Meet the Board of Directors
Matt Koenn, Chair Contact: board@washtenawcd.org |
Matt's family has been farming for many years. Matt's grandfather, Herman, started out farming south of Ann Arbor, and rented land on Jerusalem Road in the 1950’s. In 1959, the family purchased its current farm in Sylvan Township. The family raised a small herd of dairy cattle up until 1995 as well as a rotation of corn, soy and wheat.
The Koenn family has been a large part of the leadership with the Conservation District for many years. Charlie Koenn, Matt’s father, was a board director in the 1980s. Matt was elected to the Conservation District’s Board of Directors in 2003 and has been the board Chairman since 2015. Matt raises Angus cattle, mainly on grass. Matt has a longstanding commitment to conservation practices on the farm, including almost exclusively no-till practices. The Herman L. Koenn Preserve was created through the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission and sits adjacent to the DNR managed Goose Lake Recreation Area. The Koenn’s farm property is also protected in a conservation easement adjacent to the nature preserve. When he’s not farming or helping out at the district, Matt’s enjoys snowmobiles, golfing, hunting and fishing. His son, Ryan, is a nurse at the University of Michigan Health System and his wife, Kim, works at the St. Joseph Mercy Health System in Chelsea. |
Jill Dohner, Vice Chair Contact: board@washtenawcd.org |
Jill has been serving on the WCCD board for over 8 years. Jill owns Rustic Roots Farm where she tends honeybees, laying chickens, a fruit orchard and garden, and does woodworking. Jill has lived in the county for over 20 years and has worked with other conservation groups including tree planting organizations and brings a background of forestry, agriculture, and background working with a diversity of farmers. Jill is excited to start her third term as a board director as the WCCD heads into a greater future with the passing of the millage and expanded programming and outreach expertise.
Jill has assisted the Conservation District with growing over these past years, re-invigorating beginning and existing farmers to implement conservation practices. She is excited for what the WCCD can accomplish in Washtenaw County through expanding tree and native plant offerings, encouraging planting of school gardens, offering a wide variety of workshops geared to those with a ¼ acre of land to 100 acres of land, and much more. |
Hannah Bradshaw, Treasurer
Contact: wccdhannahbradshaw@gmail.com |
Hannah Bradshaw has been involved with the Conservation District since May 2018, first as an intern and more recently as an Associate Board Director. She is currently a student at the University of Michigan and has worked at the UM Museum of Natural History and the City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation. When not working or in class, she likes to spend time outside with her dog Blue at her home in Manchester.
Hannah Bradshaw has been involved with the Conservation District since May 2018, first as an intern and more recently as an Associate Board Director. She is currently a student at the University of Michigan and has worked at the UM Museum of Natural History and the City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation. When not working or in class, she likes to spend time outside with her dog Blue at her home in Manchester. |
Shannon Brines, Secretary
Contact: board@washtenawcd.org |
Shannon Brines grew up in SE Michigan on a small diversified farm that included woody perennial crops. He officially established Brines Farm in 2004 and began selling year-round at farmers markets and offered one of Michigan’s first fresh produce winter CSA share programs. Shannon was selected as a member of the US delegation to participate in Terra Madre 2008 in Turin, Italy, a world slow food meeting focused on increasing small-scale, traditional and sustainable food production.
Shannon is an applied geographer at the University of Michigan interested in land use, agriculture, food systems, public health and sustainable design. Shannon currently serves as the chair of Slow Food Huron Valley Board, vice-chair of the Washtenaw county Food Policy Council, a member of the University of Michigan Sustainable Food Program Advisory Board. Shannon and his wife, Erin Mittendorf, live on (and steward!) over 80 acres of farmland in northern Washtenaw County where they have been undertaking restoration agriculture techniques since 2012. With ever expanding interests in biodiversity, agroecology, and perennials, Brines Farm has planted tens of thousands of trees and perennial plants. Brines Farm LLC is a State of Michigan licensed and inspected tree and shrub nursery grower and is USDA Certified Organic. |
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Howard Sias, Director
Contact: board@washtenawcd.org |
