Abby Shannon

abby@farmtopower.org

Abby Shannon is an Indiana State Organizer based out of North West Indiana. Abby grew up in Starke County, a small rural farming community where both her immediate and extended family have farmed for generations. She has also owned her own speciality cut crop flower farm.

Abby has always had a passion for small family farms and knows first hand the struggles of farming in today’s world. She knows diversity on a farm is important to it’s success.  She started in the AG industry as a Field Enumerator for the USDA. Now Abby’s excited to be part of Farm To Powers mission, Especially advocating for those voices who have saved their family farms with renewable energy.

When Abby isn’t out networking with farmers, she’s spending time with her kids, writing her first cookbook, or hanging out at car shows with her partners ’72 Ford F100. Abby’s favorite part of working with Farm to Power is sitting at kitchen tables and hearing stories from some of the most dedicated and inspiring people in America.

Davina Bryan

davina@farmtopower.org 

Rachael Stewart

rachael@farmtopower.org

Rachael Stewart is the Southwest Regional Director of Farm-To-Power for New Mexico and Arizona. She is currently a rancher in southern Arizona and a mother to four children. Rachael transitioned from fitness to farming in 2020 and never looked back. She is passionate about animals, the environment, and helping her community.

Rachael founded a non-profit organization that helps small farmers/ranchers grow by gaining access to resources and land. Rachael completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Global Business and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA). She works with the National Young Farmers Coalition and is on the board of Slow Food Phoenix.

In her spare time, she loves to work on her ranch, Stewart Pastures, and spend time with her horses.

Don Coram

Don Coram embodies the code of the West, having been born and raised in Montrose County, Colorado, on a family farm/ranch operation. With a background spanning ranching, environmental reclamation, small business, and over 25 years in mining, Don’s life has been marked by a commitment to hard work, honesty, perseverance, and a profound pride in preserving the western way of life.

From 2017 to 2023, Don served as a State Senator for Colorado’s 6th district in Southwest Colorado. Initially appointed to fill a vacancy in 2017, he later secured election to a full term in 2018. However, redistricting prevented him from seeking reelection to the post in 2022.

During his tenure in the Senate, Don’s influence extended across several key committees, including Agriculture, Livestock, & Natural Resources, Judiciary, Water Resources Review, and Wildfire Matters Review. His tenure was marked by significant legislative achievements and a tireless commitment to representing the interests of rural Colorado. Don effectively advocated for policies promoting economic growth, environmental stewardship, and the well-being of agricultural communities.

Prior to his senatorial role, he served as a State Representative for District 58 from 2011 to 2017. Over his six-year tenure in the House, Don served on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Transportation and Energy committees, and as Vice Chair of the State Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. He was also appointed by the Speaker of the House to serve on the 2010 Colorado Congressional Redistricting Committee.

Known for his effectiveness as a legislator, Don earned a reputation as a fierce advocate for rural Colorado, embodying the cowboy spirit in his commitment to the land and its people. He often emphasized that the “R” behind his name stood for RURAL and symbolized his dedication to those communities and the values of the West. His willingness to collaborate across party lines in pursuit of legislative priorities exemplified his dedication to serving all constituents. Today, Don maintains close relationships with former colleagues from both sides of the aisle, advocating for a focus on relationship-building over divisive rhetoric to better serve our communities.

Before his tenure in state legislature, Don held roles as an elected Director and Treasurer of Montrose County School District RE-1J, as well as Treasurer and President of what is now known as the Technical College of the Rockies. Don and his wife of 57 years, Dianna, continue to call Montrose home, embodying a deep connection to their families, community, and the values they hold dear.

Sam Roberts

sam@farmtopower.org

Sam is from rural southeast Ohio, where he helps operate a community nonprofit organization, Morgan Community Support and Solutions, with other alumni from his high school. Having obtained his Masters in Public Administration from Ohio State University with a focus on nonprofit management, Sam is pursuing a career in the public and nonprofit sectors to continue building his skills and knowledge that he can take back to his own nonprofit organization.

Being from rural America and having an undergraduate education in STEM, Sam is passionate about the unique problems that rural Americans face and the solutions that Farm-To-Power aims to provide.

Steve Boe

steve@farmtopower.org

Steve Boe is a native of Taylor, Wisconsin, where he grew up on a small 40-cow dairy farm in western Jackson County. Boe graduated from Blair-Taylor High School in 2002 and received a degree in agricultural education and political science at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

Currently, Steve has worked as a research assistant for Representative Mark Radcliffe in the Wisconsin State Assembly, as a FFA advisor at Alma Center-Humbird-Merrillan High School, as the Director of Local Affairs and District 4 Coordinator for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, and most recently was the agriscience teacher and FFA Advisor at the Melrose-Mindoro School District.

Before his work, Boe served as a congressional intern for Congressman Ron Kind in Washington. Steve’s experiences have allowed him to become a leader in the agriculture industry, gain experience in policy, and be in touch with local communities in Wisconsin.

Steve is active with the Taylor FFA Alumni, member of Taylor Lutheran Church, is on the Jackson County Fair Board, and serves as the Co-Service Director for the Taylor First Responders. He is the past president of the Jackson County Thrivent chapter and served as a State FFA Officer from 2003-04.

Ryan Hoaglin Jackson

ryan@farmtopower.org

Ryan serves as Farm-To-Power’s National Field Operations Director, supporting our field staff across the organization with training, data, and reporting needs.

After many cycles of volunteering on campaigns, Ryan translated this experience into full-time activism in 2021, organizing for statewide electoral campaigns and eventually working as a campaign manager for down-ballot races. Most recently, he worked in healthcare advocacy, working to ensure equal and unfettered access to a variety of essential healthcare services.

He is excited to bring this skillset to the fight to protect our planet and empower rural communities to energize our future in a sustainable, reliable way.

Ryan lives in a rural county in Southwest MI with his husband, 2 dogs, and 4 cats.

Ben Kelahan

ben@farmtopower.org

Ben Kelahan is a co-founder of Farm-To-Power. He has over three decades of experience in federal, state, and local legislative advocacy campaigns. Ben’s specialties are coalition building, grassroots organizing, government relations, community engagement, political consulting, and lobbying. To that end, Ben also currently serves as Chairman of the Board for The Advocacy Group (TAG), which brings together top-tier lobbyists nationwide to exchange best practices and compare client issues.

He is also the founder and executive director of ReNew Mexico and co-founder of Western Freedom, two Western coalition-based organizations fighting for legislative and regulatory changes within the energy sector.

Ben resides in Loudoun County, Virginia, with his wife and kids.