Meet Bryan Runnion
Being ranch raised, Bryan learned at an early age the values and rewards of hard work. Since selling his interest in the family ranch, Bryan has maintained his passion for agriculture and has been a lifetime advocate for United States agriculture and the success of producers. Bryan’s working career has focused on ranching and agriculture in one capacity or another and has led to several successful endeavors. In 1993 Bryan started a fence contracting business which specialized in pipe and ranch fencing. Serving as both a private and government contractor, his quality and designs made him a reputation fence contractor across the Western United States for constructing livestock handling facilities, equine facilities, roping and rodeo arenas, and ranch fencing. Although expanded to include rangeland improvement and weed mitigation, Bryan’s contracting business has provided both full time and part time income opportunities to current day.
In addition to contracting, Bryan has managed all aspects of several western ranches including Williams Peak Ranch in Parshall Colorado, Paws Up Ranch in Greenough Montana and the 333 Ranch in Wells Nevada. Bryan has had great success in commercial cow/calf production, rangeland monitoring and management, rangeland improvement, pivot irrigation installation and establishment and commercial grass and alfalfa hay production. Always a student of the industry, Bryan has a good track record of improving ranch operations and natural resources.
As a contractor and ranch manager, Bryan has worked on several conservation and improvement projects with different organizations and agencies including BLM, Colorado State Land Board, NRCS (EQIP), USFS, Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited and the Blackfoot Challenge. These experiences, working relations and professional contacts have laid the foundation for the Checkerboard Challenge Land Exchange.
Bryan’s leadership roles and business experience have taught him to measure his success by the success of those who depend on him. The Checkerboard Challenge Land Exchange is a culmination of many years of experience and firsthand knowledge of the challenges landowners face operating in a checkerboard landscape. The Checkerboard Challenge has provided Bryan an opportunity to reestablish working relationships with land management professionals and potentially assist ranchers and landowners improve their operations.
