Grow Your Grazing Knowledge at the 2026 Kansas Range Academies
There’s no better classroom than the prairie.
Each summer, the Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition invites producers, landowners, conservation professionals, students, and rangeland enthusiasts to step out of the office and into the field for one of Kansas’ most respected hands-on educational experiences, the Kansas Range Academies.
Now in 2026, three academies will once again travel across the state, offering participants the opportunity to explore the unique landscapes of Kansas while learning practical grazing management strategies directly from experienced ranchers, university specialists, and agency professionals.
Whether your operation is rooted in the Flint Hills, western Kansas, or somewhere in between, there’s a Range Academy designed with your rangeland in mind.
Three Regions. Three Experiences. One Goal.
Each academy focuses on one of Kansas' distinct prairie ecosystems, providing region-specific education while covering management principles that benefit every operation.
Tallgrass Range Academy
August 11-13, 2026
Camp Wood | Elmdale, Kansas
Experience the beauty of the Flint Hills while exploring plant identification, grazing management, adaptive decision-making, and strategies for maintaining healthy tallgrass prairie.
Shortgrass Range Academy
August 25-27, 2026
Camp Christy | Scott City, Kansas
Learn practical approaches to managing western Kansas rangelands, balancing forage resources, preparing for drought, and building resilient grazing systems.
Mixed Grass Range Academy
September 1-3, 2026
Camp Mennoscah | Murdock, Kansas
Discover the diversity of Kansas' mixed-grass prairie while gaining hands-on experience with monitoring, range improvements, wildlife management, and long-term planning.
Learn by Doing
Forget sitting in a classroom all day.
The Range Academies combine field tours, interactive demonstrations, group discussions, and real-world problem solving to help participants better understand the land beneath their boots. Throughout each academy, you'll learn alongside fellow producers while hearing firsthand from those who manage Kansas rangelands every day.
Topics include:
- Plant identification and grassland ecology
- Adaptive grazing management
- Rangeland monitoring and evaluation
- Wildlife and livestock management
- Forage and stocking balance
- Range developments and infrastructure
- Ecology, economics, and management planning
- Building resilient grazing systems
More Than a Workshop
Ask anyone who's attended a Range Academy, and they'll tell you the biggest takeaway isn't just the information, it's the connections.
Participants leave with new ideas, practical tools they can immediately apply to their own operations, and relationships with producers and professionals from across Kansas who share a passion for healthy, productive rangelands.
Registration Now Open
Registration is $350 per participant and includes lodging, meals, tuition, and educational materials.
Landowners, operators, and ranch employees may receive a $175 scholarship, making this unique educational experience even more accessible.
Space is limited at each academy, and early registration is encouraged.
Reserve your spot for the 2026 Kansas Range Academies.
We hope to see you on the prairie this summer!