Project Wingspan: Agriculture Training and Support
Project Wingspan: Agriculture Training and Support (PW:ATS) is a multi-year project active in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio supported by donations, sponsorships, and several grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to the non-profit Pollinator Partnership. Pollinator Partnership is working with a coalition of partners to introduce a multistate Pollinator Steward Certification (PSC) program to foster community dialogue and engagement in conservation. The state coordinators in each of the target states provide habitat technical assistance and education to private landowners, land managers, and producers regarding implementation of voluntary conservation actions that benefit wildlife through Farm Bill programs resulting in empowered land stewards and implementation of habitat vital to imperiled pollinators such as the monarch butterfly and rusty patched bumble bee.
If you are interested in learning more about Farm Bill programs or receiving technical assistance on your land please reach out to the appropriate state coordinator and check out our events page for information about trainings happening near you!
Agriculture Training and Support State Coordinators
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Alyson Schiebe
Alyson’s love for the natural world began at a young age camping and exploring the forests of Ohio with her family. This early exposure and later developed fascination with the intricacies of ecosystems led her to attend West Virginia University (WVU) where she earned a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Resources with a minor in Conservation Ecology. During her time at WVU she was involved in multiple different research projects studying avian and mammalian wildlife across urban-rural and elevation gradients. Alyson went on to work as a Naturalist at a local park system, participating in native plantings and engaging the community with the local natural resources. Later, she held a position with a Soil and Water Conservation District reviewing Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans and ensuring projects compliance with Ohio EPA’s General Construction Permit. Her love for conservation and passion for healthy ecosystems brings her to Pollinator Partnership. In this position she will support education initiatives to equip landowners with the knowledge to implement pollinator-supporting practices, create demonstration habitat, and build a comprehensive network of urban farmers and producers in Ohio and Michigan. In her spare time Alyson enjoys gardening, hiking and camping with friends, and guiding Forest Therapy walks to further connect her community with the natural world.
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Maraiah Russell
Maraiah was inspired to follow her interests in wildlife conservation while growing up on her grandparents small farm in Southeastern IN. Learning about gardening, beekeeping and animal care led to a lifelong concern for nature, starting with a career as a veterinary technician at Fort Wayne Children’s zoo. There she had the opportunity to contribute to local, state, and international conservation projects in addition to caring for wild ambassadors. In her personal time she pursued interests that supported pollinators, including organizing native plant sales, giving pollinator presentations, and supporting local nature organizations. She then focused on conserving and restoring wetland, prairie and wooded habitat at Little River Wetlands Project. She found working alongside her community and volunteers to build habitat for imperiled species, and partnering with conservation organizations to be very fulfilling. Maraiah is eager to continue working to support pollinator conservation while coordinating Project Wingspan in Indiana.
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Imeña Valdes
Imeña Valdes is midwestern transplant via Central and Southern Florida who received her Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Certificate in Agroecology from Florida International University (FIU). Since undergrad, she’s been passionate about studying plant-animal interactions working in various labs at FIU, the USDA ARS Subtropical Horticultural Research Station, Montgomery Botanical Center, Guangxi University, and the Chicago Botanic Garden. Imeña then moved to Chicago for graduate school and earned her Master of Science in Plant Biology and Conservation from Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden where her research focused on pollinator preference between native and cultivated native (i.e., nativar) plants. Outside of her role with P2, she teaches environmental science in higher education, collects insects, and loves baking.
Events and Trainings
Illinois Training
