Women in Wyoming Podcast

Sara Wood is the owner and founder of Wyoming Heritage Grains, a direct to consumer regenerative farm and flour mill specializing in heirloom and heritage wheats, barleys, and ryes.

In 2017, Sara became curious about why more people are gluten intolerant and discovered heritage and heirloom grains, which are ancient, pre-hybridized varieties of wheat, oat, barley, and rye. Realizing how much biodiversity has been lost in our current food and seed chain supply through corporations like Monsanto, Sara went to work. She left her corporate job and convinced her father and uncle to completely transform their traditional farm, growing conventional crops like sugar beets, corn and beans, into a regenerative agricultural operation. They use several species of cover crops and companion crops, rotational grazing and no till practices to raise their heritage wheats, barleys, and rye. They are more self-sufficient because they don’t rely on added fertilizers and pesticides to manage their soil and crop health. The largest, and possibly riskiest transformation to the farm was ditching the traditional commodity market for a direct to consumer model.

Biodiversity is life on earth. As the owner and founder of Wyoming Heritage Grains, Sara believes good food should be sustainably grown and nutrient dense, so life on the farm begins underground. Keeping food in her community and connecting people to where their food comes from and how it gets to their plate is of utmost importance. For Sara, an unexpected joy of becoming a farmer has been milling all her own flour. She’s the only commercial flour mill in Wyoming and sells White Sonora pancake mix, red fife berries, several types of flours and many more offerings. From seed to table, you’ll never find Sara’s yield shipped off to another state or country before returning to your plate.

Sara is considered an outsider for doing things differently, but growing food holistically isn’t a new concept. Sara fields a lot of questions from other farmers who stop and wonder what she’s doing. This helps Sara on her quest to strengthen the agricultural community and empower more farmers to think outside the box. Ultimately she wants everyone to be more aware about what it takes to grow, process, and deliver food to market, while also cultivating connection between farmers, ranchers, other land stewards, and consumers. Sara is most inspired by nature and says, “Farming is an ecosystem. You can grow your garden like an ecosystem, plant your lawn like an ecosystem, or whatever you have available to you, and it’s all going to make a big impact. Everyone has a role to play, but if we don’t all work together, it’s not going to work.”

Learn more about Sara at WomeninWyoming.com/Sara-Wood

Wyoming scientist, inventor, and entrepreneur Dr. Marnie Peterson is an expert in infectious diseases, antibiotic resistance, and experimental therapeutics. Marnie has invented several patents for her discoveries, conducted research for the National Institute of Health and Department of Defense (among others), and educated the next generation of scientists.

As the Chief Scientific Officer and US Managing Director of Perfectus BioMed, a global biosciences company based in Jackson, WY, Marnie and her team provide boutique and customized research services to help companies develop their technologies, refine their intellectual property, and bring new solutions and improved health to individuals and society.

A pioneer in conscious science, Marnie conducts all of her research on nonlive animal tissue. Practicing what she calls “farm to bench,” pig tissue is sourced from a local farmer that would have otherwise been discarded after the hog is butchered for human consumption (no pigs are sacrificed specifically for her research). This technique vastly reduces live animal studies and helps make clinical trials more successful because human and pig tissue are so similar. This practice also helps local farmers utilize their entire hog and be more sustainable. Marnie has been developing this nonlive animal approach to drug development and discovery for over 20 years and is a leader in this niche style of research.

Jasmine Pickner Bell, or Cunku Was’te Win’ meaning “Good Road Woman” in Dakota, shares the sacred hoop dance with the world. The two-time world champion, who is a member of the Crow Creek Sioux Tribe (also known as Hunkpati Oyate), began training with her father, the renowned hoop dancer Dallas Chief Eagle. Traditionally the hoop dance only allowed men to perform. Early on, Dallas recognized Jasmine’s natural strength, outspokenness, and spirit as a potential catalyst to restore the masculine/feminine balance within the sacred circle. Jasmine realized this calling when tragedy struck and her brother, also a talented hoop dancer, was killed in a car accident. In honor of his life, she performed in his place at the World Championship Hoop Dance Competition and won, becoming the first woman to hold the title and compete in a dress (up until that point, many female hoop dancers still performed in traditional male attire). The following year she defended her title. And now she is proud to say, more women have entered the field and wear their traditional dress and not men’s attire.

The hoop dance has been described as “the renewal of the collective human spirit.” It is a dance of healing, connectedness, and prayer. Even though Jasmine is in constant spinning motion while she dances, she never finds herself dizzy because she is aligned with a higher purpose. As she’s passing each hoop through her body, she says, “Your prayers are being connected and lifted up. You’re not only telling a story through the designs of the hoop dance, but you’re also praying and healing the people who are in need at that time.”

Learn more about Jasmine at https://www.womeninwyoming.com/jasmine-pickner-bell

Jasmine's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hoopinitdakotastyle

Ann Simpson grew up on a small farm in Greybull, Wyoming. As the wife of former United States Senator Alan Simpson, she had the opportunity to travel and experience the world. The exposure to people and cultures here and abroad informed and inspired Ann’s many projects across the decades. Throughout her years in politics, first with father-in-law Milward Simpson and continuing with husband Al in the Wyoming State Legislature and the U. S. Senate, Ann learned that by extending oneself to people of all types, they respond in kind. This realization has been a guiding force throughout her life and is at the heart of her good works. Time spent in Germany as part of Al’s army career led Ann to start the first American Field Service study abroad program in Cody. This program allowed Wyoming youth to travel abroad, while bringing students from around the world to Wyoming. A mental health advocate, Ann was passionately involved in the Congressional Wives Mental Health Group and the Lab School of Washington for Children with Dyslexia. As a champion of the arts, Ann was spurred to create the University of Wyoming’s most successful art outreach effort: The Ann Simpson Artmobile. Named in her honor, the Artmobile has traveled the state for more than 30 years showcasing pieces from the University of Wyoming Art Museum’s collection, exposing Wyoming communities to the arts, and engaging students with hands-on activities.

Wyoming’s only female Army MEDEVAC pilot, Lauren “Lolo” Gurney’s mission is to fly and save lives. Piloting UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters, Lauren’s flight journey had humble beginnings, first inspired by watching the movie Dumbo as a child. Between the ages of 9 and 19, she raced cars with her dad and worked as a mechanic in his pit crew; when she was 16, the Sport Car Club of America honored her with the title of “Mechanic of the Year.” Her grandfather, a veterinarian, Korean War paramedic, and former NASA Valkyrie project technician, pushed Lauren to pursue her flight, outer space, science, and medical interests. Enlisting in the Army at 17 years old, she graduated from military college in pre-medicine and, five years later, graduated from flight school. Lauren has served multiple deployments abroad, including combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, where she served as the officer-in-charge (OIC). She’s an active member of the Wyoming National Guard as a UH-60 test pilot and pilot in command. When she’s not flying helicopters, Lauren lives in Moose, Wyoming where she’s the owner and head baker of Jackson Hole Cake Company. A self-taught professional baker and chocolatier, Lauren’s baking business is her creative outlet and joy where she builds relationships around love and connection. She’s baked in every country in which she’s been deployed and loves baking for her local community the most.

Portraits and Podcast by Lindsay Linton Buk, Women in Wyoming. © 2019, All Rights Reserved.

The eldest of seven children, Rosie stepped into leadership at an early age. Growing up on a dairy farm in Daleyville, Wisconsin, Rosie determined by age 13 to get a good education, learn French, and travel. She worked in Switzerland and studied art history at the University of Wisconsin. On a road trip out West, Rosie fell in love with the Rocky Mountains and eventually settled in Sheridan where she’s lived since 1978. She managed and co-owned Sheridan’s Brittain World Travel for 18 years, and served as President of the Sheridan Chamber of Commerce. As a community leader, Rosie worked with the Wyoming Film Commission, Sheridan Arts Council, Wyoming Theater Board, State Parks and Cultural Resources Commission, and the Dog and Cat Shelter, among other organizations. During her seven terms in Wyoming’s House of Representatives, Rosie worked with four Governors and was involved in almost every aspect of state government. Most notably, she helped institute legislation for the judicial system, landowner rights, economic development, health industry, and the prevention of animal cruelty. She served as chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Speaker Pro Temp, and Majority Leader. Rosie was chair of the Council of State Governments-West, and on the executive board of the National Conference of State Legislatures. She is a 2002 graduate of Leadership Wyoming and a founder of the Leap Into Leadership event and of the Wyoming Women’s Legislative Caucus, both of which encourage women to rise up and pursue leadership positions. Rosie continues to be involved in several Wyoming affairs, which fulfill her mission to build up and serve her community.

Portraits and Podcast by Lindsay Linton Buk, Women in Wyoming. © 2019, All Rights Reserved.

Hillary Walrath grew up on a remote ranger station in northern Idaho where the Lochsa River flowed through her backyard. That experience instilled an intrinsic connection to water, wild places, and rivers, which have remained a constant presence in her life, and which she has translated into her career. As a Wildlife Biologist and Outreach Coordinator for Trout Unlimited, Hillary’s mission is to find creative, smart solutions that work for both wildlife and landowners. With increasing populations, pressures on natural resources, and the value of water in the West, creative problem solving is called for on a daily basis. She’s also an avid outdoorswoman and founder of the Seedskadee Women’s Fly Fishing Float, an annual fly fishing event that empowers women to get on the water and learn to fish. As a mother of two daughters, Hillary noticed she was often the only woman on the river; she created the float to inspire more women to feel confident getting outside with their families. Her goals with her recreational and conservation outreach efforts are to instill value and appreciation for Wyoming’s wild places and to inspire more people to utilize public lands so they care about the preservation of land for future generations.

Portraits and Podcast by Lindsay Linton Buk, Women in Wyoming. © 2019, All Rights Reserved.

Dancer, teacher, and choreographer Elizabeth Fernandez creates a space for performing artists in Cody, Wyoming as the Executive and Artistic Director of Rocky Mountain School of the Arts (RMSA) and Rocky Mountain Dance Theatre (RMDT). After graduating with honors from the University of Northern Colorado in Dance Teaching/Movement Analysis and Dance Kinesiology, Elizabeth moved home to open her own dance school and performing arts company. Under her direction, RMSA and RMDT train students of all ages in the arts of dance and theatre, focusing on building dancers with strong foundations in the technical and performance aspects of ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, and musical theatre. In addition to teaching full-time, Elizabeth creates and choreographs; projects include The Nutcracker Ballet and an original musical, the Wild West Spectacular, which is about Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. She is a lifelong learner and certified at the highest level through the Russian American Foundation’s Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Through her work cultivating opportunity for young people in the performing arts, she inspires young dancers and actors to strive for excellence in technique, self-discipline, self-confidence, individuality, and artistic expression, while promoting the performing arts as a vital force of reflection and perspective in Wyoming.

Portraits and Podcast by Lindsay Linton Buk, Women in Wyoming. © 2019, All Rights Reserved.

Jessie Allen Gottwald is a sixth-generation Wyoming outdoorswoman whose mission is to create connection and community in the mountains. Living off the grid for half the year at 9,200 feet, Jessie owns and directs Allen’s Diamond 4 Ranch, located in the heart of the Wind River Mountains and Wyoming’s highest elevation guest ranch. A multifaceted woman, Jessie served as a state officer for Future Farmers of America (FFA) while she was attending the University of Wyoming, which sparked the inspiration to compete for (and win) the title of Miss Wyoming in 2014. Jessie is an avid adventurer and lives life with curiosity and an explorer’s mindset. Jessie pursued her yoga teacher training in Thailand, worked as a handler for the Yukon Quest (a thousand-mile dog sled race in Alaska), and spent four months traveling solo in New Zealand, working on dairy farms, horse-trekking operations, and sheep stations. As a guide, teacher, and leader, Jessie creates transformational opportunities in the mountains where her clients learn to bridge gaps, find common ground, and overall, build a broader human connection.

Portraits and Podcast by Lindsay Linton Buk, Women in Wyoming. © 2019, All Rights Reserved.

Jill Winger’s homesteading evolution began when she and her husband Christian bought a 67-acre, tumbledown property outside of Chugwater, Wyoming. Flooded with an overwhelming rush of inspiration on how she could make their land sustainable, they started a compost pile, bought a few chickens, and began delving into the homesteading lifestyle. In 2010, Jill launched her official brand, The Prairie Homestead, which started as an online blog to share what she was learning with other like-minded souls. Today, Jill has grown her brand into a global platform with tens of thousands of followers who want to live more intentional lives. She recently debuted her cookbook in partnership with Macmillian Publishers; it quickly became an Amazon best seller. Self-described as “old-fashioned on purpose,” Jill’s philosophy to return to the land is not to be trendy but because it brings her a great sense of peace and joy. An entrepreneur and influencer, Jill loves empowering others to incorporate rural arts and skills into their lives, no matter where they live, and reap the physical and mental health benefits that can result from living more simply.

Portraits and Podcast by Lindsay Linton Buk, Women in Wyoming. © 2019, All Rights Reserved.