Mission
The Public Lands Council (PLC) has represented livestock ranchers who use public lands since 1968, preserving the natural resources and unique heritage of the West. Public land ranchers own nearly 120 million acres of the most productive private land and manage vast areas of public land, accounting for critical wildlife habitat and the nation’s natural resources. PLC works to maintain a stable business environment in which livestock producers can conserve the West and feed the nation and world.
Who We Are
Our membership consists of state and national cattle, sheep and grasslands associations. Headquarters are located in Washington, D.C., with leadership and state directors located throughout a dozen Western states.
National Leadership
President
John Falen ranches cattle in Orovada, Nevada. He started out in Southern Idaho working feedlots, buying butcher cows and fat cattle, and eventually owning and operating a feedlot and livestock trading enterprise in Wilder. During that time he also leased and stocked cattle ranches, which culminated in his moving to Nevada to ranch fulltime. Today, he and his family run two Nevada ranches. Meanwhile, John has served on numerous boards and committees, many for over 20 years. Some of these include: Nevada Cattlemen’s (served as president) and Nevada PLC Committee, NCBA Executive Board, NCBA Wild Horse and Burro Committee, NCBA Region VI (vice chair) and The Wild Horse and Burro Mustang Heritage Foundation. He and his wife, Sharon, raised four children, Cindy, Frank, Judy and Johnna. Sons-in-law Loyd Sherburn and Hank Kershner help run the ranch, allowing John to dedicate more time to his presidency at PLC.
Vice President
Brice Lee, Jr. lives near Hesperus, Colorado. He runs cows on both BLM and private lands in his summer-winter operation between Colorado and New Mexico. Brice grew up on his family ranch in Montrose and graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Agronomy & Resource Management. He has worked as a soil scientist, a sales representative for Ralston Purina, and an owner/operator of a feed and grain elevator. Brice has served as chairman of the NCBA Environmental/Private Property Committee, president of La Plata County Cattlemen’s Association, and president of Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. Other leadership positions have included 9 years as a gubernatorial appointee on the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission, chairman of La Plata Water Conservancy District, president of La Plata County Fair Board, and 4-H leader. He and his wife, Phyllis, have a daughter who is currently a beef quality assurance specialist.
Secretary/Treasurer
Brenda Richards and her husband, Tony, run a cow/calf operation in Reynolds Creek, Idaho. Tony is a fourth generation rancher, and their three boys are carrying on the tradition, being actively involved in the operation. Brenda has a business degree in accounting She as has served on both the Nevada Cattlemen's and Idaho Cattlemen's boards; five years as Idaho Cattlemen's Federal Lands Chair; and six years as Idaho Public Land Users Representative. She has also worked on several collaborative efforts, primarily the Owyhee Initiative, where she has served for 8 years and continues as an alternate to help assure its intended implementation. For seven years, Brenda has served on the Boise District BLM Resource Advisory Council, three of those years as vice chair. She has been involved for over 18 years in public land issues on local, state and national levels.
National Association Directors
Carey Dobson - American Sheep Industry
Keith Winter - Association of National Grasslands
Mark Roeber - National Cattlemen's Beef Association
State Directors
Carey Dobson - AZ
Mike Byrne - CA
Al Heaton - CO
Chuck Jones - ID
George Trischman - MT
Keith Winter - ND
Dean Rhoads - NV
John O'Keeffe - OR
Mark Tubbs - SD
Rex Sacco - UT
Daryl Asmussen - WA
Niels Hansen - WY
Staff
Executive Director
Dustin Van Liew comes from Woodland, CA, where he is the seventh generation to work in livestock and production agriculture. He attended Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Business with a policy concentration. While at Cal Poly he was a member of the livestock judging team, competing in contests across the nation. After finishing at Cal Poly, he moved to College Station, TX to attend Texas A&M University, where he earned a Masters degree in Agricultural Economics. His thesis focused on the economics of range management. Dustin is also the Director of Federal Lands for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. Reach Dustin at dvanliew@beef.org, or at (202) 347-0228, ext. 126.
Manager of Legislative Affairs
Theodora "Theo" Dowling grew up the sixth generation on her family's Scott Valley, Northern California ranch, where they raised sheep, cattle, hay, and ranch horses. She earned Bachelors degrees in both Agricultural Communications and French at California State University, Chico. After college she moved to Washington, DC where she gained policy experience through internships and fellowships with the Heritage Foundation, the Society of American Forestersy, and the Koch Charitable Foundation. She is passionate about protecting private property rights as a means of stewarding our nation's natural resources. Reach Theo at tdowling@beef.org, or at (202) 34700228, ext. 135.
Where We Stand
Through lobbying, litigation, and coalitions groups, PLC has real impact on policies affecting federal lands. Check out our "On the Issues" page to get an overview of current issues, and our PLC Policy Book for a comprehensive look at our stance on federal land policies.
Coalitions
Coalition for Conservation through Ranching (CCR)
CCR is a new multi-stakeholder partnership between national conservation-minded groups that share an interest in promoting open space for ranching and healthy landscapes. Steering committee members of the coalition include the PLC, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Association of Conservation Districts, Environmental Defense Fund, Family Farm Alliance, and the World Wildlife Fund. Read more...
Waters Advocacy Coaltion (WAC)
WAC is made up of diverse organizations representing numerous individuals and businesses that depend on our nation’s clean water resources to provide vital services, such as building the homes we live in, protecting our communities from destructive floods, growing and manufacturing the food, fiber and forest products we consume and providing the energy we use in our homes and businesses. See the website
National Endangered Species Act Reform Coalition
NESARC is the country’s oldest broad-based, national coalition dedicated solely to achieving improvements to the Endangered Species Act. The Coalition includes rural irrigators, municipalities, farmers, electric utilities, and many other individuals, organizations, and businesses that are supportive of updating the Act to achieve the ultimate goal of species recovery. Since its inception in 1991, NESARC consistently has proven that it is possible to carve out a balanced middle-ground on the issue of ESA improvement. The diverse membership of the coalition, its single issue focus, and its emphasis on grassroots activities have attracted a growing number of major, and geographically diverse groups to support our efforts. See the website