Earlier this month, on a Saturday night at the Tulelake Fairgrounds in northern California, over 225 people from the local community and livestock advocates from around the West gathered to celebrate and show appreciation to Mike Byrne, whose family’s cattle ranch has origins reaching back to the founding decades of California and Oregon.

Mike – now 73 years old - has gone above and beyond at home in the Klamath Basin and around the country to support his community and enhance the legacy created by his family. His remarkable life was honored in a recent statement made on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-OR), excerpts of which were read at the Tulelake event.

Among many other leadership positions, Mike served as president of the Public Lands Council in 2004. From this and other national positions, he represented cattle producers in all 50 states.

But, he always kept his eye on the West and his heart in the Basin.

I moved to the Basin in 2001, the year that water was cut off to Klamth Project irrigators for the first time in 95 years. I was hired later that year as the executive director of the Klamath Water Users Association.

That’s where I met Mike Byrne.

A real challenge I faced when I started at KWUA was that local farmers and ranchers would come into my office, often unannounced, to either introduce themselves, or to just grab a cup of coffee and catch up on the local gossip. I had a hard time adjusting and managing my time, since my to-do list was never-ending. In my mind, I was desperately just trying to “get my job done”. 

Related:Could tariffs help California wine?

I soon learned that taking the time to talk to these folks was also part of the job.

Sometimes, these folks who came into the office just wanted someone to vent to. They could not believe that the government had wrecked their lives by taking their water and sending it out to the ocean to supposedly protect fish. And many times – like farmers often do – the came up with really good ideas that they wanted to discuss.

Mike Byrne was one of those who had great ideas and amazing political instincts. He was one of the visionaries that dreamed up the idea and helped execute the 2001 Bucket Brigade, which at the time was the largest act of civil disobedience in Oregon history. Over 15,000 people marched the streets of Klamath Falls, drawing global media attention to a government decision that prioritized fish over farmers. 

He is a real cowboy and a real conservationist. In 2004, USDA Secretary Ann Veneman recognized Mike for his leadership in Western conservation.

Related:Calif. farm groups aren’t tired of winning

Mike Bryne has made good things happen in the Klamath Basin and beyond. 

The turnout in Tulelake earlier this month was an amazing testament to his record and his character.

It was a powerful and well-deserved public affirmation of Mike Byrne’s decades of selfless advocacy on behalf of his family, his community, and his fellow farmers and ranchers.