For over 20 years, Jules has been committed to social justice and environmental causes, in particular the empowerment and leadership of women. She brings a deep understanding of the connection and intersection of agriculture to climate change, public health and women’s equity. She is excited to apply decades of nonprofit leadership and fund development experience to help advance WFAN’s important work.

Juliann holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and a MBA with a specialization in Environmental Management from Ashford University in Clinton, IA. Jules is bilingual in English and Spanish. She strongly believes that we are at a critical tipping point globally and locally, and that a collective, inclusive, feminist approach to rebuilding our society post-COVID lockdowns is the only sustainable way forward.

Prior to joining WFAN, Jules served as the Associate Director and Interim Executive Director for Enlace Comunitario, an Albuquerque community-based organization with a mission to reduce domestic violence in the Latinx immigrant community. She also served as the Assistant Director for the Greater West Town Community Development Project (GWTP) in Chicago, IL where she led the successful development of the on-site community garden – which provided service learning opportunities to local high school students – and organized GWTP’s first urban agriculture conference.

Workshop Presenter

Women Ranchers are Reconnecting and Regenerating

Kathryn is a cattle rancher and agricultural consultant and grant writer. She owns Roan Creek Ranch and raises British Park White cattle in Colorado on owned and private leased lands. She also assists other agricultural businesses across the west with consulting services and grant writing. She is a current recipient of an Local Food Purchase Assistance grant which works to get local beef into regional food banks and pantries. She served on the Colorado Governor’s transition team and played a role in the selection of the Commissioner of Agriculture, the Director of the Energy Office and the Director of Natural Resources. She is currently a member of the Colorado Agricultural Commission, appointed by the Governor, which advises the State Agriculture Commissioner. Kathryn is actively involved in agricultural policy development. She was a past appointee to the Garfield County Energy Advisory Board and recently joined the board of the American Grassfed Association.
Kathryn started a grass-fed beef business and direct marketed up to 200 head per year through Farmers Markets, Restaurants, and ultimately her own retail store. She managed a 2000-acre ranch, including both private and public lands. In order to direct market beef, she developed a private label, a marketing program, and was solely responsible for starting and operating a local food store in Fruita, Colorado.
Kathryn holds a BA in Biology, an MA in Animal Behavior and a DVM.

Roundtable Facilitator

Marie von Ancken is a Programs Manager for HMI, advanced ceramic apprentice, and anti-oppression activist. She is passionate about environmental justice and regenerative farming as a solution to transforming our food system and addressing climate change. She grew up in Corrales, New Mexico, where her family raised chickens and has spent significant time living in Finland, France, and Nicaragua. Marie was a Rotary International Exchange student to Naantali, Finland her junior year of high school and continues to work with Rotary’s Youth Exchange Program facilitating talks on culture shock and intercultural communication. She is fluent in Spanish and Finnish, conversational in French, and works as a Spanish interpreter with immigrant rights organizations and indigenous artist communities from Central and South America. As Program Manager at Holistic Management International, Marie has spent the last eight years developing learning opportunities, both nationally and internationally, that aim to educate farmers, ranchers and food advocates in agricultural practices that increase organic matter in the soil, grow nutrient-dense foods, and sequester carbon while empowering them to strengthen their businesses and improve their quality of life. Marie has a bachelor’s degree in International Business Management and Sustainability Studies from the University of New Mexico/College of Charleston/IPAG School of Business – Nice, France.

Roundtable Facilitator

As a child I grew up helping on my uncle’s farm. With a passion for farm life I expanded my knowledge in agriculture by obtaining an OSU Master Cattleman Certification and an Oklahoma Beef Quality Assurance Certified Producer Certification.

Over the years I have enjoyed studying Joel Salatin’s intensive, rotationally grazed, pasture management style of farming. Salatin is a pioneer in this farming practice. I proudly model our farming methods after Salatin’s Polyface Farm. 

​I farm in Mayes County, Oklahoma where I raise beyond organic,  NON GMO: Pastured: chicken, eggs, corn free pork, turkey & duck and Grass Fed: beef, goat & lamb. My animals enjoy fresh air, sunshine, exercise and all the NON GMO feed they would like to eat. USDA Inspected. 

Plenary Speaker

Turning your passion into a paycheck: farm to food production and financial literacy

With a background in vegetable production and dairying, CJ has more recently taken up a role to support food producers and other land managers through relationship building. They are inspired and fueled by the reality that trusting relationships and the intentional building of good listening skills are the foundation of healthy soil, landscapes, and communities.

Roundtable Facilitator