Sarah Wentzel-Fisher's guest appearances

Sarah Wentzel-Fisher

Mountain & Prairie with Ed Roberson

Working Cows

Bytable Podcast - Know Better Live Best

Erik Glenn

Christine Su

Brendan Leonard

Jessica Lewis

Jason Gardner

Iris Gardner

Lisa Steele

Gabe Brown

Shawna Coronado

Charles Fishman

Terry Wahls

Joel Salatin

Dan Flores

Cate Shanahan

Juanita Vero

OwlTail

Listen as Sarah teaches us about the Quivira Coalition and how they foster ecological, economic and social health through education, innovation and collaboration.  About Sarah: Sarah Wentzel-Fisher is the Executive Director of the Quivira Coalition, an innovative conservation organization devoted to building soil, biodiversity, and resilience on western working landscapes. Sarah, a committed champion of the local food movement and of resilient agriculture, has worked in food and agriculture planning for over a decade with a focus on supporting young and beginning farmers and ranchers. She was the editor of Edible Santa Fe from 2011 to 2017. From 2013 to 2015 she worked for the National Young Farmers Coalition as an organizer. She is currently on the boards of the Rio Grande Agricultural Land Trust and the Southwest Grassfed Livestock Alliance. In her free time she enjoys visiting farms and ranches, experimenting in her kitchen, and keeping chickens in her backyard. About Quivira: The Quivira Coalition builds soil, biodiversity, and resilience on western working landscapes. We foster ecological, economic, and social health through education, innovation, and collaboration.  The Land and Water program helps ranchers develop plans and management strategies for restoring and building resilience on slope wetlands, grasslands, and other working landscapes. The New Agrarian program helps to ensure that living and working knowledge of these practices, and the landscape itself, is stewarded into the future. The Education program, including the annual conference and open source publications, creates a space for the coalition to share ideas and resources, and for the general public to learn about the critical role working lands play in the health of our food systems, communities, and our planet.  At the foundation of all the work is the concept that well managed working rangelands and forests are two of the most effective, efficient, and immediately viable paths to remedy the devastating impacts of climate change. Links: Website: www.quiviracoalition.org Podcast: www.downtoearth.media 

Listen as Sarah teaches us about the Quivira Coalition and how they foster ecological, economic and social health through education, innovation and collaboration.  About Sarah: Sarah Wentzel-Fisher is the Executive Director of the Quivira Coalition, an innovative conservation organization devoted to building soil, biodiversity, and resilience on western working landscapes. Sarah, a committed champion of the local food movement and of resilient agriculture, has worked in food and agriculture planning for over a decade with a focus on supporting young and beginning farmers and ranchers. She was the editor of <a href="https://www.ediblesantafe.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Edible Santa Fe</a> from 2011 to 2017. From 2013 to 2015 she worked for the National Young Farmers Coalition as an organizer. She is currently on the boards of the <a href="https://rgalt.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rio Grande Agricultural Land Trust</a> and the <a href="http://grassfedlivestock.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Southwest Grassfed Livestock Alliance</a>. In her free time she enjoys visiting farms and ranches, experimenting in her kitchen, and keeping chickens in her backyard. About Quivira: The Quivira Coalition builds soil, biodiversity, and resilience on western working landscapes. We foster ecological, economic, and social health through education, innovation, and collaboration. <ul> <li>The <a href="https://quiviracoalition.org/land-and-water/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Land and Water program</a> helps ranchers develop plans and management strategies for restoring and building resilience on slope wetlands, grasslands, and other working landscapes.</li> <li>The <a href="https://quiviracoalition.org/newagrarian/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">New Agrarian program</a> helps to ensure that living and working knowledge of these practices, and the landscape itself, is stewarded into the future.</li> <li>The <a href="https://quiviracoalition.org/conference/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Education program, including the annual conference</a> and <a href="https://quiviracoalition.org/publications/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">open source publications</a>, creates a space for the coalition to share ideas and resources, and for the general public to learn about the critical role working lands play in the health of our food systems, communities, and our planet.</li> </ul> At the foundation of all the work is the concept that well managed working rangelands and forests are two of the most effective, efficient, and immediately viable paths to remedy the devastating impacts of climate change. Links: Website: <a href="http://www.quiviracoalition.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.quiviracoalition.org</a> Podcast: <a href="http://www.downtoearth.media/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.downtoearth.media</a>

Ep 35: Quivira Coalition - with Sarah Wentzel-Fisher, Executive Director

Sam Ryerson

Sarah Wentzel-Fisher is the Executive Director of the Quivira Coalition, a Non-Profit based in Santa Fe, NM. Sam Ryerson is a Rancher based in Central New Mexico and a 2010 graduate of Quivira Coalition’s apprenticeship program. They join me today to talk about the opportunities afforded to young ranchers by Quivira’s New Agrarians Apprenticeship Program….

Sarah Wentzel-Fisher is the Executive Director of the Quivira Coalition, a Non-Profit based in Santa Fe, NM. Sam Ryerson is a Rancher based in Central New Mexico and a 2010 graduate of Quivira Coalition’s apprenticeship program. They join me today to talk about the opportunities afforded to young ranchers by Quivira’s New Agrarians Apprenticeship Program….

Ep. 065 – Sarah Wentzel-Fisher and Sam Ryerson – Quivira Coalition’s New Agrarians Apprenticeship Program

Sarah Wentzel-Fisher is the Executive Director of the Quivira Coalition, an innovative conservation organization devoted to building soil, biodiversity, and resilience on western working landscapes. Quivira was founded over twenty years ago by two conservationists and a rancher, all three of whom were exhausted by the divisive nature of the relationships between the agricultural and environmental communities. By putting their few differences aside and focusing on their many shared values, Quivira has led many of the West’s stakeholders toward collaborative, long-term solutions that improve western landscapes both ecologically and socially. • Sarah grew up in a small town in the Black Hills of South Dakota and learned the true value of community at an early age. As she grew older, she began to hone in on her interest in food—specifically how food and food production play such a huge role in the health and resilience of local communities. Her graduate work focused on the role of small-scale agriculture in New Mexico, and for six years she was the editor of Edible Santa Fe, a New Mexico-based magazine that covers the region’s local food scene. Her background made her a perfect fit for Quivira’s mission, and her creative mindset and understanding of agriculture have allowed her to successfully lead the organization into its next phase. • I had the pleasure of meeting Sarah here in Colorado Springs as she was on the tail end of a massive road trip through the West visiting with farmers, ranchers, and land managers. We had a fun conversation and touched on so many of the subjects that are of interest to me and to the podcast listeners. We chatted about the specifics of regenerative agriculture, and some of the misconceptions among well-meaning environmentalists around grazing as an effective method to fight climate change. Speaking of climate change, we talked about why Quivira does not hesitate to discuss climate change, even though that term can be a hot button issue among certain groups. We discussed the idea of rugged individualism, Quivira’s concept of the “Radical Center,” and the organization’s agricultural mentor program. She offered some advice for aspiring conservationists, and talked about how her creativity has served her well as a leader. And as usual, we covered books, films, favorite places in the West and more. • I encourage you to visit Quivira’s website and also to check out their podcast—it’s called Down To Earth: The Planet to Plate Podcast. If you’re a fan of this podcast, odds are you’ll enjoy that one, as well. You’ll probably like it better actually. Check the episode notes for links to everything we discuss, and enjoy! ••• http://mountainandprairie.com/sarah-wentzel-fisher/ ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:20 - How Sarah describes her work 4:05 - Quivira Coalition explained 5:45 - Misconceptions of agriculture 7:15 - Sarah’s work in the local food movement 8:40 - Educational and professional background 12:30 - Sarah’s early years and appreciation for community 15:40 - The "Radical Center” 19:10 - Founding of the Quivira Coalition 21:55 - Increased collaboration on the ground 24:40 - Media portrayals of the West 26:00 - Use of the term "Climate Change” 29:55 - How Quivira measures success 30:55 - Apprenticeship program\ 33:30 - Quivira’s on-the-ground projects 35:00 - Comanche Creek project 41:40 - Transition from writer to conservation leader 43:30 - Creative practice translating into leadership 45:30 - Mentors and heroes 48:45 - Importance of being open-minded 49:30 - Best farming books 54:50 - Advice for aspiring conservationists 1:00:20 - Optimistic or pessimistic? 1:06:35 - Quivira’s annual conference 1:10:00 - Favorite books 1:12:30 - What Sarah does for fun 1:15:10 - Most powerful outdoor experience 1:18:00 - Favorite location in the West 1:19:10 - Request of the listeners 1:20:15 - Connect with Quivira online and Down to Earth podcast

Sarah Wentzel-Fisher is the Executive Director of the Quivira Coalition, an innovative conservation organization devoted to building soil, biodiversity, and resilience on western working landscapes. Quivira was founded over twenty years ago by two conservationists and a rancher, all three of whom were exhausted by the divisive nature of the relationships between the agricultural and environmental communities. By putting their few differences aside and focusing on their many shared values, Quivira has led many of the West’s stakeholders toward collaborative, long-term solutions that improve western landscapes both ecologically and socially. • Sarah grew up in a small town in the Black Hills of South Dakota and learned the true value of community at an early age. As she grew older, she began to hone in on her interest in food—specifically how food and food production play such a huge role in the health and resilience of local communities. Her graduate work focused on the role of small-scale agriculture in New Mexico, and for six years she was the editor of Edible Santa Fe, a New Mexico-based magazine that covers the region’s local food scene. Her background made her a perfect fit for Quivira’s mission, and her creative mindset and understanding of agriculture have allowed her to successfully lead the organization into its next phase. • I had the pleasure of meeting Sarah here in Colorado Springs as she was on the tail end of a massive road trip through the West visiting with farmers, ranchers, and land managers. We had a fun conversation and touched on so many of the subjects that are of interest to me and to the podcast listeners. We chatted about the specifics of regenerative agriculture, and some of the misconceptions among well-meaning environmentalists around grazing as an effective method to fight climate change. Speaking of climate change, we talked about why Quivira does not hesitate to discuss climate change, even though that term can be a hot button issue among certain groups. We discussed the idea of rugged individualism, Quivira’s concept of the “Radical Center,” and the organization’s agricultural mentor program. She offered some advice for aspiring conservationists, and talked about how her creativity has served her well as a leader. And as usual, we covered books, films, favorite places in the West and more. • I encourage you to visit Quivira’s website and also to check out their podcast—it’s called Down To Earth: The Planet to Plate Podcast. If you’re a fan of this podcast, odds are you’ll enjoy that one, as well. You’ll probably like it better actually. Check the episode notes for links to everything we discuss, and enjoy! ••• <a href="http://mountainandprairie.com/sarah-wentzel-fisher/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://mountainandprairie.com/sarah-wentzel-fisher/</a> ••• TOPICS DISCUSSED: 3:20 - How Sarah describes her work 4:05 - Quivira Coalition explained 5:45 - Misconceptions of agriculture 7:15 - Sarah’s work in the local food movement 8:40 - Educational and professional background 12:30 - Sarah’s early years and appreciation for community 15:40 - The "Radical Center” 19:10 - Founding of the Quivira Coalition 21:55 - Increased collaboration on the ground 24:40 - Media portrayals of the West 26:00 - Use of the term "Climate Change” 29:55 - How Quivira measures success 30:55 - Apprenticeship program\ 33:30 - Quivira’s on-the-ground projects 35:00 - Comanche Creek project 41:40 - Transition from writer to conservation leader 43:30 - Creative practice translating into leadership 45:30 - Mentors and heroes 48:45 - Importance of being open-minded 49:30 - Best farming books 54:50 - Advice for aspiring conservationists 1:00:20 - Optimistic or pessimistic? 1:06:35 - Quivira’s annual conference 1:10:00 - Favorite books 1:12:30 - What Sarah does for fun 1:15:10 - Most powerful outdoor experience 1:18:00 - Favorite location in the West 1:19:10 - Request of the listeners 1:20:15 - Connect with Quivira online and Down to Earth podcast

Sarah Wentzel-Fisher - Conservation in the Radical Center