Trouble in Tortuga!
A Rangeland Conflict Simulation Exercise

Confidential Instructions
Toby Nunn, Rancher

You inherited the Bar Nunn from your father, and have faithfully been ranching for the last 40 years. You, the Middletons, and the Sinespinas have been neighbors for along time, and it seems such a shame that the Middleton kids are selling. But you can't blame them too much--it is getting harder and harder to live this way. With the U.S. Forest Service threatening to reduce your grazing allotment, it's hard to see how anyone can survive, except by increasing the herd. Gil Sinespina is young and enthusiastic, and is organizing the ranchers to fight the allotment reduction legally.

You would like to stay in ranching if possible, and it makes you glad to see that there are good people with fight left in them. But you have other worries, too. The last year has not been an easy one for you personally. You had a bout with cancer that was pretty scary. You haven't felt as vigorous since. And you have a daughter who leaves for college next year. Now that the X-Bar is being sold, you have seriously considered selling the Bar Nunn. Last month you were secretly approached by a representative from Blake Worstcase's office, a nice young person. A price was mentioned; it was a lot of money. At this point, you have to consider the idea of taking it. Financial security has never been as important as it is now. And with the Middletons selling, it's not like you would be the only one. But you haven't mentioned this to anyone besides your spouse. If people around town found out, all hell would break loose!

But you feel torn. Your decision to sell would affect other ranchers in the area; especially Gil. Before you got this offer, you had agreed to work with Gil to approach Sidney Stone to purchase the X-Bar allotment. Purchasing the allotment might be a way of keeping ranching alive in Tortuga without jeopardizing your financial security. With a daughter to school and your strength no longer what it used to be, you are sitting on the fence. You want to support Gil and the other ranchers in their fight against the allotment reduction, and help them and yourself to stay financially secure. But you have to look out for your family first. Don't let anyone make any rules at this meeting that might hurt the value of your land.