Beyond the productivist ideal: understanding the drivers of land stewardship among amenity migrants transforming agrifood systems in rangelands

Amenity migration is reshaping rural agrifood systems as a growing number of Land Steward Amenity Migrants (LSAMs) acquire ranches primarily for ecological restoration, lifestyle fulfillment, and intergenerational legacy rather than commodity production. Guided by the Rangeland Socio-Ecological Framework (RSEF), we conducted qualitative interviews with 16 LSAMs across Texas to examine the drivers shaping their management decisions. Analysis revealed four interconnected drivers: values, property goals, ranching knowledge, and contextual factors such as climate variability, limited property access, and time constraints. These landowners’ post-productivist motivations challenge agrifood systems theory by demonstrating that stewardship can be driven by relational and non-commodity values, influencing ecological outcomes without direct engagement in production. However, implementation is often constrained by limited experience, fragmented peer networks, and misaligned institutional frameworks. Our findings underscore the need for adaptive, place-based outreach and policy mechanisms that align with LSAMs’ distinct motivations and limitations. Supporting this emerging demographic is critical for sustaining the ecological integrity and socioeconomic vitality of evolving rangeland-based agrifood systems.