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Kristi Cammack, South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University

Kristi Cammack serves as the assistant dean for West River operations for the College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at SDSU. She also serves as the director for the Center of Excellence for Bison Studies. Prior to arriving at SDSU in 2016, Cammack was a faculty member in the Department of Animal Science at the University of Wyoming for 10 years, both researching and teaching livestock breeding and genetics. In her role at SDSU, Cammack serves to facilitate research and outreach activities in West River and works to advance the pursuit of bison knowledge.

John Blanton, South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University

John Blanton is the director of the South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã Agricultural Experiment Station and also serves as the associate dean for research for SDSU’s College of Food, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. Prior to arriving at SDSU, Blanton served as the department head at Purdue University as well as at Mississippi State University. While serving in his administrative leadership position, Blanton also remains engaged in research with his area of interest focused on à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã growth and development.

Lora Perkins, South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University

Lora Perkins is an associate professor in the Department of Natural Resource Management and an affiliate associate professor in the Department of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science at South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University. She is the creator of the Native Plant Initiative at South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University. Her expertise is in the control of invasive plants and restoration of native plants. She has research published on bison diet and has mentored graduate students involved in bison research. Perkins serves on the editorial boards at Rangeland Ecology and Management, Restoration Ecology and Biological Invasions.

Angela Pillatzki, South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University

Angela Pillatzki is the department head and an associate professor for the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University and a board-certified veterinary pathologist at the Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory at SDSU. She has over 15 years of experience in veterinary diagnostics, which includes disease investigations in both public and private bison herds. Pillatzki’s expertise is in infectious diseases of food-producing à£à£Ö±²¥Ðãs, and her research has focused on the study of disease pathogenesis and prevention. As a board member, her goals are to facilitate greater understanding of the normal biology of bison, the unique biological responses of bison to disease conditions and the impact of disease on bison herd health and management.

Jessica Nora Drum, South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University

Jessica Nora Drum is an assistant professor with South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University's Department of Animal Science. Her expertise is in reproductive physiology, and she also serves as an extension specialist with SDSU. Prior to coming to SDSU, Drum was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

John Flocchini, Durham Ranch and National Buffalo Foundation

John Flocchini grew up in California and has been taking care of his family’s bison ranch in northeast Wyoming since graduating with his bachelor’s degree in agriculture in 1980 from Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, California. His father and grandfather purchased the Durham Ranch in northeast Wyoming in 1965 with the vision of selling bison meat through their California meat operation known as Durham Meat Company. The Durham Ranch is one of the oldest and largest bison operations in existence today. As well as managing the bison ranch, Flocchini also serves as the current president of the Powder River Energy Corporation Foundation, whose mission is to lend a helping hand to those in need in northeast Wyoming. Flocchini is also a founding board member of the National Buffalo Foundation, where he currently serves as secretary and is active on several bison industry committees.

Jim Matheson, National Bison Association

Jim Matheson serves as the executive director for the National Bison Association. He provides leadership, expertise and management to sustainable bison production efforts across the country. Matheson has over 30 years of experience including work in policy development, lobbying, education and outreach, agricultural communications, resource development and project facilitation.

Teri Harper, Aaniiih Nakota College

Teri Harper serves as the buffalo research and education coordinator for Aaniiih Nakota College. She is a fifth-generation rancher/farmer with a comprehensive educational background, including à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã science, Native studies, resource conservation and tribal land and water right law.

Trudy Ecoffey, Consultant

Trudy Ecoffey earned a Ph.D. in biology from South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã State University. She has served in many leadership positions, including at Tanka Fund and the InterTribal Buffalo Council. She has worked on buffalo restoration projects for more than 20 years and serves as a consultant with expertise in land management and range and conservation planning.

Mimi Hillenbrand, National Buffalo Foundation

Mimi Hillenbrand was the face of the 777 Ranch for many years. She has always had a passion for the land and all that lives there. Hillenbrand completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Montana and received a bachelor's degree in wildlife biology and a master’s degree in agricultural sciences from Colorado State University. She has studied holistic management and has been practicing it for over 30 years. Hillenbrand loves bison and the land and serves as a role model for younger generations of bison producers and enthusiasts.

Chad Kremer

Chad Kremer serves as the bison herd manager for Custer State Park in South à£à£Ö±²¥Ðã. He also owns his own bison operation — Kremer Buffalo Company — and is an alum of SDSU. Kremer is the immediate past president of the National Bison Association and continues to serve in various roles to support the industry.

Jayson Galbraith

Jayson Galbraith is the provincial bison/elk specialist for Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. He works on a variety of projects that involve bison, including nutrient composition of bison meat, mobile slaughter, carcass and meat quality, and stress physiology.