter finally arrived in eastern Idaho last week, the Teton Regional Land Trust also just closed its fifth and final conservation easement of 2021, celebrating a proud milestone – protection of over 40,000 acres! These lands will forever provide open space, fish and wildlife habitat, and working lands for our farming and ranching heritage.

But as you know, the work is never done. This year we saw a record number of conserved properties change hands as well as an unprecedented interest from landowners to protect their land. With the large influx of new residents into our region, we know how crucial it is to protect as much land as we can before it is slated for development and/or other purposes. As a response to this, we have over 10 conservation projects in the works heading into 2022. While we look forward to moving these projects over the finish line, we know that this will not be possible without the support of our loyal members. With your gift, we are able to leverage state and federal grants and triple the impact of your gift!

Please keep us in mind for your year-end giving to help us reach our goal this year so that we can start 2022 stronger than ever. Your support not only makes an impact, but also shows that we are a part of a community that understands the need to conserve this area today, and for the future.

I want to thank you for your continued belief and support of our work and wish you a very Healthy and Happy New Year!

You can donate today through our website (link in bio), thank you for your support!

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Dec 28

A message from our new Land Steward, Katie Guetz:

A message from our new Land Steward, Katie Guetz:

It’s hard to believe it’s the end of 2021, and I’m finishing my 5th month working at Teton Regional Land Trust! Since I started my position in August, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the Land Trust staff and board, becoming more familiar with the conservation easement properties that we oversee, and interacting with landowners throughout our service region.

Looking forward, I am excited to gain an even deeper understanding of the landscapes, wildlife, and resources we have in our region, and to continue working with the Land Trust team to conserve and steward lands and waters in this critical ecosystem. I’m also looking forward to getting out in the field next season, and meeting our landowners in person!

I’m thankful to be working for Teton Regional Land Trust towards protecting these special places in perpetuity. Our landscapes in the west are changing rapidly, and without the generous contributions of members and donors, eastern Idaho would look much different than what we see today.

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Dec 24

Teton Regional Land Trust wishes you a warm and co

Teton Regional Land Trust wishes you a warm and cozy Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

With your support this year, we permanently protected working lands, fish and wildlife habitat, and scenic opens spaces.

Cheers to that!

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Dec 21

A message from Teton Regional Land Trust Board Mem

A message from Teton Regional Land Trust Board Member, Dave Work:

Dear Friends of Teton Regional Land Trust,
For the last 15 years or so I have been involved with the Teton Regional Land Trust, this is my last year on the board and it has been a remarkable year of growth for our development efforts as well as remarkable growth in the capability of our staff. The constant of all this is the unwavering support of our members and the community in protecting the great places in eastern Idaho. Even with a pandemic and virtual meetings, the staff has not missed a beat on delivering on our mission. We have closed four easements so far in 2021 and expect to close one more by year end. Our staff has grown and matured significantly under the leadership of Chris, Tamara, and Jeske. They and the rest of the staff have stepped up to meet every challenge, and there have been a number of them. Working closely with Jeske as Chair of the Development Committee, I have seen how hard the development team has worked to connect with our supporters and to get sponsors for our events. This is hard in the best of times, but working remotely with staff and donors has been a big challenge.

We hope that you, if you have not done so yet, will donate now, at the end of the year, to help us meet our year end goals. Look for our upcoming newsletter which shows you some of the impacts we have made this year and I’m very proud of all that has been accomplished. My wife, Susie, and I love the Teton Valley and this fall the wildlife viewing has been unbelievable. The hundreds of cranes have left, but we still have hundreds of swans and geese flying around our place every day. Their roosts are protected by easements and the public lands of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. As the valley population grows the challenges to the Land Trust increase. We must continue to support the Teton Regional Land Trust in their important work!

Thank you for your support!

You can donate directly through our website (link in bio)

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Dec 16

Are you still shopping for gifts? Is there someon

Are you still shopping for gifts?
Is there someone who has everything on your list?

We have a great idea for you - Teton Regional Land Trust gift memberships! You can give the gift of conservation and we will send your recipient a welcome packet and a set of our Land Trust coasters!

Just go to our website to purchase them (link in bio).

Happy Holidays 🎄

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Dec 14

Our Woods Creek Fen outdoor classroom was in need

Our Woods Creek Fen outdoor classroom was in need of repair after a storm damaged the signage kiosk as well as the picnic bench. This fall we were able to replace the signs with sturdy metal posts and will have the bench ready to go in the spring. Thanks to the Wray Landon Legacy Fund that generously helped pay for the repairs.

The Landon family and Teton Regional Land Trust would like to sincerely thank all of the fund's donors. Whether you donated money or bought an "Un-Wrun for Wray" raffle ticket this summer, it made a difference! It means so much to the Landon Family to continue Wray’s Legacy in such a positive way❤

To learn more about the Wray Landon Legacy Fund, go to our website: https://tetonlandtrust.org/support/memorial-gifts/

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Dec 9

Last week, we presented our Winter Ecology trunk t

Last week, we presented our Winter Ecology trunk to the 2nd/3rd grade Falcons at Mountain Academy of Teton Science Schools. They are studying the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and the students were thoughtful in their exploration of the trunk and had great questions and observations about wildlife adaptations to a Yellowstone winter!

They all knew about Grizzly Bear 399 and were excited to read about her and her cubs in the book by Sylvia M. Medina, with illustrations by Morgan Spicer and photographs by Thomas D. Mangelsen. A big thanks to Green Kids Club Inc. and Love the WILD Foundation for donating these books for our teacher's trunks!

If you are interested in reserving a teacher trunk for your classroom or home school, send an email to: hilary@tetonlandtrust.org

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Dec 7

Thank you for your generous donations on Giving Tu

Thank you for your generous donations on Giving Tuesday.
Because of you, we are able to make a big impact!

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Dec 2

Richard Grundler first came out to fish in Teton V

Richard Grundler first came out to fish in Teton Valley in 1961 and ever since then has been drawn to Teton Valley for its skiing and fishing. In 1999, he bought his current home in Victor and moved here permanently from Vermont in 2001. He has always been enamored by the beauty of open space and farmland in the valley and feels that presently, with the increasing development pressures, there is an urgency to ensure that the land is properly protected for future generations.

Richard inherited a home on Nantucket Island which he committed to donating to the Teton Regional Land Trust in 2014. This summer, his extremely generous donation came to fruition when he transferred full ownership to the Land Trust with the intent for TRLT to sell it. Once the property was sold, the proceeds of the sale established the Richard G. Grundler Teton Valley Conservation Fund to support conservation efforts in Teton Valley.

“I recognized Teton Valley as a last remaining location where nature still had a chance. I want to do as much as possible to assure that that happens. I have traveled the world and realized how fortunate we are. I feel privileged that I will be able to see what my involvement in the valley results in.” said Grundler.

Richard, thank you so much for all of your incredible support and this amazing legacy gift!

To read the full story, go to our website (link in bio).

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Nov 30

We celebrate Giving Tuesday TODAY! This day harn

We celebrate Giving Tuesday TODAY!

This day harnesses the power of generosity through our interconnectedness and is an opportunity for people around the world to come together in all its forms by sharing acts of kindness by giving their time, money, and goods to support communities and causes they care about. We hope you will think of the Teton Regional Land Trust on this day as no act of kindness is too small! Your generosity warms our hearts and encourages us to press on, even in the hardest of times. Your donations give us the much-needed resources to keep working tirelessly to protect more wildlife habitat, open space, and working lands in eastern Idaho. TOGETHER we can protect our magnificent place.

You can donate or purchase gift memberships through our website (link in bio) or by mailing a check to PO Box 247, Driggs, ID 83422.

Thank you so much for your support!

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Nov 29

"When we see land as a community to which we belon

"When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may see it with love and respect. – Perhaps such a shift of values can be achieved by reappraising things unnatural, tame, and confined in terms of things natural, wild, and free.” ~ Aldo Leopold

TOMORROW, November 30th, we celebrate Giving Tuesday. This day harnesses the power of generosity through our interconnectedness and is an opportunity for people around the world to come together in all its forms by sharing acts of kindness by giving their time, money, and goods to support communities and causes they care about. We hope you will think of the Teton Regional Land Trust on this day as no act of kindness is too small! Your generosity warms our hearts and encourages us to press on, even in the hardest of times. Your donations give us the much needed resources to keep working hard to protect more wildlife habitat, open space and working lands in eastern Idaho. TOGETHER we can protect our magnificent place.

You can donate or purchase gift memberships through our website (link in bio) or you can mail a check to: PO Box 247, Driggs, ID 83422

Thank you so much for your support 💚💚💚

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Nov 25

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones from

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones from the staff and board of Teton Regional Land Trust 💚

Photo by Paul Allen

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Nov 24

“Wilderness is the one kind of playground which

“Wilderness is the one kind of playground which mankind cannot build to order" - Aldo Leopold

On November 30th, we celebrate Giving Tuesday. This day harnesses the power of generosity through our interconnectedness and is an opportunity for people around the world to come together in all its forms by sharing acts of kindness by giving their time, money, and goods to support communities and causes they care about. We hope you will think of the Teton Regional Land Trust on this day as no act of kindness is too small! Your generosity warms our hearts and encourages us to press on, even in the hardest of times. Your donations give us the much needed resources to keep working hard to protect more wildlife habitat, open space and working lands in eastern Idaho. TOGETHER we can protect our magnificent place.

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Nov 19

Teton Regional Land Trust Supporters: We encoura

Teton Regional Land Trust Supporters:

We encourage you to participate in this upcoming work session regarding the Teton River, sponsored by Teton County Idaho and Friends of the Teton River.

Teton County invites you to participate in a community charette to discuss potential solutions to address increased recreational use impacts on the Teton River.

If you are impacted by use of the Teton River or have an influence on management and use of the Teton River you are a key stakeholder. We are inviting your creative engagement at two community charrettes, each 3-hours in length.

Your voice matters and is needed at this engagement!

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Nov 15

Conservation adjacent to Tex Creek Wildlife Manage

Conservation adjacent to Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area

Most recently, one of TRLT’s largest conservation easements was granted by a family on their ranch adjacent to the Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA), in Bonneville County east of Idaho Falls, preserving critical transition habitat that is vital for big game herds that winter on the WMA. Elk, mule deer, moose, Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse, and a multitude of other wildlife species will benefit from the protection of this large property.

This conservation project met the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) qualification for Grasslands of Special Significance because of the sagebrush habitat, which allowed the NRCS to contribute a significant amount of funding for the easement under the Agricultural Land Easement program. An NRCS Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Agricultural Land Easement allows for farming and ranching of properties, as well as limited residential construction. It also permanently limits the amount and type of future development.

“Conserving over 2,000 acres of rangeland next to the WMA couldn’t have happened without the landowners’ vision and help from our dedicated partners. The NRCS has been a wonderful partner all along the way, helping us overcome numerous hurdles to get the ranch protected. You don’t see too many ranches of this size in this area. I can’t thank the family enough for working with us to implement their conservation vision to protect such a special place.” Josh Holmes, Land Protection Specialist for TRLT.

In addition to the support received by NRCS, other partners that supported the project include the Cross Charitable Foundation, the JKL Family Foundation, the local Safari Club chapter, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, and private donors.

To read more about our most recent conservation projects, go to our website(link in bio).

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Nov 10

Pine Creek Bench Property Protected In early Sept

Pine Creek Bench Property Protected

In early September, a conservation easement granted to TRLT by the Bradford family preserved one of the last pieces of unprotected farmland on Pine Creek Bench in Swan Valley. Overlooking the South Fork of the Snake River, this 140-acre easement is surrounded by other protected farms and land owned by the Bureau of Land Management, which collectively protect the incredible scenery along the famed trout stream.

“This was an exceptionally rewarding project to be a part of. Anytime you see an inholding conserved, you know the resources in the area have a greater chance of remaining intact for the future benefit of local wildlife. Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse and big game are a few of the species that rely on the open space and habitat of the Pine Creek Bench. The Bradfords have made a significant and lasting impact on conservation in the area.” says Josh Holmes, TRLT Land Protection Specialist, who worked on the conservation easement.

This project builds on the 30-year effort by the Snake River Conservation Partnership to protect lands along the South Fork, adding to the more than 10,000 acres that have been preserved from development along the river. Funding was also provided by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the JKL Family Foundation, the Cross Charitable Foundation, and a private bequest.

For more information about all of our recent conservation projects, check out the story on our website (link in bio).

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Nov 8

Get to Know Our Board Laura Pickard - Ashton, Idah

Get to Know Our Board
Laura Pickard - Ashton, Idaho

Why did you join the Teton Regional Land Trust board?
I joined the TRLT board last year because I believe the protection of farm and ranchlands have long-term and widespread impacts on food supply, water quality, wildlife habitat, and quality of life. I also joined because I wanted to work with an amazing person whom I much admired, who we've lost and I still continue to think of and miss.

What is one of your favorite things about being on the board?
Working on the conservation committee and being a small part of helping families preserve their farms and ranches for future generations.

What is your profession?
I live in Ashton and have mostly taken over our family farm. I say mostly because I will forever want to farm with my mom and dad even though they have slowed down a little. I love what I do and have an amazing group of people that help here on the farm. I would not be able to run this place without them. We grow seed potatoes, wheat, seed canola, and alfalfa.

Tell us about your family:
I am blessed to be married to the most amazing person I know and am grateful to have him in my life. Clay is my best friend and partner in crime. He has diversified the farm and expanded our smaller cow numbers into something that was more of a tradition into a well-run operation. We didn’t know how inefficient we were until he showed us different and better ways of doing things!

We have two kids, Catie and Carter, who are growing up too fast! It is amazing how fast time flies and I often find that I wish I could freeze time. I love that my kids get to work with us pretty much since the day they were born and that they are already a part of what makes things work here.

How about your pets?
We also have two cats and two dogs who fit right into the craziness of life as well as horses.

What do you like to do for fun?
When we take some free time, we love to travel or go to music concerts. And if you ever come to visit and we are not around you will most likely find us over at the cabin on the Ashton reservoir waterskiing, tubing, or reading a good book at an amazing place our family protected with the Land Trust.

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Nov 4

Earlier this summer, Three Forks, LLC conserved 13

Earlier this summer, Three Forks, LLC conserved 130 acres of pivot-irrigated farmland adjacent to their existing conservation easement properties that are located in the Three Forks area of the Teton River approximately 5 miles west of Driggs. The property provides important foraging habitat for Sandhill Cranes and waterbirds in both spring and fall and is part of a migratory corridor for big game.

The family donated the value of the conservation easement, which provides the needed private match for TRLT’s current North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grant. This is TRLT’s sixth $1 million NAWCA grant that benefits Teton Valley and brings funds to local landowners interested in conserving their land to benefit wetland-dependent bird species. Each grant has been leveraged by several million private dollars in the form of both easement donations and monetary donations from private foundations and individuals, benefitting local communities, both human and wild. The Cross Charitable Foundation helped with the needed match to complete this conservation project.

We are grateful to these amazing landowners for their vision and generosity!

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Nov 1

The recent snow is the signal for the Sandhill Cra

The recent snow is the signal for the Sandhill Cranes to start their migration south. Over the past weeks, you may have heard and seen more activity in the sky as the colts and their parents were stretching their wings and catching thermals in preparation for their long journey. We would like to wish our beloved cranes all the best until they return to our region next spring. Thanks to Margot Watters for sharing this wonderful video of flocks of cranes taking off from the southern end of Teton Valley this fall.

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Oct 28

Teton Regional Land Trust staff and volunteers wer

Teton Regional Land Trust staff and volunteers were excited to get back to pulling out obsolete fencing in our service area this year. We are grateful for the partnership with Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation's skilled staff and volunteers to remove these obstacles to wildlife in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

We hope you enjoy this short video documenting the project and the wildlife-friendly results!

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Oct 27

Happy Halloween Week🎃 Spooky Species Spotlight

Happy Halloween Week🎃
Spooky Species Spotlight:
Great Horned Owl

As the leaves fall from the trees, a cold mist settles over the region and the nights are getting longer and darker, a certain species, the Great Horned Owl, is revving up for its favorite season. It makes a striking figure as it perches atop bare trees under a fall moon. Great Horned Owls are large and thick-bodied, with a wingspan approaching 6 feet. They get their name because of the two tufts on their head that look like horns. Owls have good eyesight. They see only black and white, but their eyes are as large as a human’s and 35 times more sensitive. They can see objects with about five percent the amount of light that a human requires, thus allowing them to hunt successfully in dim light. Owls do not have a good sense of smell, but they do have acute hearing and can hear sounds ten miles away. They can adjust their flight on a dime based on the movement sounds of their prey.

Great Horned Owls are solitary except during nesting and do not migrate. The owl’s call sounds like “Hoo HooHoooooo HooHoo”, and is primarily used to attract a mate or establish territory. The sounds can be heard miles away on a still night. The owls will respond to intruders and threats with bill-clapping, hisses, screams, and guttural noises. They will lay their tufts back on their head, much like a cat or a horse will, and if the threat escalates, they will spread their wings and strike with their feet. Great Horned Owls are primarily nocturnal, hunting at night, but they have been known to hunt during the day, especially in the winter months. Owls cannot digest feathers, hair, or bones. These things are regurgitated as a pellet or “furball” about the size of a jumbo olive or a moose dropping. These pellets can be found under trees where the nests are found.

Due to the shapes of their wings and softly fringed feather edges, Great Horned Owls are able to fly in near silence and take their prey by surprise. The impact of landing on their prey kills the prey. As Halloween approaches, imagine if you not only had to look forward and behind you for a spooky threat, but also up! BOO

Photo by Ellis Smith

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Oct 25

Come join our team! Title: Development Associate

Come join our team!

Title: Development Associate
Supervisor: Development Director
Office Location: Driggs, Idaho
Salary: $18.00/hour
Application Deadline: November 15, 5pm
Start Date: December 1st, 2021

The Teton Regional Land Trust is seeking a part-time (25-30 hours per week, on average 28 hours per week) Development Associate. The Development Associate works closely with the Executive Director, Development Director, and Communications and Events Coordinator to implement TRLT’s grassroots membership program. Core duties include the coordination and implementation of the grassroots membership program, as well as supporting various events, outreach, and volunteer activities. This position requires considerable organization, interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to work with a team. Position involves outreach and cultivation of land trust supporters through a team-based approach to fundraising and donor engagement. Working occasional evenings and weekends is required throughout the year to support fundraising and outreach events.

For more information and how to apply, go to our website:
www.tetonlandtrust.org (link in bio)

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Oct 12

Take the Teton River Survey THIS WEEK - Your Opini

Take the Teton River Survey THIS WEEK - Your Opinion Matters! The survey is online until October 17th.

Whether you fish, float, walk, hunt, watch wildlife, farm, ranch, picnic, guide, walk dogs, or live along the Teton River- this survey is for you. And it's only the first step to participate in recreation planning for our local river resource. To take the survey, go to: www.tetoncountyidaho.gov

This survey, sponsored by Teton County, Idaho, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Friends of the Teton River, and Teton Regional Land Trust, is an opportunity for stakeholders and recreational users to describe their experiences and identify possible management strategies for this valuable community resource. The results of this survey, along with user data collected over recent floating seasons, will be presented to the public in a virtual planning meeting this fall.

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Oct 11

Cheers to a great IF Pint Night! Thanks to everyo

Cheers to a great IF Pint Night!

Thanks to everyone who came out to Idaho Brewing Company for a beautiful fall evening with music, food, raffles, and of course, tasty beer! It was great to see everyone and we truly appreciate all of your support.

A BIG thank you to Idaho Brewing Company, Great Harvest Bakery & Cafe Idaho Falls, The Wild Potatoes, Kris Millgate, and our awesome volunteers.