Directors

CHAIRMAN

Grant Township, KS

Scott Thellman, MD, a Kansas native, lives on Juniper Hill Farm at the edge of the Kaw River Valley.  Seeing the pastures of the farm gradually transformed into highly productive fields of organic produce gave him an appreciation for the agricultural potential of the soils of this region.  He is married to Nancy Thellman and currently serves on the boards of Ottawa University, LMH Health, the Lawrence Surgery Center, and the Ballard Center. 

VICE CHAIR

Grant Township, KS

Susan Wilborn lives and works in Overland Park, KS.  She graduated from the University of Kansas and for the past 15 years has been involved in efforts to help local farm programs grow.  She is a founding member of SOS Kaw Valley.  Her family owns a farm in North Lawrence where they grow pecan trees. 

SECRETARY

Lawrence, KS

TREASURER

Grant Township, KS

Scott Thellman is a first generation farmer and the owner of Juniper Hill Farms, Pine’s Garden & Market and is the co-owner of Sunflower Provisions all based in the Kansas River Valley in Lawrence, Kansas.  Scott has a passion for organic and sustainable agricultural production, soil, food systems and the economics of growing.  A graduate of Iowa State University, Scott, whose motto is ‘Building a Better Food System,’ currently serves as the President of the Kansas Specialty Crop Growers Association; as a member on the Governor-appointed Kansas State Board of Agriculture; and as a board member of the Kansas Land Trust in addition to serving as Treasurer of the Save Our Soil Kaw Valley Foundation.

MEMBER

Lawrence, KS

Michael Almon has lived in Lawrence KS since 1977.  He graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute with a degree in industrial design, and has operated several small businesses, currently Paradigm Design LC.  He practices permaculture on his one-half acre urban food forest that specializes in organic fruits and nuts.  He co-founded the not-for-profit Sustainability Action Network, for which he is the Coordinator, the Editor of the Weekly News Digest, and Chair of the Multi-modal Transportation Program. 

MEMBER
Lawrence, KS

Melinda Ball is a long time resident of Lawrence and she works at her alma mater, University of Kansas.  Over the past few years, she became more involved in community efforts and local civic engagement. She is passionate about protecting sensitive lands such as floodplains, wetlands, prairies, and prime farmland.