It started with a dream…
Parents, educators and community members came together to make it a reality!
Pictured here, most of Rooted in Wyoming’s founding Board of Directors meeting at Landon’s Greenhouse with Founder and Executive Director Bonnie Gregory in 2016.
Back row - Pam Standish, Kelly Hahn, Heather Redenbaugh, & Ami Erickson.
Middle row - Beth Music, Mandy Morris, Bonnie Gregory, & Donna Johannesmeyer.
Front row - Sarah Mentock, & Donald Legerski.
Members of the founding Board not pictured at this meeting are Missi Hubert and Kim Ryan.
While participating in the Leadership Wyoming program, Bonnie Gregory began to envision an organization that would help bring hands-on education using gardens and local food to students in Wyoming. Drawing from family traditions of self-sufficiency, and her pioneer spirit, Bonnie brought together a group of passionate teachers, parents, and community members, founding Rooted in Wyoming in 2016.
Take a look at the original articles of incorporation here!
Above: Founding board members Sarah Mentock, Ami Erickson, Kelly Hahn, & Pam Standish with Bonnie’s mom, Nancy Mickelson, working to build the gates for Rooted in Wyoming’s first partner garden, Big Horn Schools’ Ram Harvest Garden.
With Bonnie as the Executive Director, Rooted in Wyoming spent its first three years under the umbrella of the Wyoming Community Foundation’s nonprofit sponsorship. During those early years, Rooted was defined by passionate parents and educators working together to build school gardens at Big Horn School, Holy Name Catholic School, Woodland Park Elementary, and Tongue River Valley Community Center.
Above: The Board of Directors at the 2018 Hoe Down - Mary McDougall, Donna Johannesmeyer, Missi Hubert, Bonnie Gregory, Samantha Heide, Mandy Morris, Ami Erickson, Pam Standish, Kelly Hahn, and Keri Guimond.
A longstanding partnership between Rooted in Wyoming and the University of Wyoming Sheridan Research and Extension Center (ShREC) began in 2017. With the generous collaboration of UW staff, Rooted volunteers brought after school groups and home-schoolers to the ShREC greenhouse where the students helped start seedlings intended for school gardens.
UW Assistant Research Scientist Beth Fowers works with the first group of “Seed Starting” students from Woodland Park Elementary in spring of 2017.
In 2019, Rooted gained independent status as a 501(c)3 non-profit. Lise Foy was hired as the Executive Director in 2020, and served in the role for two years. Jodi Kenney served Rooted from 2021 to 2023 as Project and Outreach Coordinator. During this time Rooted’s projects, programs, and impacts continued to expand.
Jodi Kenney pictured here with VA Residential Therapist Linnae Taylor (left), and Erin Kinsey (right) from Landon’s Greenhouse during a gardening class for veterans at the Sheridan VA Medical Center.
Left to right below: Ellie Martin with Evie, Jodi Kenney, Lacie Schwend, and Lise Foy at the revitalized Eagle’s Nest Garden in 2021.
Whether called a hoedown, farm-to-table dinner, or food festival, Rooted in Wyoming’s harvest party fundraiser has become a much loved annual event. Rooted continues to support the development of local gardens, as well as educational programs like summer camps, and the culinary collaborations between school groups and local chefs. None of these achievements would have been possible without the generous financial support of the many businesses, charitable foundations, and private individuals who continue to help Rooted in Wyoming make a positive impact on our community.
More than 35 individuals have volunteered over 90 years of service to Rooted in Wyoming’s Board of Directors. Follow this link for an up-to-date list of current and former Board Members.
