BlueRibbon Coalition (BRC)

Activities

The BlueRibbon Coalition is an advocacy organization that supports recreational access to public and private lands. The BRC is comprised of a membership of off-highway vehicle user groups and related organizations that promotes recreation through equality of access, recreational diversity, and responsible land management. ²

The BRC advocates for the responsible use of public lands and waters for recreationists through education, collaborative work with land managers, and legal actions. The BRC supports recreation efforts in all 50 states and has represented the interests of Jeep clubs, dirt bike groups, off-road racing groups, camping organizations, rockhounding clubs, watercraft users, and backcountry pilots in defense of land access. ³

In 2025, the BRC continues to challenge route closures in Moab, Utah and Chuckwalla, California and advocates for accessibility via the Outdoor Americans with Disabilities Act. In September 2025, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced that it would reassess the closure of 160 miles of backcountry routes in the Moab area. The BRC, together with Colorado Offroad Trail Defenders, with legal representation from the Texas Public Policy Foundation, has litigated against the Bureau’s 2017 settlement with the Wilderness Society and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, both left-of-center environmentalist organizations. The settlement reassessed more than 10,000 miles of trails in Utah and closed even more routes in 2023. ⁴

Funding

The BlueRibbon Coalition is funded by donations from individuals, foundations, and businesses. While the BRC does not disclose its donors, tax filings confirm donations from the Low Family Foundation ($40,000 in 2023),  ⁵ the Desert Roads and Trails Society ($38,686 in 2023),  ⁶ and the Utah Public Lands Alliance ($33,641 in 2024).  ⁷

The BRC is also funded by individual and organization memberships and business partnerships. In 2025, individual memberships start at $5 a month, organization memberships range from $200 to $1,000, and business partnerships range from $500 to $5,000. ⁸

People

Ben Burr is the executive director of the BlueRibbon Coalition and a public lands consultant. Burr is also a political consultant at Paria Point Media and Consulting and the owner of School Lunch Choice. Burr formerly worked as director of digital media in the U.S. Senate. ⁹

Simone Griffin is the policy director at the BRC and a co-chair of the Southeast Advisory Council of the Colorado River Authority of Utah. ¹⁰

William Schuster is the administrative director and CFO of the BRC. Schuster formerly worked as a mines data preservationist at the Idaho Geological Survey. ¹¹

Joni Mogstad is an advisor to the executive director and former president of the board of the BRC. Mogstad is a retired law enforcement officer who worked as a lieutenant for Lane County Public Safety. ¹²

Board of Directors

Ranch Pratt is the president of the BlueRibbon Coalition Profile and is the CEO of Bestoff-road.com, Best Aviation Products, Torrix, and BTB Innovations. Pratt is a former CEO of Indigo Industries; a former vice president of engineering, production, and service at VIA Motors; and a former president of Prodigy Engineering. ¹³

Rebecca Antle is the secretary of the board of the BRC and the president of both the Arizona 4 Wheel Drive Association and the Arizona State Association of 4 Wheel Drive. Antle is a former electrical designer at M3 Engineering and Technology. ¹⁴

Jake Weikert is a manufacturing engineer at Balseal Engineering. Weikert formerly worked as a machine shop manager at Springs Fabrication and a mechanical engineer at Summit Products. ¹⁵

Phil Rawlings is the director of the Salt Lake Off-Road and Outdoor Expo and a producer at At Your Leisure-The United States of Adventure. Rawlings formerly worked as a mechanical engineer at Artec Industries and a lead engineer at Intermountain Rigging. ¹⁶

Mark Maynard is a Republican member of the West Virginia state Senate. ¹⁷

Matt Miller is a senior attorney in the Center for the American Future at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Miller formerly worked as managing attorney of the Texas Office of the Institute for Justice and as a senior attorney at the Goldwater Institute. ¹⁸

Other members of the board include Shannon Welch, Crystal Crowder, Travis Lindley, Ed Moore, Chuck Ramsey, and Matt Westrich. ¹⁹

Donor Organizations

Allegis Group Foundation (nonprofit)

AmazonSmile Foundation (nonprofit)

American Endowment Foundation (nonprofit)

American Online Giving Foundation (nonprofit)

Baird Foundation (nonprofit)

Desert Roads and Trails Society (nonprofit)

Donor Advised Charitable Giving (nonprofit)

Family Motor Coach Association (nonprofit)

Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund (nonprofit)

First Interstate BancSystem Foundation (nonprofit)

Gates Foundation (nonprofit)

JPMorgan Chase Foundation (nonprofit)

Kelly S. Byron Foundation (nonprofit)

Lamb Weston Charitable Foundation (nonprofit)

Low Family Foundation (nonprofit)

Mark B. Wallner Foundation (nonprofit)

McKinstry Charitable Foundation (nonprofit)

Nachman Marks Foundation Trust (nonprofit)

Network For Good (nonprofit)

PayPal Charitable Giving Fund (nonprofit)

Pechet Foundation (nonprofit)

Saluda Charitable Foundation (nonprofit)

Utah Public Lands Alliance (nonprofit)

Ventura County Motorcycle Club (nonprofit)

Violet G. Young Charitable Trust (nonprofit)