At Western SARE, we're committed to serving all farmers and ranchers and their support organizations in the West. If you have questions, observations or concerns, we want to hear them. Please contact us. Before reaching out regarding a specific grant program, please review who is the best person to contact. If you don't know the specific grant program, please contact the Host Institution for more assistance.
Offices
Host Institution
Montana State University
(406) 994-4309
wsare@montana.edu
Professional Development Program
University of Wyoming
(307) 575-2416
wsare-pdp@sare.org
Questions?
For questions about the Farmer/Rancher grants, please contact wsare-fr@sare.org
For questions about the Sabbatical R&E grants, please contact wsare-sab@sare.org
For questions about the Professional + Producer grants, please contact wsare-partnership@sare.org
For questions about the Graduate Student grants, please contact wsare-gs@sare.org
For questions about the Research and Education grants , please contact wsare-re@sare.org
For questions about the Professional Development or Local Education and Demonstration (formerly known as RGR) grants, please contact wsare-pdp@sare.org
Western SARE Staff
Darrell Donahue, Regional Coordinator
Darrell joins Western SARE from West Virginia University, where he served as Special Assistant to the Provost and President, following four years as Dean of the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design. He has also held leadership roles as Professor and Chair of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at Michigan State University and as Vice President for Operations and Research Director at Maine Maritime Academy. Earlier in his career, he spent 17 years at the University of Maine as a professor of chemical engineering and Associate Director of the Forest Bioproducts Research Institute. An accomplished researcher, Dr. Donahue’s work has centered on agriculture and food safety, with expertise in statistics, modeling, and simulation for chemical and microbial risk assessment. He has served as an AAAS Fellow at the Department of Homeland Security, participated on multiple National Academies and international panels, and currently serves as Secretary of the UN International Committee on Microbiological Specifications for Foods.
Montana State University
207 Linfield Hall
P.O. Box 172840
Bozeman MT 59717
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Jenna Meeks, PDP Coordinator
Jenna grew up in south-central Idaho on a fourth-generation commodity crop and cow/calf operation. In addition to Western SARE, she is an Assistant Research Scientist with the University of Wyoming and is a board member of the Lingle Fort Laramie Conservation District. Jenna lives in the thriving metropolis of Lingle, WY. As PDP Coordinator, she looks forward to developing relationships and traveling throughout the Western region to further the SARE mission. Jenna manages the PDP and LED grants programs.
2753 State Hwy 157
Lingle WY 82223
(307) 575-2416
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Stacie Clary, Communications Manager
Stacie works as the Communications Manager with the goal of ensuring the Western ag community knows about their eligibility for the different grants programs, as well as the educational resources provided by SARE. She interviews grantees to write stories, co-hosts the podcast, manages the website and digital communications, oversees the newsletter and other publications, promotes good educational materials created by grantees, handles media requests, attends conferences, and oversees video production.
Sacramento CA
(916) 572-6226
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Steve Elliott, Communications Consultant
(209) 795-7445
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Kelly Greenwald, PDP Business Manager
Kelly serves as the Business Manager for the Western SARE PDP program as well as the University of Wyoming SAREC research and extension center located in Lingle, WY. Kelly’s Western SARE responsibilities include processing all financial obligations, reimbursements and contracts; managing meeting, hotel, travel and tour arrangements; and other support of Western SARE PDP state coordinators, PDP and RGR grant applicants and grant recipients.
2753 State Hwy 157
Lingle, WY 82223
(307) 575-2416
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Miranda Kersten, Farmer/Rancher Program Manager
As the Farmer/Rancher Program Manager, Miranda manages the application, awarding, and reporting of the Western SARE Farmer/Rancher grant program. She also provides support to applicants and grantees and assists other competitive grant programs in Western SARE. She lives in Albuquerque, NM.
Montana State University
207 Linfield Hall
P.O. Box 172840
Bozeman MT 59717
(406) 994-4309
send email
Jen von Sehlen, Fiscal Manager
Jen serves as the Fiscal and Contract Manager. Jen has worked on a variety of Federal, State and private grants for over 15 years, the majority of this time spent in fiscal management. For the Western SARE program, she is responsible for the general fiscal management of each active Cooperative Agreement with USDA-NIFA (the SARE program’s Federal Sponsor). Western SARE grant applicants should contact Jen if they have any questions pertaining to proposal budget requirements. Western SARE subrecipients will work with Jen to establish their grant (subaward agreement) with MSU, including any budget revisions. Throughout the life of a grant, the PI or PI’s institution will work with her on any amendments to their subaward agreement. Subrecipients should direct all budget questions and invoices to Jen as well.
Montana State University
207 Linfield Hall
P.O. Box 172840
Bozeman MT 59717
(406) 994-4786
send email