A little of the Past and Present

I was born in Mission Beach, California and grew up in La Mesa, California in the same avocado groves my mother was raised in. My childhood solidified my love of citrus, La Jolla Shores, hiking, animals, the natural world and of course avocados. I spent summers visiting my grandparents’ farm in Viola, Idaho where I loved spending time with sheep in pastures full of tall grasses, and egg salad sandwiches made by my grandmother. This farm was my grandfather’s dream, his wild idea. My family also spent summers hiking in the high country of Yosemite National Park, camping in Tuolumne Meadows. We went on guided hikes by Carl Sharsmith who talked of the natural world with an intimate knowledge I could only dream of.

My love of animals took me to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where I gained hands on experience living the motto of “learn by doing” and earned a B.S. in animal science with a minor in psychology. I developed a great interest in livestock behavior, which led me to earn my M.S. in range science from Utah State University, studying grazing livestock behavior and plant interactions. One could see a full circle forming as I returned to the farm in Idaho, but work took me to Colorado and then Montana as an agriculture extension agent.

After a little over a year of traveling and living in a Four Wheel Camper with my partner, Matt, the cloudy skies of Montana pushed us towards southwestern Colorado where we now live, work and play. I again work for Colorado State University Extension. I’m also involved with a new agriculture program at Pueblo Community College – Southwest.

I live to garden, and play to live in the rivers and red rock country of the four corners. When my hands aren’t deep in the soil, I’m packrafting or canoeing as long as the spring runoff lasts. You might also find me curled up on the couch with my dog Ruby reading a Longmire novel.

A few organizations I associate with
VP, Four Corners Farmers and Ranchers Coalition
Member, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union
Member, National Young Farmers Coalition
Member, Society for Range Management
Member, Colorado Native Plant Society

A few of my favorite things
Grass – sideoats grama, Bouteloua curtipendula
Forb – Munro’s globemallow, Sphaeralcea munroana
Shrub – mountain mahogany, Cercocarpus ledifolius
Dog – red merle Australian shepherds named Ruby
Chile pepper – Mosco green chile
Tomato – Black Krim and Sungold
Herbs – basil and cilantro