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Lectures at Sheridan College

Free & Open to the Public

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Mae Smith

Thickman Faculty Lecture Series

Mongolia: Half a World Away, or Right Next Door?

Wednesday, Sept. 23, 6:00 pm – W153. Free.

With Mae Smith, Sheridan College Director of Agriculture

  • Exploring Mongolia’s unique wildlife, including the remarkable Przewalskis wild horse and conservation efforts
  • Discovering the connections between Mongolian livestock grazing, land use, and the challenges faced by Wyoming ranchers.
  • Experiencing Mongolia’s rich culture through it’s food, traditions, transportation, and everyday life.
  • Taking a photographic journey through Hustai National Park and surrounding areas to discover what makes Mongolia truly unique.

Biography:

Mae Smith grew up in western Wyoming where her love for the outdoors and rangelands began. Raised by two natural resource professionals, along with experience in cattle ranching and native plant work, she knew rangeland management was her calling. She joined Sheridan College in 2017 and now enjoys helping students discover their own passion for rangelands – at home and around the world.

head shot photo of Eddie Vandenberg

Science
Lecture
Series

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program

Wednesday, Sept. 16, 7:00 pm – W153. Free.
Attend in person or watch via zoom.

With Eddie Vandenberg, Bureau of Land Management Wild Horse and Burro Specialist, Rawlins Field Office

Abstract:
The Bureau of Land Management created the Wild Horse and Burro Program to implement the Wild-Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act, passed by Congress in 1971. Broadly, the law declares wild horses and burros to be “living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West” and stipulates that the BLM and the U.S. Forest Service have the responsibility to manage and protect herds in their respective jurisdictions within areas where wild horses and burros were found roaming in 1971.  To maintain wild horses and burros in good condition and protect the health of our public lands, the BLM must manage the population growth of wild horse and burro herds. Without natural population controls, such as predation, herds can increase at a rate of up to 20 percent annually, doubling in size in just 4 to 5 years, if not appropriately managed. Population control must be implemented to protect scarce and fragile resources in the arid West and ensure healthy animals.  To carry out this mission, the BLM controls herd growth through the application of fertility measures, such as birth control, and through the periodic removals of excess animals and the placement of those animals into private care.

Biosketch:
Ed Vandenburg grew up in Meeker, Oklahoma. After a four-year enlistment in the U.S. Marines, he attended college and received a Bachelor of Science in Vocational Agriculture/ Animal Science from the University of Wyoming. Ed spent 10 years as a professional farrier and is currently employed by the Bureau of Land Management as a Wild Horse and Burro Specialist in the Rawlins Field Office in Rawlins, Wyoming.

Past Lectures