In July 2007, a series of 6 focus groups with 34 total participants were conducted in different rangeland regions across Idaho.  Participants were selected by the research team using the membership list of The Idaho Rangeland Resource Commission, considering a distribution of representatives across age, gender, type of operation and geographic distribution within each rangeland region.  Sessions were facilitated by trained members of the research team.  Duration of the sessions ranged from 75 to 125 minutes.  The purpose of the project was to seek input from ranchers on issues related to the future of ranching and grazing, an assessment of the programs and emphasis of the Idaho Rangeland Resource Commission.  Common themes across all focus groups were: the need for more outreach and educational efforts directed at ranchers; the need to preserve open space and the relationship between open space and Idaho’s rangelands and ranches; and cautious optimism on the future of Idaho ranching and grazing.  Threats to this future were identified as the shift in population to urban centers and the resulting development pressures on rangelands; changing expectations of rangeland users and visitors; predatory animals; threatened/endangered species; and, the on-going water rights adjudication processes.