QUIVIRA COALITION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Carbon Ranch Initiative Planner / Manager
Amy Larsen was raised in Taos, New Mexico and has lived near both coasts - Massachusetts for school and Oregon for work. In 2011, Amy returned to northern NM where she and her family now tend a homestead with goats, chickens and parakeets, guard dogs, a small orchard, a garden, and a huge compost pile. Geology is the foundation of Amy's background in soils, complemented by training in landscape planning and design; commercial compost, compost tea and vermicompost production; and chemical and biological field and laboratory analyses. Composting led Amy to explore the intricate world of microbes, and ultimately to the question of how we think about soil health in arid environments. With the Carbon Ranch Initiative at Quivira, Amy contributes to program management, workshop facilitation, soil monitoring, and whole ranch planning. Amy hopes to better understand the diversity of soils across NM, as well as how we tend the land equitably, with consideration for future generations. When not looking down at the ground, Amy might be gazing up at the stars or galaxies, while serving on the board of a local astronomy club. Inspired by both her mother and grandmother's passion for education, Amy served as Board Chair of a local public charter school for several years, and strives to be a lifelong educator and learner.
Anica comes to Quivira with a storyteller's eye and a family history tied to the land. Her great grandfather and grandfather were part of a long line of vaqueros in northern New Mexico and her dad spent his entire career in the Forest Service working to help all people access the outdoors. Anica is a journalist by training and has more than a decade of communications and marketing experience, most of it with non-profits. She is always looking for ways to tell the stories of those who are doing the "heart work" of caring for the land and feeding our communities.
She and her partner own an urban farm in the Denver-metro area and are committed to utilizing regenerative agriculture practices. They also focus on finding beauty in farm work and the connections formed through fresh produce. Their weekly farm stand gives people the opportunity to meet neighbors and get an inside look at the importance of local agriculture.
When not farming, Anica enjoys reading, running and laughing at the shenanigans of their three dogs.
Job Titles:
- Education & Outreach Director
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Professor of Geography at Oregon State University
Hannah Gosnell is a Professor of Geography at Oregon State University who studies agricultural landscape change, collaborative conservation, climate change, and environmental governance in the context of rural working landscapes. Her research focuses on the human dimensions of rangeland management from a social-ecological systems perspective. She is particularly interested in the social, cultural, and psychological aspects of the transition to regenerative agriculture and the implications for landowners' capacity to adapt to social, economic and environmental change. Hannah earned her MA and PhD in Geography from the University of Colorado, Boulder and a BA from Brown University.
Job Titles:
- New Agrarian Program Northern Plains Manager
Job Titles:
- New Agrarian Program Southwest Manager
Jane works at the intersection of climate science and policy. These days, her work focuses on advancing the science of carbon removal and she is currently the executive director of the Soil Carbon Solutions Center at Colorado State University, where Jane works with leading scientists to build the tools and approaches needed to accelerate the deployment of credible soil-based climate solutions, measure their impacts, and bring them to scale. In addition to Jane's scientific and policy expertise, she is also the cofounder of 500 Women Scientists, a global grassroots nonprofit organization with the mission to serve society by making science open, inclusive and accessible and fighting racism, patriarchy and oppressive societal norms. Jane filled the role of volunteer executive director for the first 4 years and is now the board president. Jane is originally from Ukraine and her connection to land comes from childhood running around in Ukrainian forests, hiking with her dad, and working with her mom on the Soviet communal farms.
Julie Sullivan was born and raised in California. After working as an actor, arts administrator, and starting a private progressive preschool in Seattle, she earned her Master's in Environmental Education and subsequently taught interdisciplinary environmental education at both undergraduate and graduate levels for the Audubon Expedition Institute at Lesley University. She spent those years challenging students to look beyond surface conflicts between environmentalism and agriculture, and to see the common values and goals shared by both points of view. After over a decade living outside teaching for the Expedition, Julie met and joined George Whitten at the ranch in 2001 on his certified organic, grass-finished cattle ranch. The ranch is committed to restorative practices that result in soil health, functioning grassland ecosystems, and viable small scale ranching. Julie and George and the founding mentors of the Quivira Coalition New Agrarian Program and have been mentors since its inception. Julie also serves as Mentor Support and Training for the New Agrarian Program. She is fiercely dedicated to the next generation of agrarians, fully functioning ecosystems and creative solutions to the interaction of humans with their planet.
Job Titles:
- Communications Coordinator
Kristina is a passionate advocate for regenerative agriculture and supporting those in this field. She joins the team with a colorful background in many aspects of the agricultural industry including pasture-raised swine and poultry, grassfed beef, produce, fruit trees, dairy cattle, agritourism, event planning, marketing, and program planning. Kristina is a two-time graduate of North Carolina State University with a Bachelor's degree in Extension Education with minors in Agricultural Leadership and Animal Science and a Master's of Animal Science degree. In the few years she spent as a Livestock Extension Agent, Kristina worked with farmers of all different backgrounds, expertise, and skill levels; sharing knowledge, methods, and technologies to improve productivity, efficiency, and bottom lines. Kristina is excited to bring a farmer/rancher-centered approach to her communications work and be able to support telling the stories of regenerative ranchers.Kristina is an avid traveller and loves to explore national parks and new countries. When not working or traveling, she loves to read, try new coffee shops, hang out with her dog, Zelda, and plan her next trip.
Job Titles:
- Education and Outreach Project Manager
Job Titles:
- New Agrarian Program Director
Job Titles:
- New Agrarian Program Northern Plains Manager
Job Titles:
- Treasurer
- Treasurer of the Board
- Executive Director of the Community Foundation of the San Luis Valley
Mike is Executive Director of the Community Foundation of the San Luis Valley and owns Café del Valle in Antonito, Colorado. Mike served as Founding Director of the Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships as a political appointee of then-Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. Mike has also served as Executive Director of the Grassroots Institute for Fundraising Training (GIFT) and the Chinook Fund. Mike is a 2018 BALLE Fellow. He enjoys hunting, fishing, and exploring the beauty of the San Luis Valley of Colorado.
Nameh Marsin blends her love of the land, people and systems in her role as Quivira's Office Manager. Nameh has led many lives; rape crisis legal advocate, Chicago law firm office management, organic veggie and seedling farming, and spiritual life coaching. Nameh deeply values harmony by bringing our inner world in alignment with our outer expression.
she/her/hers
Nancy Ranney spent her childhood years on a farm in northern Illinois and came to New Mexico as a teen when her parents bought a ranch near Corona. She has a graduate degree in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning. She managed the Ranney Ranch for the Ranney family from 2000 until its sale in 2021; inspired by the Quivira Coalition, she instituted regenerative range management practices and land conservation partnerships, including as the pilot NM ranch for the Audubon Conservation Ranching Program. She managed the Ranney Ranch Grassfed/Grassfinished Beef program and is currently on the board of SWGLA (the Southwest Grassfed Livestock Alliance) and the Quivira Coalition; also a member of the New Mexico Cattle Growers and the Society for Range Management. She now lives with her husband in Corrales, NM.
she/her
Job Titles:
- Carbon Ranch Initiative Project Manager
Nina grew up on a small farm in rural Vermont where her family raised a menagerie of animals from chickens to pigs to horses. As a teenager, Nina found her passion for small ruminants and began raising her own dairy goats for milk and cheese. She continued to follow her passion of further honing skills in livestock management and land stewardship through on-farm apprenticeships while earning a degree in Journalism from the University of Rochester in Upstate New York. Upon graduation, Nina ventured out west to California where she spent multiple years working on her friends' grass-fed goat and sheep dairy and teaching environmental science in Yosemite National Park. She is excited to bring her combined background in communication, education, and hands-on agricultural experience to her position as Carbon Ranch Initiative Project Manager. When not working on all things Quivira-related, you can find Nina tending to her farm in the San Pedro Mountains of New Mexico or off skiing, backpacking, mountain biking, & rock climbing with her two pups in tow.
Sam Hinkle's journey with Quivira began with an internship in 2013, most of which he spent in the Valle Vidal. He has since worn many hats in the outdoor and conservation industries, from snowshoe guide and park ranger in Aspen to outdoor education program coordinator in his hometown of Colorado Springs. Before returning to Quivira as the Development Director, Sam spent two years building up nonprofit administration chops with El Pomar Foundation's Fellowship program. When he is not engaging with Quivira's partners and community, you can find Sam running trails, playing with a camera, looking at birds, and trying to fit Lord of the Rings quotes into everyday conversation.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Secretary
- Vice Chair
Sam Ryerson is a rancher based in New Mexico and Montana, leasing and managing ranches. He grew up in Massachusetts and since 2005 has worked on horseback range-based ranches throughout the West. He is a graduate (in 2010) of Quivira's ranch management apprenticeship program. He is also on the board of the Southwest Grassfed Livestock Alliance.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe
Sisto Hernandez is a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe in Arizona. He comes from a ranching heritage on both sides of his family. His maternal grandfather & great-grandfather were both cattle owners on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Arizona. His paternal grandparents also operated a ranch in northern Chihuahua Mexico. Sisto also serves as the Vice President of the Grasshopper Livestock Association. The Grasshopper Livestock Association is a Tribal grazing collective comprised of 14 members.Sisto was the Rangeland Management Specialist for the White Mountain Apache Tribe for 16 years. In that time he represented his Tribe and served as president of the Mexican Wolf/Livestock Council for Arizona & New Mexico. In that role he was instrumental in promoting tolerance and the implementation of proactive coexistence practices.Currently Sisto is a District Coordinator for Indian Nations Conservation Alliance (INCA). INCA helps Tribal agricultural producers to access USDA programs & assistance, implement conservation practices, and access new & innovative agricultural technologies.Sisto is a strong advocate of ranching, agriculture, natural resources & wildlife conservation, coexistence, and Tribal sovereignty.
Job Titles:
- New Agrarian Program Colorado Manager