Staff & Board

Vanessa Vasquez | Executive Director

Vanessa Vasquez is a nonprofit and community development professional who lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Lost Sierra. Vanessa has over 15 years of nonprofit experience including donor management, grant writing, communications, outdoor education programming, and land management planning. She has an MA in Environment and Community Studies from Humboldt State University where she focused her studies on sustainable food systems and policy. Vanessa grew up in Butte County with a family of food-loving outdoor enthusiasts. Together with her husband Greg, Vanessa participated in the Sierra Intensive Farmer Training Program in 2013. They have both been growing food ever since. When not working, Vanessa is likely botanizing by bike or enjoying a local swimming hole with her young daughter.

Jessie Mazar | Co-Founder, Regional Food Systems Manager

Jessie transplanted to Plumas County in 2018 and her roots have taken well to the Sierra soils. Jessie brings to LSFP over a decade of experience farming, teaching, and learning in regenerative food systems. In 2016 she received an M.S. in food systems from the University of Vermont, and spent the following year working internationally teaching about food systems in India, Tanzania, Malawi, Ecuador, and Italy for an undergraduate study abroad program. When not on the farm, you can find Jessie exploring the mountains and rivers here in the Lost Sierra which she now calls home.

Bethany Rouse | Project Manager

Bethany joined Lost Sierra Food Project in 2024 and is lucky enough to have grown up in Quincy, gardening each summer since she was young. While studying at Humboldt State University, she gained a greater understanding of environmental science and decided that the best way to care for the earth and her people is to grow food and flowers. Sharing beauty, hard work, and abundance with the community is her passion and she looks forward to the coming seasons out on the farm. In her free time she likes to cook, whistle, and take her dog on walks. 

Jessica Ritchey | Farm Educator

Jessica grew up as a Quincy "mountain kid" and attended Feather River College before receiving her Bachelors degree in Nursing from Lewis Clark State College. She moved back to Plumas County after college and has worked as a registered nurse where her favorite part of the job has been educating and empowering patients to improve their health and well being. Her hobbies include crafting, gardening and looking for pine cones with her children. 

Jessica is excited to continue acute care healthcare while having to opportunity to help teach Plumas County children about nutrition, local food systems and the joy of healthy soil under your fingernails as LSFP's Farm Educator. 

Natasha Holland | Farm Manager

Natasha is from and lives in Quincy. After graduating high school she visited Vienna, Austria as an exchange student. After returning to Quincy, she graduated from FRC in 2008 then graduated from Chico State in 2012. After receiving her DPT from University of the Pacific, she again returned to Quincy to work as a physical therapist. These days she spends time with her daughter and pets, gardening away in their beautiful mountain town. She looks forward to expanding her knowledge of farming with LSFP.

Emma Talamantes | Community Programs Manager

Emma Talamantes was born and raised in Oakland, CA. During college, her passion for community wellness led her to internships at both the Oakland Family Violence Law Center and UCSF California Prevention Training Center. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Gender and Women’s studies, taking classes that focused primarily on environmental justice. Throughout college, she worked in a variety of food service jobs and volunteered delivering homecooked meals to food insecure community members. After graduating, she worked throughout the Bay Area farmers market circuit for an organic farm. Between 2023-24 she was one of the members of the Cultivate art residency through Lost Sierra Food Project, a community engagement project funded by Upstate California Creative Corps. During her downtime she enjoys doing arts and crafts, sharing food with friends, and hiking to her favorite swimming spots in Plumas County.

Ama Koenigshof | Board President

Originally from Michigan, Ama travelled the country building trails and trail programs for 18 years before discovering and falling in love with the Lost Sierra in 2022.  She has a BS in Nonprofit Administration and currently works as a construction manager for the International Mountain Bicycling Association.  Ama loves empowering teams and guiding projects from big picture concepts through to detailed execution.   She is excited to bring her love of fresh food, good dirt, and strong community to support the mission of LSFP.  At any given time, you can find Ama exploring our public lands by foot, wheels, or boat.

Marissa Rudder | Board Treasurer

Marissa grew up in a family of farmers and food entrepreneurs in rural Vermont. From a young age, she learned the value of healthy soils, good food, and a vibrant community. Her upbringing instilled a passion for environmental advocacy, food sovereignty, and a love for high alpine adventures.

Marissa holds a degree in Agricultural Resource Economics from Colorado State University, with a concentration in Agribusiness and Rural Food Systems Development. Over the past 12 years, she has been deeply immersed in the nonprofit sector, focusing on regenerative agriculture and economic empowerment for the Sierra Nevada region. From Vermont to California, she has worked to drive change by advocating for climate action and building a more resilient food economy. Marissa has worked in all areas of food systems—from production farming to wholesale aggregation and distribution, technical assistance, and hunger relief. She now serves as the Membership & Outreach Director for Mountain Area Preservation, a grassroots environmental advocacy group based in Truckee.

Marissa recently put down roots in Plumas County with her husband, Tyler, and their two dogs, Lucy and Stu. When she’s not working, you’ll find her running, gravel biking, or skiing—both nordic and touring—through the Lost Sierra and beyond.

Marcie Wilde | Board Director

Originally from Rhode Island, Marcie moved to California in 2005. She fell in love with the Sierra Nevada mountains and Plumas County after starting her Outdoor Recreation Leadership degree at Feather River College in 2006. After pursuing her degree, Marcie decided to permanently call Quincy her home after meeting her partner while working at the original Panagea Café and Pub in downtown Quincy. She now is the General Manager for Feather River Food Co-op, which serves the community by being the only member-owned grocery in the county. She joined LSFP Board of Directors in 2023 and is excited to bring her work in food access to the table. Marcie spends most of her free time with her partner and six dogs hiking, kayaking, camping and relaxing in the Lost Sierra. 

Josh Nielsen | Board Director

Josh is a fourth generation Plumas County resident, raised in Davis, CA. He holds a B.A. in Sociology from UC Davis and currently works for a local nonprofit, supporting people with disabilities. Before moving to Plumas County in 2017, he worked in Ashland, Oregon for a sustainable restaurant/ranch/brewery. Josh has supported the Lost Sierra Food Project since its founding, and is excited to be serving on the Board of Directors.