The Public Lands Council awards for 2026 went to two ranchers who have spent years fighting for grazing rights across the American West. During its 58th Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., PLC named Association of National Grasslands President Ty Checketts as the recipient of the 2026 President’s Award. Nevada rancher and lawyer Joe Guild received the 2026 Friend of PLC honor. Both awards recognize contributions to the federal lands ranching community, an industry that depends on public grazing land to raise cattle and sheep across Western states.
PLC represents public lands ranchers in the nation’s capital. Since 1968, the group has worked with Congress and federal land agencies to keep grazing operations viable while helping ranchers manage and conserve Western landscapes.
Ty Checketts Earns Recognition for Grasslands Advocacy
Checketts runs the historic Fiddleback Ranch in northeastern Wyoming with his family. Beyond his role leading the Association of National Grasslands, he belongs to the Wyoming Stockgrowers and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. He also serves on the PLC Board of Directors.
Checketts has become a familiar face in policy discussions about grazing on national grasslands. He also works on efforts to prevent catastrophic wildfires, a growing concern for ranchers whose grazing land can double as a natural firebreak.
“The President’s Award goes to someone each year that has gone above and beyond the call of duty to advocate for grazing permittees,” said PLC Immediate Past President Tim Canterbury. “Ty Checketts is the strongest voice and advocate for those who ranch on national grasslands, but he also does so much work to help all federal lands ranchers.”
Canterbury noted that Checketts has testified before Congress and worked with state and local officials for years. That kind of advocacy work often means time away from the ranch, he said, even though its impact on Western ranchers is significant.
Joe Guild Recognized as Friend of PLC
Guild built his career in natural resource and water law before starting his own consulting business to support fellow ranchers. He now manages a cow-calf operation on 25,000 acres of national forest land. Additionally, he serves on a ranch management team overseeing cattle and sheep across roughly one million acres.
Guild previously led the Nevada Cattlemen’s Association as its president. He also served as treasurer of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and has remained a longtime PLC member throughout his career.
“There is no better friend to PLC than Joe Guild,” said PLC President Ron Cerri. “He has been in western policy battles we have faced for years and is always working to do more to advocate for and protect the American rancher.”
Cerri added that Guild has spent his career defending livestock producers in court and in Washington, all while managing multiple ranching operations. Because of that extensive body of work, Cerri said, the industry owes much of its current success to Guild’s leadership.
Why These Awards Matter for Federal Lands Ranchers
The Public Lands Council awards highlight a broader challenge facing ranchers who depend on federal grazing permits. These producers often balance daily ranch operations with advocacy trips to state capitals and Washington. Consequently, recognition like this draws attention to the unpaid, time-intensive work that shapes grazing policy for the whole industry.
For ranchers watching policy debates over grazing access and wildfire prevention, Checketts and Guild’s recognition serves as a reminder of who is representing their interests. As Congress and federal agencies continue shaping land management rules, the Public Lands Council awards signal which leaders have earned trust within the ranching community. Readers should watch for how PLC’s policy priorities evolve heading into the next legislative session.
Ranchers and industry members can learn more about the organization’s work by visiting the Public Lands Council’s website. This story is based on a press release from the Public Lands Council.