Public Lands Council Announces New Executive Director

Dustin Van Liew has been named as the new Executive Director of the Public Lands Council (PLC), and Director of Federal Lands for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). Van Liew has been with PLC as a lobbyist since January, 2008, most recently serving in the role of interim director.

“Dustin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, and—most importantly—a passion for this great industry and the people who work in it,” said Skye Krebs, PLC president. “He has been an invaluable asset to the association over the past two years, and I’m excited to have him on board in this new leadership role.”

In his new position, Van Liew will seek to grow the presence of PLC both in the West and in Washington, DC to ensure a profitable business environment for America’s ranchers.

Van Liew comes from Woodland, Calif., where he is the seventh generation to work in livestock and production agriculture. He attended Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business with a policy concentration. While at Cal Poly he was a member of the livestock judging team, competing in contests across the nation. After finishing at Cal Poly, Van Liew moved to College Station, Texas to attend Texas A&M University where he received a Masters degree in Agricultural Economics. His thesis focused on the economics of range management.

“PLC and NCBA have been strong allies over the years, and I’m looking forward to having Dustin at the helm as we continue to build upon this important partnership,” said Colin Woodall, NCBA vice president of government affairs.

The Public Lands Council (PLC) has represented livestock ranchers who use public lands since 1968, preserving the natural resources and unique heritage of the West. Public land ranchers own nearly 120 million acres of the most productive private land and manage vast areas of public land, accounting for critical wildlife habitat and the nation’s natural resources. PLC works to maintain a stable business environment in which livestock producers can conserve the West and feed the nation and world.