PRESIDENT

David Hall, President, is retired from the U.S. Forest Service Research Station in Moscow where he programmed simulations of landslides and soil erosion effects following forest fires. His father was a professor of geomorphology at UI, and the earth sciences rubbed off on David. He earned two bachelor’s degrees at the University of Idaho—one in Computer Science and one in Mathematics. David is interested in protecting the remaining native Palouse Prairie, and the region’s groundwater resources. He has been involved with the Palouse Prairie Foundation since its founding in 2004.

CO-VICE PRESIDENT

Elisabeth Brackney, co-Vice President, moved to Moscow 34 years ago to obtain a Master of Science degree from UI in Fishery Resources (emphasis Aquatic Ecology). She worked for the Nez Perce Tribe as a Wetlands Ecologist before retiring. A large part of her work involved plant identification. She was particularly intrigued by remnants of native prairie she came across. As a board member of PPF, she has focused on establishing the "John Crock Native Plant and Pollinator Garden" by eradicating invasive weeds and seeding and planting native Palouse Prairie plants over the past six years.

CO-VICE PRESIDENT

Tom Besser, co-Vice President, moved to the Palouse in 1981, working as a veterinarian and performing research at WSU until his retirement in 2019. In the past ten years, he was introduced to Palouse Prairie by field trips and presentations sponsored by the Palouse Prairie Foundation. Five years ago, with invaluable help of other local prairie enthusiasts, he started a 3.5-acre Palouse prairie reconstruction project on a former wheat field next to his home. As a board member, Tom is interested in protecting and restoring Palouse Prairie and sharing his enthusiasm for Palouse Prairie with others.

TREASURER

Joan Folwell, Treasurer,  moved to Pullman in 1968 from the prairies of Illinois.  She and her husband, Ray, live on 20 acres just outside the city.  Since 2005, they have been dedicated to a restoration project on land that had been a wheat farm for 100 years. To have a legal basis to preserve prairie remnants, she and others succeeded in entering regulations into the Pullman and the Whitman County Critical Area Ordinances and the Whitman County Voluntary Stewardship Program.  Along with their partners, she and Ray purchased and then resold over 400 acres of prairie remnant on Steptoe Butte to the WA Department of Natural Resources for public use in perpetuity. 

SECRETARY

Shelley Chambers-Fox, Secretary, developed her interests in gardening, weeds, and Palouse Prairie when she and her husband moved to their 24-acre farm located between Albion and Colfax. The untillable remnant of a homestead includes a small strip of Palouse Prairie. Through her training as a Master Gardener and what she learns from her involvement with the Palouse Prairie Foundation, Shelley hopes to restore the land to its former diversity and beauty.Description goes here

MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Ronnie Hatley, Member at Large, moved with his family to their farm in Union Flat in 1947. During his school years he helped his father clear the farm of hawthorn "brush" and pines increasing the 214-acre farm’s cropland from 40 to 105 acres. Walking up the prairie hillside every day to fetch the cows to milk, he never saw a wildflower. A lifelong student of Indonesia, he taught 16 years in Indonesia, 18 in Australia, and 14 at WSU and UI. Everywhere he lived, he’s been an active environmentalist. In 2025, please join Palouse Wildflower Walks every fourth Sunday of the month along the prairie deer trails; bring your friends and a picnic lunch. Come help revive Dogwood Creek Palouse Plant Farm’s 100-acres into a native plants preserve-restoration-production-research center.

MEMBER-AT-LARGE

David Herbold, Member-at-Large, grew up in the Pacific Northwest. He has always loved being outside. In 2008 he found his way to Idaho to enroll at the University of Idaho in pursuit of an MFA in Fine Art (sculpture).  In 2013 a career change led him to Thorn Creek Native Seed Farm (TCNSF).  During his 8 years at TCNSF he got a good education in Palouse Prairie and farming, which he is forever thankful for!  He now works for himself, doing building and planting. As a Palouse Prairie Foundation Board member, he looks forward to contributing his experience with prairie restoration, cultivating native species, and outreach to our local population (especially the youth) about the Palouse Prairie and how one might interact with prairie cooperatively and respectfully.

MEMBER-AT-LARGE

Pam Tetarenko grew up in Western Canada with the Canadian Rockies and Wild West Coast as her "backyard".  This cultivated a close connection with nature from a very young age.  Her career in Bioengineering took her across the United States developing fermentation technology as well as water treatment, soil and groundwater remediation projects.  Currently living in Pullman, Pam participates on our Conservation District Confluence Crew as well as learning about the unique biodiversity of our overall Palouse Prairie ecosystem.  She is happy to help with our Palouse Prairie Foundation conservation and restoration efforts as a volunteer and if it would be helpful, as a collaborator at the interface with other organizations sharing our mission.