Roots So Deep Comes to Western Colorado for a Free Community Screening
A free community screening of Roots So Deep comes to Paonia, Colorado, on November 20. Join local regenerative ranchers and filmmaker Peter Byck for a conversation about grazing, soil health, ecological restoration, and the future of Western working landscapes.
On November 20, a community screening in Paonia will bring ranchers, researchers, and residents together to explore what regenerative grazing can mean for working landscapes.
What happens when ranchers change the way livestock move across the land? Can different grazing practices improve soil health, water cycling, biodiversity, and the long-term resilience of working landscapes?
These are questions worth examining carefully—and questions that connect directly to the work of land stewardship.
On Friday, November 20, 2026, Western Slope Ecological Restoration Services (WSERS) will host a free community screening of Roots So Deep (you can see the devil down there) at the Paradise Theatre in Paonia, Colorado.
The evening will feature Episodes 1 and 4 of filmmaker Peter Byck's documentary series, followed by a panel discussion with three Western Colorado regenerative ranchers and Byck, who will participate remotely.
Looking at What Changes on the Ground
Roots So Deep follows ranchers and scientists investigating adaptive grazing practices and their potential effects on soils, wildlife habitat, water cycling, and agricultural livelihoods.
Importantly, the documentary examines different approaches to grazing, including producers experimenting with adaptive management and neighboring operations using more conventional practices.
The central question is not simply whether grazing is good or bad. It is what happens to the land under different management decisions—and how those outcomes can be understood through observation and scientific measurement.
That question closely aligns with a principle we have explored at Pitchstone Waters: land management should ultimately be evaluated by ecological outcomes, not by labels or intentions alone.
A Conversation Rooted in Western Colorado
The screening will be followed by a discussion featuring three regional producers:
- Tony Prendergast, Sunshine Beef, Crawford, Colorado
- Cynthia Houseweart, Princess Beef, Hotchkiss, Colorado
- Benjamin Capron, Farmhand's Harvest, Paonia, Colorado
Filmmaker Peter Byck will join the conversation remotely, and attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions.
The evening will also feature food available for purchase from Chef Dan Geltz of Mountain View BBQ, using products from participating local producers.
For WSERS founder Matt Eland, the event is an opportunity to connect regenerative agriculture with the broader work of ecological restoration. While these disciplines have different objectives, both can contribute to healthier ecological processes and more resilient working landscapes.
Event Details
Roots So Deep — Free Community Screening
Friday, November 20, 2026
Paradise Theatre
215 Grand Avenue
Paonia, Colorado
4:30 p.m. MT: Doors open and food service begins
5:00 p.m. MT: Film screening begins
8:10 p.m. MT: Panel discussion and audience Q&A
9:00 p.m. MT: Event concludes
Admission is free, but seating is limited. Advance registration is encouraged through Western Slope Ecological Restoration Services.
Learn more and register:
Why We're Sharing This
Healthy working lands depend on people willing to ask difficult questions, examine evidence, and learn from the experiences of others.
This screening offers an opportunity for a Western Colorado community to do exactly that: hear from local producers, engage with scientific research, and consider how agricultural practices and ecological restoration might contribute to the future of the region's landscapes.
Pitchstone Waters is pleased to help bring attention to this community-led educational effort.
Event information provided by Western Slope Ecological Restoration Services. This screening is organized and hosted by WSERS.
