The Range Club Experience

10/11/23

Emily Smith

As a new Range Club member, and Computer Science major, I have had next to no experience with Rangelands or the College of Natural Resources before the start of this semester. I was chosen to conduct these interviews because of this, since I would be able to have some basic questions that a prospective range club member might have.

All of these answers are transcripts of recordings from interviews.

At University of Idaho, our Range Club is composed of people from a variety of college class levels with different levels of involvement. Here are the interviews of three different Range Club members: Johnna Jensen (J), Amelia Suksdorf (A), and Drake Rasgorshek (D).

What is your grade and major?

J: I’m a senior majoring in Rangeland Conservation with a minor in Animal Science.

A: I am a sophomore majoring in Rangeland Ecology and Science with a minor in Water Science and management.

D: I'm a sophomore right now, graduating in 2026. My major is Rangeland Ecology and Management.

How did you learn about Range Club?

J: I learned about Range Club in my freshman year. Range Club at the time was sparse, but by the end of that year a lot of students came together who were inspired by Karen [Launchbaugh, Ph.D.] to resurrect the club.

A: I actually work with Taylor [current Vice President] at the [Frank H.] Pitkan Forest Nursery, and she at the time was the treasurer so she kinda told me about it and got me to join that. Then I also heard about it from one of my teachers at my high school who wanted me to get into doing range things. I was technically a member starting fall of last year, but I only went to two meetings for the whole year so really just started this semester.

D: That’s actually a funny story. So, I was an ECB major before Rangeland, so I was Ecology Conservation Biology but I just didn’t want to do it. I was trying to look at Rangeland as a major as a whole, and there’s some people I knew, like Abby Shagena, I knew her boyfriend pretty well- Silas. I knew their friend group pretty well too. I had joined Range Club the year previous to this, but I wasn’t really interested in it because I was new to the school and stuff but after talking to Abby Shagena, … when she said there were a lot more opportunities in Range Club versus just trying to go through that major without being in it.

What has been your favorite Range Club Activity?

J: For me it is a tie between the SRM [Society for Range Management] Annual Meeting and Taylor Wilderness trip. The Taylor Wilderness trip was fun to gain new experiences in such a remote area with only other club members. However, SRM is such a great opportunity for Rangeland students to network with both their peers and Rangeland professionals in addition to learning new things about the field.

A: The hide and seek was really fun. It was a really good bonding and way to get to know everybody. It was just fun.

D: I guess the only thing we have done is the Pancake Feed, or I guess the concessions stand at the football game. That was kind of fun. I was just flipping the dogs, got them out, you know the boys, gotta get them out of the fryer so it was a fun time. I was yelling at some people, people were yelling at me, just a great old time. It kind of felt like I was back in the kitchen again. It was a grand old time.

What is your favorite SRM (Society for Range Management) Student Competition team to have been a part of?

J: My favorite team has been Extemporaneous Speaking. This competition is out of everyone’s comfort zone, so it feels like an equal playing field. No one can prepare for it since everyone is assigned a random topic and only have an hour to prepare before their presentation. This also reduces stress leading up to the event because there is truly no way to prepare before you are assigned your topic.

A: I’m biased, so Plant ID. There’s only like three or four of us but it’s fun, I like it.

D: I feel like one I would’ve done, if I actually had the time, would probably be the Plant ID team. That seems fun, and kind of cool to learn about plants and being able to identify what, 1,000-2,000 of them I think there is? That’s insane dude. I could not do that, but I respect all of the people that are out there doing it. I am looking forward to SRM for many other things besides the clubs, I’m looking forward to the expos and just being able to be around people that know what they’re talking about, different expositions, whether it be from Rangeland Management or not just those kind of areas just being able to learn from those experts will be good.

Describe some aspects of the SRM competition.

J: The best part of SRM is being able to spend 4-5 days with your club members. There’s lots of time for bonding, especially between upper and lower classmen. Forced proximity is super efficient for this. Also, getting to meet Range professionals, professors from other universities, and future colleagues provides great opportunities for networking. One of my favorite parts is also seeing new places, such as Albuquerque, NM, and Boise, ID.

Have you gained any new opportunities through Range Club that you wouldn’t have known about or experienced otherwise?

J: SRM is truly a highlight. It’s always such a fun and great experience. I actually got my current job through an SRM hiring event and am now working with the Forest Service year round. The Taylor Wilderness experience was something that is unforgettable, and truly so much fun. Also traveling to New Mexico and Nevada is something I most likely never would have done outside of Range Club. I am also currently working with some professors within CNR to coordinate a Range professional Q&A day.

A: Definitely SRM is the big one, I had no idea what that was before I joined Range Club. I feel like that opens the door for a lot of different opportunities.

D: SRM is going to be the big one, but I guess when the dude came in to talk about restoration and what he was doing. I feel like that was pretty cool, and I feel like I learned a whole lot from him. So I’ve learned stuff from when they bring people in, and try to inform us of other ways and other stuff in Rangeland. I feel like I never would’ve gotten that somewhere else except for Range Club.

To Johnna specifically: What does your job with the Forest Service entail, and how long have you been working with them?

J: I’ve been working with the Forest Service for 3 years now. This year I was actually promoted to a new position, Range Management Intern, so I am now a year-round employee this year. During the school year I only work part time (~20 hours/week) and during the summer I work full time (~40 hours/week). My current role includes inputting data from our summer work which included building fences and water development.

What has been your favorite part of Range Club?

J: Meeting new people and making new friends. I have good friends now that I never would have met if it weren’t for Range Club. I am also meeting future colleagues.

A: The pancake feeds are always fun, like sitting out front of CNR and just listening to music and getting people to come buy pancakes.

D: Meeting people in Range Club is really interesting. I was just talking to a dude today, and he’s also in my GIS class. I had a few questions, so I asked him since I kind of knew him because we’re in the club together. I think there’s a huge benefit to being in the club knowing the popel that are around you and in your majors because for me it was easy for me to say, “Do you know what’s going on?” and he said, “Yeah I got you”. It seemed like a nice, normal conversation too so I think once you learn and build those relationships with other people in the club then it’s a lot easier to talk to them outside the club. Just casually, and in a working or professional sense.

How has Range Club helped you academically?

J: I was a part of the Plant ID team one year, and that has been super helpful for all of my Range classes.

A: I think competing in the Plant ID team has definitely helped me with Plant ID classes because I know a little bit more about the plants already so I already know what to look for and I have some of those scientific names down. It definitely helps with just knowing how you need to learn those scientific names for other classes. I know later, I think it’s some kind of botany class, you have to know a lot of scientific names so I feel like being in Range and being in Plant ID will definitely help me to know how I can learn all those things.

D: I think there’s a lot I could learn to use in future classes, but not as of right now.

Do you have any advice for new Range Club members?

J: Don’t be afraid to reach out to upperclassmen, always ask questions, and don’t be afraid to go to a professor for help or get insight. Don’t be afraid to participate in meetings or competition teams, and always be open to putting yourself out there.

A: There’s a lot of opportunities for Range Club, like for professional development you just have to actually be committed to it. It’s what you make of it. For SRM, you could just come and do the URME but I’ve decided to do the Plant ID stuff. We have to work for it, but I think it’s a really great way to develop yourself professionally.

D: I’d say just at least try to get through the first day or two. I remember I went to the first Range Club meeting, the barbeque one that we had out there, it was not that good you know? I didn’t know that many people, I didn’t talk to that many people so I was just kind of there. I think that first day would’ve turned me off especially, so I think that trying to get through that first meeting or two then I think it gets a lot more comfortable with the people around you, I think it gets better. Stick it through the first meeting or two, then you’ll get more comfortable with the people around you in that setting.

Is there anything else you think people should know about Range Club, or is there a specific experience you would like to share?

J: 3 years ago, Range Club didn’t exist. One of the coolest things I’ve done is helped to build this club from the ground up into what it is today.

D: I think people should know about the cool experiences that are offered. They’re planning on trying to do some stuff later on, I think we were planning on doing some stuff like hikes. I think it’s cool to see people you know inside the club and being able to see them outside the club and having a nice normal conversation. It makes it a lot easier if I need help, because I know there’s a lot of people in there. Mainly the people within the club make it the best.