Stories are greater than statistics

In land conservation discussions, it's easy to get caught up in the numbers. And it's no wonder why! There are an array of exciting statistics quantifying the benefits of private conservation.

Consider a recent study by Colorado State University, which shows that conservation easements provide $4 to $12 in public benefit for every dollar invested. These benefits are recognized through services the land provides, such as healthy waterways, wildlife habitat and migration routes, as well as local food sources.

But as any good storyteller will remind you, it's difficult to connect with numbers and statistics. That's why in our new short film, "The Legacy of The Land," Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust shares the stories behind the numbers. We highlight the positive and very personal impact select conservation easement projects have had for families, communities and the state.

The video begins with sweeping views of Wyoming landscapes and the voice of Maggie Miller, who owns Grindstone Cattle Company and who conserved her ranch with the Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust in 2010. "If you look around, you'll see that everything is just developed," Maggie says. "There aren't many places like this left."

Maggie is right. As a nation, we're losing agricultural lands at an alarming rate. And with each acre lost, we are losing a source of food, a home for wildlife, an open space provided to passersby — and the history built by agricultural families that cared for the land.

Some people have a difficult time connecting with the why of conserving these places unless they live in rural communities or have some connection to agriculture. The Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust seeks to bridge this gap by looking beyond the statistics of each conserved landscape to the personal stories about the people, the land and the wildlife that play a large roll in what makes Wyoming such a unique and wonderful place.

Maggie Rux is external relations coordinator at Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust.