Sedona AZ (August 28, 2012) – The Arizona Humanities Council and Yavapai College’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute are pleased to present a free community event. Mark your calendars and plan to attend.

The mission of the Arizona Humanities Council (AHC) is to build a just and civil society by creating opportunities to explore shared human experiences through discussion, learning and reflection. Founded in 1973, AHC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and the Arizona affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. AHC is not a state agency.

Sulphur Springs Valley, southeastern Arizona 1880

AHC supports public programming in the humanities that promotes understanding of human thoughts, actions, creations, and values. AHC works with museums, libraries, and other cultural and educational organizations to bring humanities programs to residents throughout Arizona. All AHC-supported activities must involve the humanities disciplines-history, literature, philosophy, and other studies that examine the human condition.

Joining AHC to offer this free September 2012 event is Yavapai College’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI). The presentation is entitled “Cattle and Grasslands: A History of Ranching in Southeastern Arizona” and will be held Friday, September 28, 2012 from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at Yavapai College’s Clarkdale Campus, 601 Black Hills Drive, Clarkdale Arizona.

Cattle-raising was first introduced into Arizona by Jesuit missionary, Eusebio Kino, in the late 1600s. The grasslands of Southeast Arizona were famous for high-quality and abundance. In the 1800s, cattle-raising was a challenging enterprise for any rancher to withstand raiding Apache, protecting his investment in land and water, and surviving Arizona’s periodic droughts. Economic fluctuations, changing climate and federal laws, and restricted access to open space made survival of the ranching industry even more problematic during this century. Through the use of images and discussion of the history of ranching, this presentation will explore the array of environmental changes across Southeast Arizona.

Western Caballeros Museum Wickenburg AZ

AHC speaker, Robin Pinto, is a landscape historian at the University of Arizona. She also works with the National Park Service and other agencies studying the changing cultures and environment in Southeastern Arizona and has written narrative histories on ranching, homestead settlement, national parks and monuments, and the New Deal work programs in Arizona during the Great Depression.

As a compliment to the ranching discussion, OLLI members and the community are invited to the Out Wickenburg Way Tour, scheduled for Saturday, October 6, 2012. This outing is a day tour and will take event participants to the dude ranch town of Wickenburg, Arizona.

There will be a guided tour of the Western Caballeros Museum and its special Arizona Centennial Project by Scott Baxter. Baxter spent ten years recording life on Arizona ranches that have been in existence for at least 100 years.

Robin Pinto OLLI presenter

The regular collections at the museum include Native American culture in the Desert Southwest, gold and minerals from petrified wood, spectacular crystals, and a focus on the history of mining in Arizona. The museum’s extensive Western collection includes bronze artists Remington and Russell. After the museum visit, participants will be given time to explore downtown Wickenburg to view its large bronze sculptures that hold historic significance.

Lunch is included at the historic Rancho 7 Restaurant. Fees for this outing are as follows: $59.00 per person for OLLI members and $65.00 for non-members. Reservations are recommended for this event.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) of Sedona and the Verde Valley is a dynamic organization within Yavapai College created to meet the needs of intellectually active mature adults. The fall 2012 term begins Monday, September 24 and continues through November 16 and will feature over 100 presentations. OLLI welcomes members of the community to obtain catalogs at the Yavapai College Campuses in Clarkdale or Sedona by contacting 928-649-4275 or 928-649-5550.

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