BONNY RESERVOIR FIELD DAY TO SHOWCASE INNOVATIVE GRAZING TECHNOLOGY AND CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS
Live cattle demonstration, virtual fencing, forage monitoring, and chuckwagon lunch planned for October
WRAY, Colo. — What if ranchers could manage cattle movements, establish grazing boundaries, and monitor their livestock using technology right from their smartphones? The Yuma County Conservation District (YCCD) invites producers, landowners, conservation professionals, and community members to see these innovations in action during the Bonny Reservoir Adaptive Grazing Field Day on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Wagon Wheel Campground gazebo at the South Republican State Wildlife Area near Idalia, Colorado.
The field day will highlight an innovative conservation demonstration that combines traditional livestock grazing with modern technology to address vegetation management, wildlife habitat restoration, and wildfire fuel reduction at Bonny Reservoir.
Once a popular recreational reservoir, Bonny was drained to meet obligations under the Republican River Compact. The changing landscape created new challenges for managing vegetation, maintaining wildlife habitat, and reducing accumulated plant material that can contribute to wildfire risk.
Through a partnership involving YCCD, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), the Bureau of Reclamation, and other conservation and technology partners, adaptive livestock grazing is being demonstrated as a practical management tool for this changing landscape.
“Bonny Reservoir has faced some significant changes over the years, and we saw an opportunity to approach those challenges a little differently,” said Tanya Fell, District Manager of the Yuma County Conservation District. “This project is about more than putting cattle back on the landscape. It's about bringing together producers, conservation partners, and new technology to find practical solutions for managing our natural resources. We've learned a tremendous amount this year, and we're excited to share both our successes and our challenges. If what we're doing at Bonny can help other landowners and land managers think about grazing as another tool in their conservation toolbox, then we're accomplishing exactly what we set out to do.”
A critical component of the project has been the development of livestock water infrastructure, including solar-powered pumping systems, pipelines, and water tanks. These improvements help distribute cattle across the landscape and make grazing possible in areas where reliable livestock water was previously unavailable.
The project also incorporates Halter virtual fencing technology, which allows grazing boundaries to be established and adjusted through a smartphone rather than relying exclusively on traditional physical fences. Satellite-connected collars help guide cattle movements, monitor livestock locations, and provide producers with new tools for managing grazing rotations.
A highlight of the field day will be a live cattle handling and virtual fencing demonstration, allowing attendees to see the technology in action and learn how it is being used under actual grazing conditions.
Participants will also learn about RangeView satellite forage monitoring technology, which provides information about forage biomass, vegetation response, and grazing utilization. These monitoring tools help evaluate changes across the landscape and support informed grazing management decisions.
Local cooperating producer Darrell Smith will share his firsthand experiences implementing the grazing project, including cattle training, managing virtual boundaries, adjusting grazing rotations, and lessons learned during the demonstration's first grazing season.
Representatives from CPW, the Bureau of Reclamation, YCCD, Halter, and RangeView will discuss the history of Bonny Reservoir, project development, water infrastructure, conservation objectives, and opportunities for future management.
The program will include a complimentary Dutch oven chuckwagon lunch prepared by John Schaffner and sponsored by Halter, providing an opportunity for attendees to visit with project partners and fellow producers.
The afternoon will feature a live demonstration near the boat-ramp area, including a look at the portable corral system, virtual fencing collars, and cattle movements managed through the Halter system.
Event Details
Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. (Check-in begins at 10:30 a.m.)
Location: Wagon Wheel Campground Gazebo, South Republican State Wildlife Area, near Idalia, Colorado
Cost: Free, including lunch
RSVP Deadline: Friday, October 16, 2026
This is an outdoor event. Attendees are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather and field conditions. Follow event signage from Highway 385 and County Road 2 to the Wagon Wheel Campground gazebo.
Registration is requested by October 16 to assist with meal planning. Register online at:
For additional information, contact the Yuma County Conservation District and please RSVP by October 16, 2026, at www.ycconservation.com or by calling 970-332-3107 ext. 9002. The event schedule is available on the YCCD website.
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