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Joe is a welder's welder with a rare combination of large company, small small, and instructional experience.  Joe spent a lot of years at Honeywell, and  his responsibilities included running the training program for new welders.  With his own professional welding operation run out of a well-equipped shop, Joe and his family, horses, and cow, live the classic Central Oregon ranch life.  If you broke it, Joe can fix it.  If you need it, Joe can make it, and he likes nothing more than passing on those skills to his neighbors.

Dr. Shannon Findley graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, then from the University of California (UC) Davis College of Veterinary Medicine. While at UC Davis, she received specialized training in large animal technical rescue while heading up the university’s Veterinary Emergency Response Team.  Dr. Findley has a traveled to Peru, Central Mexico, Nicaragua, and Morocco for voluntary equestrian work and even expanded her repertoire to include elephants in Sri Lanka in 2017. Dr. Findley fell in love with Central Oregon while completing her internship at BEMC. In her free time, you’ll find her vetting or competing in endurance rides with her Arabians, on the river, or enjoying just about any outdoor activity.

Beth's life is one big experiment.  Before leaving her artist career and moving here from Ohio six years ago, Beth studied up on desert gardening. On arrival, she became the garden department manager at a local retailer.  When her suggestions to stock climate appropriate plants went nowhere, she started High&Dry GardenWorks, her own lab for propagating plants that can thrive with limited water, excessive sun and wind, and deer.  Under High&Dry, Beth is rehabbing her non-irrigated 10 acres with natives,  maintaining her “Wildlife Habitat” and “Pollinator Pathway” certifications, and building bluebird nesting boxes.  Beth says High&Dry is about making a difference, by sharing her failures as well as her successes.

Victoria is an experienced horse trainer and instructor from Central Oregon.  She believes in the transformative power of working with horses and brings her ideas to the community through  My Horse Journey, a company she runs with her husband Josh. With 25 years in the industry, she has excelled in western equine sports and trained with respected horsemen. Victoria's deep connection with horses has inspired her to develop a unique horsemanship program that blends classical principles, somatic awareness, and personal growth work. 

Josh is a passionate advocate for human potential, music, nature, and horses. He has developed an innovative Equine BodyWork method that connects people with horses and enhances equine performance. With degrees in exercise science and biomechanics, along with extensive experience as a licensed massage therapist, Josh brings expertise in wellness, performance, and a deep love for horses to My Horse Journey.

The first thing you notice about James is the rocks, which he quickly will point out are not just rocks, but gemstones that he and his partner found.  James is more more than just a gemstone guy, he's a highly trained mechanic who enjoys nothing more than sharing what he knows and building skills in others.  A native of Culver, James grew. In the Marines, James was trained in automotive, jet turbine and solid fuel rocket mechanics, earning many certifications along the way.  He returned to Central Oregon looking to give back to his community, share his skills and hobbies, which beyond gemstones include astronomy, another course area he's teaching.  

Dr. Persia of Black Diamond grew up riding in western disciplines including cattle sorting, reining, and western dressage. Dr. Persia worked on a ranch where she developed a strong passion for equine management, teaching, and rehabilitation. Combining this passion for horses and love of intricate science led her towards obtaining her doctorate in veterinary medicine.  Dr Persia is a fantastic workshop leader, bringing knowledge, humor, and a engaging style to the sessions she leads.