WHO WE ARE

Kristin is the Research Coordinator for the Beyond Yellowstone Living Lab, a collaboration that brings together partners to study and share the story of the Yellowstone ecosystem’s wildlife, lands, and people. When she’s not stumbling down a scree field or falling off her mountain bike, you’ll probably find her crocheting yet another unnecessary blanket.

Laura made northwest Wyoming her home in the mid-seventies, and since then has worn many hats including sheepherder, ranch hand, federal grazing lands manager, backcountry horse packer, conservationist, fundraiser, and author. She serves her community by facilitating the East Yellowstone Collaborative and the Absarokas Working Group, as well as looking for other opportunities to connect the dots around conservation and community. Laura lives outside of Cody on Sage Creek with her husband, two dogs, and a barnful of horses.

Alex is the Director of Park County Open Lands, the first community-led land trust operating across all of Park County. Park County Open Lands was created by long time local residents, now the Advisory Council, to offer landowners a voluntary alternative to subdivision. 

The Western Landowners Alliance, established in 2011, advocates for policies and practices that sustain working lands, connected landscapes, and thriving native species. Shaleas Harrison, a sixth-generation farmer from Wyoming’s Bighorn Basin, continues to farm each summer, maintaining a deep connection to the challenges and rewards of land stewardship. At WLA, she combines her passion for conservation and agriculture to advance policies that empower stewardship and sustainable land management.

Trout Unlimited’s mission is to bring together diverse interests to care for and recover rivers and streams so our children can experience the joy of wild and native trout and salmon. In the Bighorn Basin, we work with federal, state, and private partners on fish habitat restoration and reconnection projects that build resiliency of native and wild trout populations. Brittany is a Cody native and spends her free time fishing, rafting, bird hunting, and cross country skiing with her husband and two dogs. 

Erin is the Senior Wyoming Conservation Associate for the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. Erin’s primary focuses are on wildlife movement and landscape connectivity/permeability, predator conflict reduction, and habitat protection on both private and public lands. Erin has deep familial ties to the Bighorn Basin and enjoys the outdoor opportunities afforded living along the Absaroka Front. Erin enjoys kayaking, hiking, gardening, and chasing her crazy chickens around the yard. She lives in Cody with her husband and house full of critters. 

The Nature Conservancy works to conserve the lands and waters essential to life. In Wyoming, its migration program focuses on maintaining healthy, connected landscapes for migratory big game through collaborative, science-based conservation with landowners, agencies, and partners. In her free time, Kimi enjoys backpacking, snowshoeing, and canoeing in search of wildlife.

Ben was born and raised in Basin, WY. After graduating the University of Wyoming with a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and Management as well as a Rangeland Management minor, he went to TCU and earned a Certificate in Ranch Management. After college he started working at the Pitchfork Ranch as a ranch hand and was asked to take over managing the ranch in 2019. The ranch is primarily a commercial cow/calf operation, with a small beef operation.

Daniel is a fifth generation rancher with a Master’s Degree from the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management in Texas. Ranching across the heart of America, Daniel has managed cattle on several of the nation's largest ranches. He is constantly looking at improving grazing practices and balancing budgets wherever he hangs his hat. His boots on the ground experience in eight different states gives him an out of the box view on productive successful ranch management.

Tiffany, a fourth-generation rancher from Cody, serves as director of the Allen Wyoming Foundation and manages equine operations at the J Bar 9 Ranch. With lifelong ranching experience, including work at a Texas cutting horse operation, she brings deep expertise to her roles. Tiffany values the connection between a strong ranching economy and community well-being. She is dedicated to preserving open spaces through collaboration with diverse stakeholders. Tiffany also advises Cody CAN Youth, Park County Youth Cycling, and Park County Open Lands. She also leads the Cody Active Transportation Plan, enhancing non-motorized access around town.