Western Yavapai Conservation Education Center

Kellie Dunn– Soil conservationist Technician Prescott Valley Field Office

I have been a Soil Conservationist Technician with the NRCS for almost two years. I was born and raised in Tempe, however my mother is from a small village in Germany, where they raised livestock and made wine. Most of my summers growing up were spent on my grandfathers vineyards, so from a young age I was playing in the dirt, catching snakes, and climbing trees. I have always loved the outdoors and wildlife, so when it was time to go to college, I pursued a degree in wildlife management and ecological restoration. After years of working with threatened and endangered species, I decided to go to graduate school.

My brother and I lounging while the adults picked grapes Sobernheim, Germany 1995

I worked seasonally on the Prescott National Forest when I was in grad school, and immediately knew that Prescott was where I wanted to be full time. I finished my masters in Rangeland Ecology at ASU in 2018 and found the perfect position at the NRCS assisting local farmers and ranchers. My favorite part of the job is getting to meet the producers, their families, and learn about their operation. It always reminds me of how much my grandpa loved to make wine, and how it brought our family together.