Linda Poole

Linda had the great blessing of growing up on her family’s cattle ranch in the Okanogan Highlands of Washington state. Early years spent chasing cows and roaming Buck Mountain horseback with a couple whipsmart cowdogs for company totally ruined her for anything other than life outdoors, tending land and livestock, water and wildlife. After earning a masters in wildlife science, she spent 20 years managing large properties in Oregon and Montana for The Nature Conservancy, using planned cattle grazing to enhance wildlife habitat, provide dependable income, and build respectful relationships with area ranchers and conservationists. Working in support of family ranchers in northcentral Montana, Linda helped found the Matador Ranch Grassbank and the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance. Throughout her 45 year career, Linda’s focus has been steady: using adaptive management and collaboration to create best possible outcomes for ranchlands, the people who steward them, and the livestock and wild things that depend on that stewardship. 

Linda spends free time with five working dogs – two herders and three guardians — tending a beloved flock of natural colored finewool sheep on a prairie homestead in north central Montana. Except when she’s working as Soil to Supper director for Quivira, you’ll rarely find her without a sketchpad, whittling knife, book, or some fiber project in her hands.