What education are you bringing with you to this position?
I have a bachelor’s in range and wildlife science from Texas Tech University. I also have a MBA from the same university.
Please describe your agricultural background.
I have approximately 12 years experience managing ranch operations covering commercial cattle operations, wildlife management, hunting operations and business operations. I have managed ranches in south Texas and western Colorado.
What territory will you cover?
I cover the tri-river area as well as Mesa, Delta, Montrose and Ouray counties.
What are your new responsibilities?
I provide educational programming in the areas of livestock and range management in response to local and multicounty needs. Also, I serve as a consultant by being the liaison between Colorado State University Range and Livestock research and area livestock producers. In addition, I serve as the county department head for CSU Extension for Delta County.
What previous positions have you held?
I was a ranch manager for Rock House Ranch in Pearsall, Texas and later for the Espejo Ranch in Catarina, Texas. I have also been a wildlife biologist and manager for the Rio Paisano Ranch in Riviera, Texas and the ranch director, manager and director of big game operations for the High Lonesome Ranch in De Beque, Colorado.
What excites you most about working in your new role?
I love meeting new people that share my interest in livestock and range management. I look forward to being able to gather new research information that will help local producers run their operations more efficiently to produce a quality product. Also being able to help landowners be good stewards of the land by improving range and environmental conditions for future generations is exciting.
How will you be of most help to producers in my region of expertise?
I will give practical, common sense advice and by work together with producers to come up with specific solutions that work for their particular situation. Developing educational programs for producers that are user friendly, cutting edge and practical to implement will also help producers.
Why did you choose this organization?
I wanted to be in an environment where research and education meet practical application. CSU is well respected in the field of livestock and range management and the university has many programs available to meet the needs of livestock producers through campus and extension training. Extension agents are supported by the top researchers and professors at CSU.
What goals would you like to accomplish while in this position?
I would like to have producers understand that all aspects of ranching such as range and pasture management, livestock management, people management and economics are all links in a chain. They must understand all of these aspects to be able make sound business decisions and succeed. PD
