Image above: Working Circle rancher partners participating in a stockmanship clinic with Whit Hibbard
Our Many Rancher Partners
Working Circle is proud to work directly with ranch families and ranch operations across the west. Our rancher partners' vision and collaborative efforts have led the way in creating a powerful new way forward for wolves, livestock, and people to successfully coexist and thrive on shared lands.
Our rancher partners comprise the foundation of our work and the majority of the people of Working Circle.
On-the-Ground Team
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Karin Vardaman Field Director, Co-Founder |
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~ 35 years experience in non-profit leadership
~ 37 years experience in wildlife conservation and environmental education
~ Member of the California Wolf Management Stakeholder Working Group
~ Former Director of California Wolf Recovery at California Wolf Center;
animal husbandry lead and education and outreach lead
~ 13 years experience in wolf conservation; experienced wildlife tracker
~ 11 years experience in wolf-livestock conflict mitigation and conflict risk evaluation
~ 9 years on-the-ground training in stockmanship/herd management
~ The New Yorker Magazine- July 9, 2019; The Persuasive Power of the Wolf Lady
~ Harvard University, Harvard Business School - Working Circle Case Study: Download File
~ Forbes, 50 over 50 Impact List 2021
~ The Wolf Connection - Ranching with Wolves
~ The Guardian: Ranchers Seek to Protect Herds as Wolves Move In
~ 37 years experience in wildlife conservation and environmental education
~ Member of the California Wolf Management Stakeholder Working Group
~ Former Director of California Wolf Recovery at California Wolf Center;
animal husbandry lead and education and outreach lead
~ 13 years experience in wolf conservation; experienced wildlife tracker
~ 11 years experience in wolf-livestock conflict mitigation and conflict risk evaluation
~ 9 years on-the-ground training in stockmanship/herd management
~ The New Yorker Magazine- July 9, 2019; The Persuasive Power of the Wolf Lady
~ Harvard University, Harvard Business School - Working Circle Case Study: Download File
~ Forbes, 50 over 50 Impact List 2021
~ The Wolf Connection - Ranching with Wolves
~ The Guardian: Ranchers Seek to Protect Herds as Wolves Move In
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Christie Sweeney Executive Director |
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~ 15 years experience in non-profit leadership, program management, and organizational development
~ 20 years experience in wildlife and environmental conservation and education
Christie is responsible for managing Working Circle's operations as well as supporting our on-the-ground efforts
~ 20 years experience in wildlife and environmental conservation and education
Christie is responsible for managing Working Circle's operations as well as supporting our on-the-ground efforts
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Nate Atkins Field Coordinator |
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~ Experienced wildlife tracker
~ Youth mentor and and backcountry instructor
~ Avid outdoorsman and wildlife conservationist
Nate conducts landscape, wolf, and wildlife surveys, works with ranchers and supports workshops.
~ Youth mentor and and backcountry instructor
~ Avid outdoorsman and wildlife conservationist
Nate conducts landscape, wolf, and wildlife surveys, works with ranchers and supports workshops.
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Waylan Fletcher Colorado Range Steward |
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~ Multi generational cattle rancher, with lifetime experience using Low-Stress Livestock Management
~ 3 years experience ranching with wolves
~ 3 years experience ranching with wolves
Joe Engelhart, Cattle Rancher, Range Management and Wolf-Livestock Conflict Adviser
~ University of Wisconsin-Madison News - January 24, 2020
Potential Predation Prevention: Remind Cattle They Are Herd Animals
~ University of Wisconsin-Madison News - January 24, 2020
Potential Predation Prevention: Remind Cattle They Are Herd Animals
Hilary and Andrew Anderson, Cattle Ranchers, Montana; Wolf-Livestock Conflict and Herd Management Partners/Advisors/Clinicians; Regenerative Ranching Specialists
~ National Geographic - August 30, 2019 ; Discovering Hope on the Range
~ National Geographic - August 30, 2019 ; Discovering Hope on the Range
Kent Laudon, Wolf Biologist, Partner and Advisor
~ over 35 years experience on the ground in Montana, Arizona, and California.
~ Former Senior Wolf Biologist, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
~ Senior Wolf Biologist for California Department of Fish and Wildlife since 2017
Specialties/experience:
Community engagement: communication, relationships, and open collaboration by integrating community participation, including polarizing topics and their social barriers. Including relationships with people and community leaders. Wildlife field biologist: Population monitoring, ground and aerial surveys, ground and aerial capture/collar, necropsy, data management and analysis, mapping, reports, consultation.
~ over 35 years experience on the ground in Montana, Arizona, and California.
~ Former Senior Wolf Biologist, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks
~ Senior Wolf Biologist for California Department of Fish and Wildlife since 2017
Specialties/experience:
Community engagement: communication, relationships, and open collaboration by integrating community participation, including polarizing topics and their social barriers. Including relationships with people and community leaders. Wildlife field biologist: Population monitoring, ground and aerial surveys, ground and aerial capture/collar, necropsy, data management and analysis, mapping, reports, consultation.
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Mikey Lead Range Riding Horse |
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Meet Mikey!
Mikey is a seven-year-old, half-Quarter, half-Morgan horse. He was born in Missouri and raised as a working ranch horse. Due to his stunning movement, Mikey was purchased as a Dressage prospect by Boxwood Farms in Ocala, Florida in early 2022. However, the Dressage show life was not to be for Mikey as only a few months into his training, Mikey came to Colorado to join Working Circle’s team as our lead Range Riding horse. Mikey was chosen for his great mind, big heart, brave soul, and willingness to go anywhere and do anything. In addition, Mikey is bursting with personality and just loves attention from anyone willing to give him a pat.
Currently, Mikey is living in North Park Colorado working with cattle to lower risk of wolf-livestock conflict as well as helping with our field surveys and wolf monitoring. Mikey absolutely loves his job and we at Working Circle absolutely love Mikey.
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Mikey is a seven-year-old, half-Quarter, half-Morgan horse. He was born in Missouri and raised as a working ranch horse. Due to his stunning movement, Mikey was purchased as a Dressage prospect by Boxwood Farms in Ocala, Florida in early 2022. However, the Dressage show life was not to be for Mikey as only a few months into his training, Mikey came to Colorado to join Working Circle’s team as our lead Range Riding horse. Mikey was chosen for his great mind, big heart, brave soul, and willingness to go anywhere and do anything. In addition, Mikey is bursting with personality and just loves attention from anyone willing to give him a pat.
Currently, Mikey is living in North Park Colorado working with cattle to lower risk of wolf-livestock conflict as well as helping with our field surveys and wolf monitoring. Mikey absolutely loves his job and we at Working Circle absolutely love Mikey.
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Serving California, Oregon, and Colorado
DONATE HERE to support proven, long-term and sustainable strategies
to reduce wolf-livestock conflict, thus protecting both cattle and wolves.
For more ways to donate visit our SUPPORT US! page.
DONATE HERE to support proven, long-term and sustainable strategies
to reduce wolf-livestock conflict, thus protecting both cattle and wolves.
For more ways to donate visit our SUPPORT US! page.
Working Circle is a Colorado Non-Profit, Federal 501(c)3 organization
Copyright © 2016