Russell L. Rustici Rangeland & Cattle Research, Education, and Extension Endowment

Mr. Rustici established gifts which perpetually fund three endowed rangeland faculty positions, a rangeland and cattle research and outreach support program, and a scholarship program to assist undergraduates interested in rangeland science and management. 

Endowed Chairs

Meet the Russell L. Rustici Endowed Chairs and learn more about their work benefiting California rangelands

Lynn Huntsinger, Professor of Rangeland Ecology and Management, was appointed the Russell L. Rustici Endowed Chair in Rangeland Management at UC Berkeley in 2016. Rangeland livestock production requires negotiation between demand for a predictable flow of products and the inherent unpredictability of most rangeland ecosystems. This has given rise to a host of social and ecological adaptations to rangeland disequilibrium dynamics. Huntsinger seeks to understand these adaptations as part of socio-ecological systems, with the goal of learning how sustainable management of rangelands can be supported. Please see Dr. Huntsinger’s web page for more information.

Toby O'Geen, Professor and CE Specialist of Soil Science, was appointed as the Russell L. Rustici Endowed Chair in Rangeland Watershed Sciences at UC Davis in 2021. O’Geen’s research and extension program focuses on soil-landscape relationships, decision support tools for working lands, soil health, hydropedology, application of digital soil databases, soil survey; biogeochemical and hydrologic characterization of deep regolith; and management of soil physical properties. For more information, visit the O’Geen Lab web page (http://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu), or contact Dr. O’Geen at atogeen@ucdavis.edu

Leslie Roche, CE Specialist of Rangeland Management, was appointed as Russell L. Rustici Endowed Chair in Cooperative Extension in Rangeland Watershed Science at UC Davis in 2024. Roche's research and extension program is at the intersection of agricultural, environmental, and social aspects of ranching and livestock production on California's rangelands and pasturelands. She works with a diversity of stakeholders to integrate management expertise and applied research to address key challenges on grazing lands, including managing for multiple agricultural and ecological outcomes, as well as coping with and adapting to drought.

Rangeland and Cattle Research Endowment

The Russell L. Rustici Rangeland and Cattle Research Endowment has put forth a call for proposals for University of California personnel to support problem-solving research that will benefit California range cattle producers and provide practical answers to critical issues and challenges facing the industry. One goal is to promote collaboration and strengthen the network among research faculty, Cooperative Extension specialists and advisors, and range cattle producers.

Funding opportunities are available for collaborative research, workshops, conferences, and symposia. Three to four research proposals will be awarded with annual budgets not exceeding $60,000 per year. The deadline for submission is commonly in October or November of each year. For additional information, please email rusticiresearch@ucdavis.edu

Call for Proposals will be released here in early October 

Rustici Livestock and Rangeland Scholarship

The Rustici Livestock and Rangeland Scholarship is awarded to students pursuing a career with a focus on rangeland management, with an emphasis towards cattle and sheep ranching in conjunction with good rangeland practices.

Since the inception of the scholarship program in 2007 there has been over $1.52 million dollars awarded from the Russell Rustici Scholarship Program. The program has provided financial support to 179 students, and over 50% of recipients have received more than one scholarship award.

Students who are attending or entering a two-year or four-year college or university are eligible to apply. The Russell Rustici Livestock and Rangeland Scholarships range from $2,500 to $5,000 and can be renewed annually. The scholarship requires a grade point average above C, but grades are not a primary award criteria.

For application details (including due date) and to apply, visit the California Farm Bureau Federation website

Rustici Rangeland Science Symposia & Tours

The Rustici Rangeland Symposia and Tours were established in 2012 with the goal of linking ranchers, land managers, producers, policymakers, and researchers to create impactful change on California rangelands. 

portrait photo of Russell L. Rustici

 

Russell L. Rustici

Russell L. Rustici was a Lake County cattle rancher and philanthropist with a deep interest in cattle ranching and preservation of rangeland ecosystems. He worked with and supported several University of California professors, Cooperative Extension specialists and farm advisers for over 20 years on research and education related to California rangelands. Mr. Rustici established gifts which perpetually fund three endowed rangeland faculty positions, a rangeland and cattle research and outreach support program, and a scholarship program to assist undergraduates interested in rangeland science and management. Learn more about Mr. Rustici and his legacy of supporting California rangelands here.