GREGOR DIKE

Zhi-ba Shing-ga Yaks in Wellington, Kentucky

Gregor Dike, a founding member of USYAKS and previous Board Member of IYAK,  has raised yaks since 2013 in Appalachia Kentucky. His herd of seventy-five yaks, Zhi-ba Shing-ga Yaks is managed for selling breeding stock and the production of yak jerky in partnership with Greystone Farm in Tennesse. The most important goals of in the development of USYAKS for Mr. Dike are 1: The organization being member driven; 2: A DNA based registry open to all yaks including hybrid yaks; 3: Expanding the scientific study yaks includingh nutrition and health; and 4,  being an organization that is there to help any yak owner or future owner as possible.

BRAD PETERSON
Yaks of Coalbank Creek in Nunn, Colorado

I joined USYAKS looking for a more open minded approach to the Yak world. I found it in USYAKS. I am happy to be part of a group of like thinking Yak producers who are concerned with how all yaks are raised and viewed by the world at large. My goal as a board member is to educate anyone interest in yaks and how special they are to us. My goal is to teach the general public the benefits of raising, harvesting and using the fiber from healthy grass fed Yaks. USYAKS has created a open doors policy to all it’s members from how to raise healthy yak to helping us sell our yaks. Our goal is to run a open Association where all members thoughts and needs are our first priority. Board meetings are open to all members and your input is much appreciated. Our goal is to help in any way we can to improve your Yak experience. Keep Yakking – it makes a Happier you.

RUTH HIGDON
Smiling Buddha Yaks in Ridgeway, Colorado

Ruth Higdon is a cancer surgeon who is crazy about yaks.  She raised yaks in Alaska and used them as pack animals in the remote Alaska wilderness.

She now is co-owner of Smiling Buddha Yaks in Ridgway, Colorado.  She is treasurer of USYAKS and supports USYAKS mission of transparency and using science to register yaks based on their DNA.  

CARYN DEROCHIE
Stormcloud Ranch in Estancia, New Mexico

Hello, my name is Caryn DeRochie and I am a yak rancher in New Mexico. My husband and I have a herd of 15 yaks  and are working on getting the new ranch up and going.

I have experience with various animals including chickens, reptiles and New Mexico Dahl sheep. The school I teach at is a 4H school so I bring my ranching experience to my kindergarteners.

My hobbies include weaving and knitting and I can hardly wait to use the fiber from my yaks.

ERIC MANDATTA
Silver Cuff Farm, LLC in Stockton, New Jersey

As a first generation New Jersey Garden State farmer, I am honored to be integrally involved with USYAKS.  My wife Susan and I have been enamored with this magnificent breed since 2013 and are passionate advocates for all they offer to new & existing livestock enthusiasts.  Being close to nature all my life, I will represent the east coast with integrity & enthusiasm.  Through my varied experience working with renowed pacers & trotters, starting a large landscape design build company, to logging & fly fishing with my father, the foundation is always hard work, patience and meaningful communication.  Having a yak herd has offered our family a lifestyle and love more than we could have imagined.  At Silver Cuff Farm, we continue to learn & grow with the herd so that they can thrive in health and temperament through intentional breeding– each year optimizing our fiber resources as well as starting to see options to utilize our yak milk.   I am excited to strive to make a difference in the yak community.

MELISSA LUNSFORD
Granite Peak Ranch, LLC in Bayfield, Colorado

Born on a small farm in Texas, I have been handling animals and/or working with wool for decades. I was fortunate to be able to attend a two-year Felting program at Kurszentrum Ballenberg in Brienz, Switzerland. Here, I worked with local and store bought fibers (ranging in varieties from sheep, silk, camel, and yak wool) to produce different effects such as 3D hand-building sculpture to carding and felting fine nuno couture. Now living in Colorado, I settled on yaks as my choice of fiber animal to breed.  We now have 21 yaks on our ranch and will send our wool to be processed in a mill starting 2023 as we now have enough volume of wool to bother not hand processing. I am happy to work with USYAKS as a Fiber Committee Chair to support breeding for fiber and help develop fiber programs that all our members can benefit from.

URS
Heritage Yaks in Red Wing, Minnesota

CARLICE CUTRIGHT
Casper Creek Yaks in Casper, Wyoming

My name is Carlice Cutright, my family and I run Casper Creek Yaks, located in Casper Wyoming, raising premier show yaks since 2015.  We have a herd of 9 and pride ourselves in a herd that is well mannered and halter trained.  I am a certified vet assistant and am planning on going on to school in the near future to get an Ag Degree.  Being a part of FFA (Future Farmers of America) I use my yak herd as my SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience) placing first at the state level, I hope to earn the FFA American degree with this project. I offer a fresh young mind to US Yaks as a board member, traveling to shows across the state and country to advocate yaks and this great association.