Richard King

Richard’s career with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service included 36 years assisting landowners as a rangeland specialist, ecologist, and biologist before retiring in 2012.  Specific areas of experience and expertise include grazing planning, building soil organic matter, replacing invasive/pest species with diverse communities of life, land infrastructure planning, biological monitoring, financial planning, and consensus-building.  He has practiced managing holistically on his family’s small farm since 1991—profitably converting dry-farmed annual grassland to perennial grassland and oaks ever since, while increasing biodiversity and productivity above and below ground.  He now enjoys helping others learn Holistic Management®, a new decision-making framework, to build and sustain the quality of life they desire. Richard is a Certified Educator in Holistic Management® (Holistic Management International); Certified Professional in Rangeland Management (Society for Range Management); and Certified Rangeland Manager (California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection). Formal education:  Wildlife Management BS with a minor in Range Management, Humboldt State University, and Biology MS, Northern Arizona University

My Notes:My wife and I are the fourth generation on my family’s farm,and we have created and managed our new Poppy Hill Farm since 1991.   We build soil,increase the diversity of life above and below ground,enjoy profitability,and have fun in the process.  Perennial species are making a comeback in our so-called California ‘annual grassland’.  Wildlife diversity and productivity continually grow,and our grass-fattened cattle just keep smiling.  I’m also a Certified Professional in Rangeland Management (Society for Range Management) and a Certified Rangeland Manager (California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection).