Welcome New VSP Coordinator Rebecca Schexnayder

Hello! I am Rebecca Schexnayder (pronounced shex-nigh-dur), and I am a new member of the Foster Creek Conservation District team. I will be providing support for the Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) of Douglas County. I am originally from rural Northern California and attended college at Humboldt State University, studying Restoration Ecology and Rangeland Resource Science. I have lived and traveled all over the Western United States, most recently to Arizona, after many years spent in Oregon. I relocated here with my husband Mark, our cat and shepsky dog. We thoroughly enjoy home improvement projects, gardening, and spending any time outdoors exploring—especially our beautiful new home base in north central Washington.

My goal is to provide supportive guidance to the Voluntary Stewardship Program as it transitions into its next 5-year phase. This newer program will benefit from adaptive management and collaborative implementation by everyone involved as well as engaging more local producers with the program. Through creativity and partnership, VSP stands to provide a balanced approach to cultivating healthy agricultural lands, stewarding natural resources, and supporting our resilient community. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this program and hope to lend every professional skill available to support its long-term success.