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

Luka´s story began in Münster, Germany, where she started working in the organic food and beverage sector early on in her life. She much appreciated the tight-knit community of people that cared about the quality of their products and their practices. After receiving a B.S. in Animal Science from Montana State University in Bozeman and a M.S. from the University of Göttingen in Germany, she worked in the Research and Development Department of a rancher and farmer cooperation where she managed projects that had the ultimate intention of making animal agriculture more sustainable. In 2018, Luka came back to Montana and worked at the Bozeman Agricultural Research and Teaching Farm where she really enjoyed working with students who were eager to learn and were motivated to become the next generation of ranchers and farmers. Her experiences with agriculture in Montana also include feedlot work, seed potato farming, stockyard work and ranching. She enjoys helping nurture relationships with the livestock and agriculture community. When not on a horse, Luka enjoys learning new languages, gardening, exploring the backcountry, and searching for Yogo Sapphires. As the New Agrarian Northern Plains Manager for Quivira, Luka loves to work with apprentices and ranchers and farmers in Montana to help everybody get the most out of the New Agrarian Program.

Roundtable Facilitator

Apart From to A Part Of: Creating Connection in Rural Ag Communities

Rural communities often benefit from enthusiastic newcomers arriving to help out on farms and ranches, thus revitalizing land and society. Yet newcomers often feel unwelcome or unsure of how to become part of their new place. Beginning agrarians often relocate frequently for years; what helps build community in spite of transiency? Locals usually want to see a person stick around a few years before investing in them, while newcomers want to share their ideas and skills right away. Join us as we explore what NAP alumni and apprentices have tried in their various communities, share your own ideas, and consider what locals could do to better support new agrarians eager to become part of, and contribute to, their new home town. Facilitated by Quivira’s NAP staff Julie Sullivan and Luka Samson. Contributors include New Agrarian Program Apprentices and Alumni.