Conservation Ambassadors

Wyoming Wildlife Federation aims to build and sustain a network of local Conservation Ambassadors and affiliated groups and clubs, that are active in regional conservation issues and projects. By educating and empowering a base of advocates on conservation policy, we strive to convene diverse groups in constructive dialog over policy and science. Our work will engage Wyoming communities by offering them opportunities to connect in the outdoors and have an understanding of wildlife and conservation, fostering a culture of sportsmen conservationist in Wyoming.

Who are they?

These ambassadors are local Wyoming people willing to go the extra mile for conservation by advocating on causes they care about. They are moms and dads, electricians and real estate agents, Wyoming natives and recent locals who all love Wyoming’s wildlife and wild places and want to advocate on their behalf.

What do they do?

Annually, WWF brings these folks together at Conservation Ambassador gatherings where we discuss how we can help each other. The Ambassadors share major ideas for how best to increase hunting and angling opportunities, host local events, and pass good wildlife policy.

Each year, WWF also hosts an advocacy training and lobbying day with our Ambassadors called Camo at the Capitol. Sportsmen and sportswomen come for a half-day training and legislative update followed by a trip to the capitol to lobby on actual bills. The pinnacle of the Camo at the Capitol event is the Wyoming Sportsmen’s Legislative Reception that evening. Last year over 150 people attended the reception including Governor Gordon and the President of the Senate.

These Ambassadors are empowered hunters and anglers with incredible skills, networks, and an opportunity to effectively make their voices heard. These volunteers are increasing the influence of hunters and anglers on conservation policy and resulting in positive policy change for wildlife and habitat.

How Do I Join?

Do you have boots-on-the-ground projects you would like to see accomplished? Would you like to expand outdoor education in your community? The Federation also provides expertise and staff to help bring these kinds of ambassador ideas to life.

What do ambassadors receive?

WWF Staff support on local issues
Exclusive Hunting Gear Discounts
Ambassador-Specific WWF Apparel
Weekend retreat and training to learn about Wyoming conservation

Conservation Ambassadors

Wyoming Wildlife Federation’s Conservation Ambassador program empowers hunters and anglers across the state to influence wildlife and conservation policy.

Levi Kary

Levi Kary is a dedicated outdoorsman raised around the Beartooth Mountains of Wyoming, he brings a wealth of experience to his diverse career. Levi seamlessly integrates his passion for hunting into the intricate art of bowhunting. Beyond his personal pursuits, he generously shares his expertise as a waterfowl hunting guide, curating unforgettable experiences for others in our magnificent state.

As a skilled Water Operator, Levi not only safeguards our vital water resources but also intertwines his commitment to conservation. Whether in the rugged wilderness or within the community, Levi actively advocates for the well-being of fish and wildlife, fostering a harmonious balance between human activities and the natural environment.

The charismatic host of the "Pull’NFeathers Podcast," Levi extends his infectious enthusiasm for hunting, using the platform to exchange insights and stories from the worlds of waterfowl hunting and Western Big Game. Levi's multifaceted career, blending firefighting, water operation, and outdoor pursuits, reveals a life marked by service and a profound connection to nature.

In his leisure time, Levi enjoys taking his family off-roading on designated trails and indulging in the simplicity of camping amidst the breathtaking landscapes that have shaped his love for the great outdoors.

Amanda LaTray

Now residing in Lander, WY, Amanda was born and raised in San Diego, California and moved to Wyoming in 2015 after studying engineering in South Dakota for a few years. She grew a love for the outdoors at a young age after traveling to Alaska. With her passion for wildlife and pursuing the environment, she can't wait to join the amazing group of people putting boots on the ground and making a difference for Wyoming's wildlife. She has three amazing boys who are growing an increasing passion for hunting, fishing and being in the wilderness and want to ensure that our public lands are around for them to use for years.

Morgan Hull

The natural world was a steady presence in Morgan’s north-central Nebraska upbringing between garden chores, ranch work, 4-H cattle and sheep, bike rides to fish the Elkhorn river, and explorations in the Nebraska Sandhills and Niobrara River Valley. Some favorite family stories include how little Morgan’s drive to explore had him wandering off and getting very lost in unfamiliar areas (causing great concern in the family), before eventually finding his way back many hours later than expected. While a yearning for outdoor adventure was present at an early age, Morgan didn’t come from a hunting and fishing family, and a lack of public land access in the area helped football, basketball, and baseball take center stage through his teenage years.

Morgan then attended college at the University of Nebraska where he graduated with a degree in Philosophy and Literature. It was around this time he rekindled his passion for the outdoors and fell in love with hunting. A job opportunity several years later then opened the door for moving to Pinedale, and he hasn’t looked back. Morgan is thrilled to be able to contribute to the efforts of WFF as he doesn’t take any of Wyoming’s amazing opportunities for granted and believes continued and concerted conservation efforts are required to preserve what we have into the future.

Annie Weisz

Annie is a Wyoming native, outdoor enthusiast, and lover of all things food. When she’s not cooking, you can usually find her in the mountains with her family – hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, skiing, or just enjoying the beauty Wyoming has to offer. She is a Registered Dietitian and the woman behind Peak to Plate, a food blog focused on innovative wild game recipes. She believes that creating delicious recipes and enjoying them mindfully is the best way to pay respect to the animals she and her husband harvest. Sharing food with others is one of Annie’s biggest passions and she loves inspiring home cooks like herself to be more creative with their wild game.

Annie has lived in several places throughout the state but now resides in her hometown of Cody with her family. While Annie has always loved the outdoors and has been fishing for many years, she didn’t start hunting until she was an adult. After becoming a mother and seeing the importance of teaching her sons where food comes from, she decided to give hunting a try and has officially gone “all in.” Annie has fully immersed herself into the hunting/angling lifestyle which has shown her the importance of conserving wild places. Being a conservation ambassador for WWF means knowing her advocacy and donations are going to science-based efforts to protect our beautiful state’s precious resources. Annie hopes that through conservation efforts, her sons’ generation and future generations are able to enjoy the outdoor opportunities that she has been so fortunate to experience.

IG: @peak.to.plate
Website: peaktoplate.com

Tyrell Perry

Tyrell was born and raised in Sheridan County, where he grew up on a cattle ranch and raised pigs and chickens for 4-H. He has many memories of camping and horseback riding in the Bighorns with his family, but his favorite memories are from the Cloud Peak Wilderness.

Tyrell has been fishing since he could walk and developed a passion for both hunting and fishing not long after. He values the solitude and escape that the outdoors offers and has relied on it to drown out the “noise” and stress that adult life often throws at all of us.

Spring of 2023, Tyrell completed the Wyoming Naturalist Program, where he was exposed to different volunteer opportunities. Although Tyrell has always considered himself a sportsman and conservationist, giving back to the wilderness through opportunities like wildlife-friendly fence projects, amphibian research, and cheatgrass monitoring has sparked a passion and desire to do more.

Tyrell is married and has three boys with whom he often recreates. He enjoys sharing his passion for fishing, hunting, and camping with them. Tyrell received the Ultimate Angler award from the Wyoming Game & Fish Department in 2022 and enjoys working with his boys to meet their Youth Master Angler challenge goals.

Tyrell is employed by the BLM, where he works and cares for the public lands he regularly enjoys throughout the year.

Sydni Handeland

A Wyoming native, Sydni currently lives on a farm outside Casper along the North Platte River. She thoroughly enjoys the endless possibilities Wyoming has to offer. Although her more recent passion is bow hunting, she does a little bit of everything, from hunting big game in the fall, waterfowl in the winter, to fly fishing during the summer. Outside is where you will find her. Her earliest childhood memories of the outdoors involve watching her father and grandfather process an antelope in their garage before her father was diagnosed with cancer. It was her early adult years where she really developed a deeper love for hunting, fishing, and living off the land.

Field to table is an essential component of Sydni’s life, from the game they harvest to the produce they grow, she utilizes everything in multiple ways. While Sydni’s passion is the outdoors, she currently works as an RN, and spends her days off hunting or fishing and helping on the farm growing crops to sell at the local farmers market.

She shared her passion with her dad in more recent years and was able to assist him in harvesting his first antelope since his cancer remission. She also got her younger sister
interested in hunting and fishing and helped with her first antelope and whitetail harvests.

Contact her at handysyd@gmail.com or via Instagram @sydnibean_

Charene Herrera

My name is Charene Herrera AKA Charene the Adventure Queen. I am originally born in Wyoming but lived most of my life in Montana. That’s where I spent a lot of my time promoting and helping in conservation in the media. I have now set my sites on fighting for Wyoming. I am an avid fly fisher who has been fly fishing for a decade in the NW. Fly fishing has been an important part of my life. I hope to help promote safe fishing handling for anglers and guides, protecting Wyoming waters, and learning more about hunting conservation with WWF.

I think Wyoming is worth fighting for and that’s why I decided to team up with Wyoming Wildlife Federation, the oldest sportsmen organization in the state. I had looked at a few different organizations but landed on WWF. They had great coverage on hunting and some amazing staff that truly cared for Wyoming conservation and I could see that. I wanted to lend my time and energy with fishing and water conservation as that is my passion and something that I think can be increased in Wyoming conservation discussions. I appreciate WWF’s efforts and look forward to lending my hand and rod to the fight for Wyoming’s fisheries, habitat and wildlife.

Ryne Grossnickle

I have lived in Wyoming my whole life, living in both Rock Springs and Laramie. I graduated from the University of Wyoming with a degree in marketing and a master’s degree in business administration. Born and raised in Rock Springs, Wyoming, I spent countless hours fishing or hunting with family and friends as a kid.

Over the years, my passion and love for the Wyoming outdoors has grown. Recently, I have started a Wyoming outdoors podcast, The Exit: 142 Podcast presented by Bitter Creek Outdoors, where I talk all things Wyoming hunting and fishing with special guests. The goal is to promote conservation, hunting, and fishing.

We are very fortunate to live and work in this state. I want to make sure the next generation has the same opportunities that I do and did, like scouting big game in Western Wyoming. I cannot wait to help the Wyoming Wildlife Federation.

Rock Springs, WY

Maggie Johnson

Maggie lives in Laramie, Wyoming, but grew up on a small ranch near Elk Mountain, Wyoming. Thanks to that home and her mother and father's shared passion for fishing and hiking in the Medicine Bow National Forest, she grew up surrounded by the outdoors. When she was eight years old, her father taught her how to fly fish, and she hasn't stopped fishing since, especially in the small mountain streams where she can go all day without seeing another person. More recently, she has discovered the ability to be in touch with wildlife and the land while experiencing the joy and value of hunting. She found a group of women hunters who became her mentors and shared their perspective and secrets of hunting and conservation.

Her love for the outdoors led her to receive her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Wyoming in Wildlife & Fisheries Ecology and Management in 2019, and she is currently working towards her Masters, focused on Wildlife Disease Biology.

Through both her studies and time spent outdoors, she has learned the importance of not only working to conserve our wildlife, habitat, and outdoor heritage herself, but also the value of sharing what she can with others. Her goal as a Conservation Ambassador for WWF is to bridge the gap between scientists and outdoorsmen and women and to advocate conservation and sustainability.

Contact Maggie
margueritejohnson3@gmail.com

Drew Grossnickle

Hi, my name is Drew Grossnickle. I was born and raised in Rock Springs, Wyoming where I began utilizing all of the great public lands in the area. For as long as I can remember I have been hunting and fishing alongside my dad and his buddies since I could walk. As I got older, I began to explore more of the Wyoming wilderness across the state, from chasing mule deer and elk in the high desert to Canada Geese in Goshen County to whitetails in the Black Hills.

In the spring and summer, you can also find me chasing big trout with my fly rod. I recently graduated from the University of Wyoming in 2023 with my BS in Physiology and I plan to continue my education. While I was at the University of Wyoming, my buddies, my brother and I created the brand Bitter Creek Outdoors (@bittercreekoutdoors on instagram) .

Bitter Creek Outdoors is a way for us to express our love for Wyoming outdoors that we grew up in. BCO has allowed us to get more involved within the outdoor community, from helping the Muley Fanatic Foundation with their “Putting the U in Hunt” program to starting a podcast that helps inform people about all things Wyoming outdoors.

One of my favorite things to do is take people hunting and fishing that have never been before because I love to show them our way of life and they soon start to understand and enjoy the Wyoming outdoors and wildlife as well!"

Rock Springs, WY

Stine Richvoldson

Stine is a Norwegian transplant, who’s been in Wyoming for a couple of decades. Although the plan was to only stay for a few months, it didn’t take long for her to fall in love with the state and decide to make it her home.

She spent a few years skiing and snowboarding in the winter and climbing and riding bikes in the summer, all over the state and the west. All the while, she kept feeling like something was … missing. Then she started tagging along when her husband went fishing and hunting. Shortly after, she stole one of his fishing rods and then forced him to let her field dress most of his elk that fall. That’s when Stina realized that this was the connection she had been missing. Suddenly, she was not just in nature, she was a part of my environment. No longer just a spectator, but a participant.

Now, she has a couple fishing rods of her own, a hunting rifle and a compound bow, and she spends large portions of the year with one in hand. Hunting season is her favorite part of the year. She cherishes those moments of sitting perfectly still up on a mountain at first light, hearing, seeing, and feeling the transition from night to day. Eventually an elk will bugle and it’s game on.

Hunting is what solidified for her the importance of public lands and conservation. As she says, “It’s no longer just about maintaining the relatively small areas we use for recreation; hunters need to consider entire habitats that sometimes stretch across states to support their quarry.” It’s a complicated topic with a lot of interest groups, and she is prepared to work hard to make the voices of sportswomen heard in the debate.

Contact Stine
superrunt@gmail.com | 307-690-4966

Kolton Gregory

Kolten Gregory is a Wyoming native and currently lives in Pinedale. He calls so much of Wyoming home, having lived in several towns from Southeast Wyoming to the Southwest, and almost everywhere in between. His love of the outdoors started at a very young age; his earliest memories include hunting, fishing, and camping with his Dad and siblings. In his free time, he loves to get out with his long-haired bird dog and enjoy all that Wyoming has to offer. Having lived in areas of the state with zero public land and recreational opportunities to the complete opposite where there are miles upon miles of endless opportunities, he has realized how vital both private and public lands are to this state. Along with living across the state he has worked for the Game and Fish, Forest Service, in the natural gas industry, and on numerous ranches. Working in these industries has shown him that it takes all kinds of partnerships to make conservation efforts work.

Being a part of the Wyoming Wildlife Federation gives Kolten a platform to be the voice for the next generation, hopefully giving them the same opportunities that he was so fortunate to have. He wants to preserve the way of life that is so important to him. For Kolten, future conservation begins with education and community.

Contact Kolten
kolt.gregory@gmail.com | 307-287-1313

Tanner Belknap

I grew up in Alabama and Ohio with the majority of my outdoor pursuits taking place on small farms and parcels of public land. My Dad taught me how to fly fish as soon as I could walk. Annual trips to visit grandma in Colorado and weeknights on Ohio's Olentangy River turned this skill into an obsession. During middle school, my dad convinced me to quit sports and bought me a used McPherson bow. My journey towards becoming a self-taught bowhunter began.
The per capita wildlife population, miles of trout stream, and acreage of public land in Wyoming is astonishing. My weekend and vacation escapades chasing turkeys, deer, elk and trout have been incredibly successful, beautiful and fulfilling. The landscapes we are blessed with in Wyoming are something we are obligated to hold dear and protect. The opportunity to explore is incomparable to other states I've inhabited - in my first Wyoming summer I stripped streamers and laid out dry flies in dozens of streams across the state, catching more trout than I had in my entire life. My first fall here I chased elk and deer in the Snowy, Sierra Madre, Bighorn, Absaroka, Wind, and Wyoming Range mountains.

My goal as a Conservation Ambassador for WWF is to contribute to recruiting new outdoorsmen and women, assist habitat projects wherever possible, and improve the conservation education of both myself and the Wyoming community. My career with Trout Unlimited provides an incredible opportunity to work in conservation of our watersheds, and WWF provides an opportunity to work on other wildlife issues and projects outside of my professional life.

Codee Dalton

Codee grew up in Rock Springs, Wyoming, where both of her parents were teachers growing up. Her mother Jean and father Harvey were very active people who were always active with many different sports indoor and outdoors. They enjoyed downhill skiing, cross country skiing, hiking, hunting, ballet productions, tria-thalons, and more. One of Codee’s fondest memories was when her dad would go hunting and come back with an animal that the family would process together. Looking back, Codee realizes that not only was her family saving an enormous amount of money on meat but they were spending quality time as a family and also eating healthy, lean meat that tasted amazing! They mostly hunted elk and antelope. When Codee was fourteen years old she was able to go on her first hunt in the Green River Lakes for cow elk. Up until then, Codee had worked hard at many sporting events and recreational activities but never experienced hard work like this. She was able to harvest a cow elk on that hunt that would change her forever.
Codee’s appreciation of the hard work and the knowledge that her parents both displayed growing up with hunting, processing meat, and cooking the meat has led her to a passion for mentoring others and making sure our finest resources are respected and valued. It has catapulted her into wanting to help others who may not otherwise be afforded the opportunity to have a mentor for hunting or just enjoying the outdoors. She also has been able to pass down the knowledge she was given to her children.

She is involved in The Wyoming Women’s Antelope Hunt and Hunting with Heroes of Wyoming. She recently collaborated with The Bowhunters of Wyoming, which her father is president of, and helped bring disabled veterans from Florida to do an amazing antelope hunt in the Red Desert. Codee enjoys her involvement with Wyoming Wildlife Federation (WWF) as an ambassador for all of those interested in beautiful Wyoming outdoors whether it be advising on fishing holes, hiking trails, visiting local legislators, or helping fundraise for the many great projects WWF is involved with.

“The outdoors brings such a raw emotion out in people that they sometimes never have discovered, I absolutely love seeing that come out in others and then them returning to it over and over again.” -Codee

Contact Codee:
codeewyo@gmail.com | 307-871-8098

Jake Rullmann

Growing up on a family farm in Tennessee, Jake developed a passion for the outdoors at an early age. From running around the woods barefoot to fishing the creek with his dad, he just couldn’t get enough of the natural world. Even though his parents knew very little about hunting, he was persistent in his desire to go and learn, so at the age of 12 he had convinced his Uncle Tommy to mentor him on his first hunt. It was successful and he never looked back!

In college, Jake studied Agriculture at Austin Peay State University. While living the college life he took a step back from his outdoor pursuits. Eventually he began to notice something was missing, and after spending nearly an entire winter break in the woods, it be came clear to him what it was. Immediately he rekindled his love for the outdoors and his desire for experience and knowledge burned hotter than ever. He then grew stir crazy and decided to put his college plans on hold and move to Wyoming in pursuit of wild places and endless opportunity.

Jake currently works for Lander Llama Company and helps guide summer trips in the Wind River Mountains. He plans to attend the University of Wyoming in the Fall of 2023 studying wildlife biology and management, so that he can devote his life to wildlife and wild places.

Contact Jake at jakerullmann@gmail.com

Craig Okraska

Craig hails from the hills of Georgia, but made his way to Wyoming in 2010 following a career as a wildlife biologist. His experience growing up in the rural south instilled a deep appreciation for wild spaces and the wildlife that he encountered while hunting and exploring with his father. Together with his appreciation for wildlife and an intense creative itch, he was ultimately able to merge his creative pursuits with hunting, wildlife biology, and the outdoor industry. As the Director of Creative Content and Photographer/Filmmaker for Maven, he spends a lot of time thinking about how he can use his background and camera to shine a positive light on hunting and conservation.

Craig lives in Lander, WY with his wife Anika and pup Juno.

Contact Craig
craig@mavenbuilt.com | 770-833-9163

Kayla Graves

Contact Kolten
kolt.gregory@gmail.com | 307-287-1313

Cody McFarland

Cody grew up on the family ranch in NW South Dakota, hunting and fishing private land, not fully understanding public lands until his family ranch sold and hunting leases started grabbing hold on the neighboring ranches. 2003 was his rookie season fighting wildland fires for the US Forest Service, which eventually lead him to California for 3 years, until moving to SW Wyoming in 2008. Where he is currently the engine captain for the US forest service. All of a sudden, Cody had access to hunt, fish and explore millions of acres of public lands, lands he had little understanding of in regards to their management or on the ground conservation efforts. Some of the first people he met in Wyoming introduced him to the ideas of public lands, conservation, and wildlife advocacy – things that would later become passions. He attributes much to the Wyoming Wildlife Federation as the organization has allowed him to enter a new world of conservation advocacy, ultimately looking to help others do the same. Some of his interests include being outdoors with his wife, his two beautiful daughters, and his two pups – chasing elk and mule deer, recruiting and educating new hunters and cooking the wild game he has harvested.

Contact Cody
opyff@hotmail.com | 605-490-9011

Chris Sheets

Chris was born and raised in northwestern Wyoming, where he was fortunate enough to spend his childhood in the deep wilderness surrounding the greater Yellowstone area. The environment in which he was raised afforded him many intimate encounters with wildlife and the spaces they inhabit. This upbringing solidified his passion to continue to understand the natural world and the threats to these systems. In 2007 he completed his degree in Wildlife Biology and has since worked as a backcountry hunting guide, wilderness horse packer, and professional wildlife biologist. His newest venture is co-hosting a podcast with a great group of guys that are passionate about conservation and science-based discussion. The WWF is a perfect fit for Christopher as he is a fifth-generation Wyomingite and he wants to guarantee that future generations are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to experience truly wild and healthy landscapes like those that came before him.

Contact Chris
nurpuwy@gmail.com | 307-272-1718

Christopher Peterson

Chris is a husband, a father, and an outdoor enthusiast. Whether it’s hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, canoeing, running, snowshoeing, etc., he loves getting out of doors with his family to connect with the natural world. Prior to moving to Casper, Wyoming, Chris grew up in the tiny Oregon Trail town of Guernsey, Wyoming. Living, at the edge of town – on the banks of the North Platte River – afforded him the unique opportunity of utilizing the river’s resources at a moments notice. In the summer, much of his time was spent floating, fishing, catching crawdads, or just swimming in the cold, swift currents. In the fall when the river was low, Chris would step across the river where he would enjoy building forts, miles of hiking, rabbit and squirrel hunting and anything else a young kid could dream of. In the years since Chris has spent time in the elk and grizzly inhabited Absarokas, called to migrating waterfowl in the Bighorn Basin, and flushed pheasants in the southeastern farmlands along the Platte. He enjoys glassing gray mule deer in the rolling sage of the Wyoming center and rutting white-tailed deer of the northeastern Black Hills. As he states, “Wyoming has so much to be passionate about. I believe a privileged life spent outside has given me an appreciation for the natural world and an obligation to advocate for its existence for my family and generations to come.”

Contact Chris
cpetersonwyo@gmail.com | 307-574-1433

Christopher_Bankroft_Conservation_Ambassador

Christopher Bancroft

Christopher Bancroft is a freelance writer and photographer native to Wyoming. After graduating from the University of Wyoming, Bancroft sought to cover hunting, fishing, and travel stories. Though the Cowboy State is his home and primary hunting ground, he frequently travels internationally. The locations he has journeyed include remote Caribbean islands, Central Asia, Europe, and of course, the American West. His stories convey the importance of cultural and environmental conservation while maintaining an undertone of sincere adventure. Bancroft’s writings and images have appeared in publications such as American Falconry, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s Bugle Magazine and MeatEater, among other outlets.
He chose to get involved with Wyoming Wildlife Federation because science-based conservation is an effective strategy in guaranteeing healthy wildlife populations. Organizations like WWF continue to fight for conservation by being the eyes and ears for citizens and the government. The preservation of hunting as a pastime and the conservation of wildlife is what will keep our state authentic.

Contact Christopher
chrsbancroft@gmail.com