Juliann Salinas

Juliann Salinas

Juliann Salinas

John Liu

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 Bedell

Kathryn Bedell

Kathryn Bedell

John Liu

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

Marie von Ancken

Marie von Ancken

John Liu

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. She now manages a 35 acre reforestation project in Port Townsend, WA. As Program Manager at Holistic Management International, Marie has spent the last decade developing learning opportunities, both locally 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. She is an Aldo Leopold Land Ethic Leader and is glad she “will not be young in a future without wilderness.”

Roundtable Facilitator

The Unconference Roundtable

Not your average roundtable! The Unconferenced experience will feature an Open Space-style facilitation wherein participants engage in a participatory process to identify, and dive into, what’s most important in the moment. If you are not seeing the topics you want to discuss at the conference, attend this session. Come and pitch an idea, or come and hear what others are passionate about, then break out and have the conversations you’re most interested in having. This is also a great opportunity for anyone with an interest in learning new facilitation and collaboration processes. 

Angela Faughtenberry

Angela Faughtenberry

Angela Faughtenberry

John Liu

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

CJ Ames

CJ Ames

CJ Ames

John Liu

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

 

James Calabaza

James Calabaza

James Calabaza

John Liu

James is Director of the Indigenous Lands Program at Trees, Water & People. He engages and works with Tribal Nations on efforts centered around Tribal-led stewardship projects that bolster economic opportunities and landscape-scale restoration efforts. James provides insight on best practices to work with Tribal governments that uphold traditional ethics of governance and leadership. His deep rooted experiences strengthens TWP’s approach in building honest, working relationships while promoting cross-cultural values of landscape conservation.

Plenary Speaker

Relying on Traditional Knowledge Systems in Turbulent Times

Accepting and navigating through challenges and obstacles are natural components of learning and adaptation for human beings. This presentation will highlight a local, place-based approach on how to navigate changes to a system impacted by political and environmental impacts. We will dig into approaches and methods of how to remain resilient during times of uncertainty and stay focused on the nature of active stewardship. This presentation will also highlight how Traditional Knowledge systems can teach us to remain focused on the grander picture of our work.