Herding Her Story Podcast

Natasha McCann grew up in California and currently resides in Texas. While she did not grow up with an agricultural background, her love for horses brought her into the Western industry. She started her career working on cattle operations and breaking colts on the West coast. She now runs her business, McCann Athletic Therapy, holding board certification as a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nutrition in Sports Specialist, Emergency Medical Technician, and holds a Dual Board Certification in Clinical Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Manual Therapy, making her an industry leader for preventative and rehabilitative body work for Rodeo and Western Sports Athletes. Outside of her business, she serves as the current president for War Party Movement, a 501 (c) non-profit that works fiercely to take action in breaking cycles of abuse and fundamentally changing the way women are treated, across the country and particularly in Native communities. Natasha was induced into the 2023 Cowgirl 30 Under 30.

Captain Leiza Fitzgerald is a first-generation Floridian and trailblazer in the fishing industry. She is known as the “Queen of Conservation” in many circles because of her dedication to advocating for clean fisheries and protecting marine habitats. She has served as Florida STAR Director for the Coastal Conservation Association for over three decades, to educate the public on the importance of protecting Florida’s marine resources. Leiza also has many philanthropic endeavors through fishing teams and tournaments that benefit cancer charities.  Some of her many accolades includes numerous top 10 fishing titles across various tournaments, “Top Angler for Redfish, Snook” and Sheepshead by International Women’s Fishing Association,  “The Top 12 Lady Anglers in Florida” by Salt Strong, “Sportsman of the Year” by The Sarasota Sportsman’s Association, “The 30 Most Influential Female Anglers in North America” by Wildlife Enthusiast magazine, the first angler to be inducted to the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 2022, and first recipient of the Pamela Martin-Wells “Outdoor Woman of the Year”.

Dr. Betsey Hermanson Boughton is originally from Michigan and now resides in Sebring, FL. She graduated with a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Central Michigan University and earned her PhD from the University of Central Florida in Conservation Biology. Her roots run deep at Archbold Biological Station and Buck Island Ranch (BIR). She first started as an intern and she now serves as the Director of Science. Her research at BIR is focused on the quantification of multiple ecosystem services provided by working ranches, understanding how ranch management practices affect multiple ecosystem services and disservices, and the drivers and threats to ecosystem services, such as invasive species and climate change. Dr. Boughton serves as an integral part of the scientific community, helping to bridge the gap between science, conversation, and ranching.

Brianna Swartfager grew up in South Florida with agriculture right in her backyard and a strong rodeo background. After earning her B.S. in Animal Sciences from the University of Florida, she followed her passion into the classroom as an Agriculture Teacher. Beyond the barn and the school day, Brianna also balances life as a devoted wife and mom—showing what it truly looks like to lead, teach, and inspire both at home and in the ag community!

Megan Cassidy grew up in Northwestern Colorado and went to Colorado Mesa University. She was involved in agriculture at a young age through 4H. When she’s not busy helping run her family’s cattle operation, working in town, and spending time with family, she’s advocating for the agriculture industry.  Some of her involvement includes, but is not limited to, Mesa County Cattlewomen’s, District 9 Representative for the Colorado Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers, Vice President of her local co-op, and former Grand Junction Chamber Board Member. Her most recent honor being the 2025 Colorado Cattlewomen’s Rookie of the Year.

We hope you enjoyed hearing about Josie’s work. Part 2 live and you’ll get to hear more on her life!

Josie Waters is agricultural anthropologist and 8th generation farmer-rancher from Micanopy, FL. She worked in the feed industry for 10 years for Corbett’s Feed and Seminole Feed. She graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s in anthropology from UF, and gained field experience as an archaeological field technician in Alaska, Costa Rica, and most of the southeast and Midwest US. She then earned her masters in cultural anthropology with a focus on agriculture from the University of Wyoming where she defended her thesis, “I no longer have a skin; I have a hide”: The Complexities of Care Work of Women Cattle Ranchers in Southeastern Wyoming, exploring women’s labor in the ranching industry. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD in cultural-linguistic anthropology further focusing on women’s labor, land ownership, succession planning, motherhood, and women’s economic futures in the ranching industry in the Intermountain West.