America’s Grasslands Conference
Since 2011, the America’s Grasslands Conference has brought together grasslands stakeholders from all over North America and beyond every other year. Over the course of a three-day convening, participants have the option to attend field trips to local grasslands, learn about the most important and emerging grasslands conservation issues, network with fellow professionals and stakeholders, develop strategies to advance federal, regional and local conservation goals and learn from successes. The conference is typically attended by researchers, conservation practitioners, ranchers, grasslands advocates, environmental nonprofits, state and federal agencies, first nations groups, community groups, and more.
Map shows America's Grasslands Conference Locations since 2011.
Interested in helping us plan the next America’s Grasslands Conference? The National Wildlife Federation is seeking proposals for co-hosts and locations for the 2027 America’s Grasslands Conference.
America’s Grasslands Conference 2025 Recap
This year we cohosted the Seventh Biennial America’s Grasslands Conference with the Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Kearney, Nebraska from June 24th – 26th. The conference brought together over 350 grassland conservation stakeholders, including ranchers and producers, researchers, conservationists, tribal partners, industry and agency staff. We had participants from 33 states, DC, Canada, and Mexico representing the breadth of diversity of America’s Grasslands.
This year’s conference theme was "Grasslands Across Generations," highlighting the changes in our grassland landscape over time and the future of grassland conservation. The conference focused participants on looking toward the future and paving the way for the next generations to move this important work forward.
We also had a full day of field trips that took participants to visit native prairies and ranches and learn more about grassland conservation and working lands. Participants were able to visit the Nebraska Sandhills, Loess Canyons, or The Nature Conservancy’s Platte River Prairies and The Crane Trust.
In addition, a packed conference agenda over the three days included an incredible lineup of over 60 presentations on a wide range of topics, over 35 posters, 2 lively roundtable discussions, and a rancher panel discussion. We were also excited to head to the Iain Nicolson Audubon Center for dinner on Wednesday, which featured conservation ranching beef and allowed attendees the opportunity to explore the grounds of Rowe Sanctuary along the Platte River.
You can check out the conference program below and stay tuned for the conference proceedings!
Staying Connected: America's Grasslands Conference and Beyond
Let us know how you’d like to stay in touch between conferences.
Past Conference Resources
• Read the Program of the Seventh Biennial Grasslands Conference, held June 2025 in Kearney, NE.
• Read the Program and Proceedings of the Sixth Biennial Grasslands Conference, held August 2023 in Cheyenne, WY.
• Read the Program and Proceedings of the Fifth Biennial Grasslands Conference, held August 2019 in Bismarck, ND.
• Read the Program and Proceedings of the Fourth Biennial Grasslands Conference, held November 2017 in Fort Worth, TX.
• Read the Program and Proceedings of the Third Biennial Grasslands Conference, held September 2015 in Fort Collins, CO.
• Read the Program and Proceedings of the Second Biennial Grasslands Conference, held August 2013 in Manhattan, KS.
• Read the Program and Proceedings of the First Biennial Grassland Conference, held August 2011 in Sioux Falls, SD.
