Commissioner Larry Cochran was elected to serve on the Conservation Commission in December 2015. He is also chair of the Palouse Conservation District. He’s a third generation farmer and runs Cochran Farms in Colfax.
Commissioner Cherie Kearney serves as one of the governor-appointed representatives of the state Conservation Commission. She is also the forestry conservation director at the Columbia Land Trust, where she puts her collaborative spirit toward conserving working forestland and large landscapes. She's often heading up conservation projects that initially seem complex—or even impossible. Commissioner Kearney is also a runner, boater, hiker, sailor, and all-around adventurer.
Brook has served as Ecology’s Eastern Region Director since 2019 and has been with the agency since 2005. Growing up in a small farming community just southeast of Spokane gave her a strong connection to the land and environment. She has fond memories of spring calves, alfalfa fields, and helping barn cats find mice in hay stacks. Brook studied Biology at Whitworth University and was called to environmental and science education to help student understanding of natural systems. Throughout her career, her work has centered around building collaborative partnerships through community outreach and education, strategic communications, and facilitating conversations about shared values that lead to achieving environmental goals. Brook lives in Spokane with her family, which includes a few city chickens.
Dani Gelardi is the Senior Soil Scientist and Climate Coordinator at the Washington State Department of Agriculture, where she leads soil and climate efforts for the agency including the Washington Soil Health Initiative. She is also Adjunct Faculty at Washington State University in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences. Dani received her Ph.D. and M.S. in Soils & Biogeochemistry from UC Davis as a Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) Fellow, and her B.S. from UC Berkeley. Her research program encompasses soil health, biochar, conservation practice adoption, agricultural climate resilience, and carbon accounting in working lands. When Dani isn’t working, she’s reading science fiction, gardening, or adventuring with her dog.
Jim Kropf joined the Commission in 2010, representing Washington State University (WSU) Extension. Jim has been a faculty member of WSU Extension since 1979, serving as an Extension educator on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Stevens County, Douglas and Chelan Counties, and Pierce and King Counties. He served as the Western District Director for WSU Extension from 1999 through 2010 and currently serves as the Extension Natural Resources Program Director. His Extension work primarily has focused on the production of agronomic and horticultural crops, agricultural marketing, and water quality. A Washington native, Jim grew up in Pierce County and has a B.S. and M.S. in Agronomy from Washington State University.
Commissioner Longrie serves as the Conservation District Western Representative on the Commission. He also serves on the Board of Supervisors at Clark Conservation District.
Conservation issues are hugely important to Amy, considering that her and her family’s farming and ranching livelihood depends on sustainable conservation practices to keep the ground healthy so crops and animals can prosper. Amy furthered her interests in agricultural conservation by joining the Whitman Conservation District in 2017 as a supervisor. In 2018, she was chosen to serve on the WACD State Board of Directors as one of two SE Area Directors. Then, at the 2019 Annual WACD Meeting, she was selected to be Secretary of the Association and in 2021 she was elected as the Vice President and in 2024 she was elected to serve as the Association's President. She believes that conservation practices must be approached uniquely for animals and people to coexist harmoniously. This individuality will permit people to be successful in earning a living and allow flora and fauna the habitat they need to thrive. Informing landowners about conservation practices will improve their land and enhance the surrounding ecosystem. Amy earned a B.S. in biology from Eastern Washington University. When she is not volunteering for the conservation districts, she can be found assisting her husband with their farm and ranch responsibilities, working in a salon as a colorist/stylist and doting on her horses, dogs, cats and chickens.
For over 40 years, Commissioner Troutman has been a supervisor for the Foster Creek Conservation District. Wade was a former president of WACD, has served on the NACD executive board and has received numerous conservation awards. A fourth generation family farmer, the family farm is located near Bridgeport, Washington. The farm produces dryland wheat, canola, yellow split peas, and sunflowers. Over half the farm is dedicated to shrub step habitat. The abundance of wildlife include both sage and sharp tail grouse, muledeer, antelope, coyote, wolves, and over 200 species of birds. He is currently participating with WSU and ARS on preventing herbicide resistant weeds by creating alternative cropping systems for large scale, regenerative-ag practices that will work in the dry land areas of Eastern Washington
Governor Jay Inslee appointed Daryl Williams to the Commission in 2015. Commissioner Williams is a Tulalip Tribal member and works part-time for the Tulalip Tribes as an environmental consultant. Prior to that he had worked for the Tribe as an employee for about 40 years and has a B.A. in Business Administration from Columbia College of Missouri. He is also the President of Qualco Energy, which is a partnership organization comprised of the Tulalip Tribes, Northwest Chinook Recovery, and the Werkhoven Dairy. Qualco operates a dairy digester to help improve nutrient management for the dairy and protect water quality for fish and wildlife.
Karen has served as DNR’s Assistant Division Manager in Forest Practices, working with Small Forest Landowners and Policy since 2022 and has been with the agency since 2013 working in Wildland Fire and State Environmental Policy Act programs. Growing up on Puget Sound she has a strong connection to the saltwater, loves anything outdoors including fishing, hiking, camping, boating and on and on. Prior to work at DNR she worked at both the Washington Military Department and Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) working directly with the great work of conservation districts on different restoration projects. Karen studied biology at the University of Washington and immediately entered state government work, with the best title being Chronic Environmental Deficiency Coordinator. Throughout her career, her work has centered around large and small project management, policy and ultimately building strong collaborative partnerships with stakeholders of varying backgrounds. Karen lives in Yelm with her husband and black lab, Harley Quinn.
