09/04/2026
Arizona ranchers are speaking out on the executive order addressing the Mexican gray wolf and what it could mean for ranch families and rural communities.
Arizona Farm Bureau President John Boelts:
"Arizona ranch families have lived with the Mexican gray wolf program for more than 25 years. They've lost calves, cows, and income while doing everything asked of them to protect an experimental population. We thank President Trump and his Administration for recognizing the detrimental impact that the Mexican gray wolf has on our cattle ranchers and our rural communities. This is a step in the right direction and something that Arizona Farm Bureau has long been advocating for."
Southern Arizona Rancher and Arizona Farm Bureau Second Vice President Ben Menges:
"The 28-year history of the Mexican Gray Wolf is one which has decimated the cow herds in the areas where the federal government has chosen to place the wolves. For too long, our state has watched the suffering of eastern Arizona ranchers and their livestock with little-to-no recourse or care from government. This changes today, with this executive order."
Arizona Rancher Dalton Dobson:
"As a public lands rancher who's lived with Mexican gray wolves for years, I've watched the real costs pile up - lost calves, stressed herds, and compensation that never quite covers the damage. Delisting this apex predator is the first step toward local, common-sense management that lets cattle operations produce high-quality food for the American people instead of going bankrupt trying to sustain a government program. Directing the Department of Interior to take action is the first step."
