About us
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Albee Farm is governed by a board of directors in conjunction with a managing director and a small staff of dedicated volunteers.
Barb Edwards is a retired educator living in St Joseph, Mo. After losing her husband Mike, she immediately sought out volunteer opportunities in the community. An avid animal lover, she wanted to know more about horses and volunteered at the farm before joining the board. A native of Nebraska, Barb graduated from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.
Andrea Pierson is a current educator for the St Joseph School District. Her children actually had their first riding lessons at the Albee Farm so she is well acquainted with the farm and its evolving mission. Andrea and her husband Steve are actively involved with the Noyes home in St. Joseph and are also heavily engaged in church ministry. Her daughter, Bailey just graduated from the University of Missouri and is currently our new Communications Director.
Amy Ingrim is an assistant branch manager for Wells Fargo bank. Amy was raised on a small horse farm in rural Montana and has extensive knowledge in showing, training and handling horses. Besides winning numerous Western Pleasure ribbons she also was a competitive barrel racer and pole bending champion. When not "in the saddle" Amy performs stand up comedy and bakes delicious macarons.
Sharon Bryant, Managing Director
Sharon Bryant started riding at age 7. From the first time she sat in a saddle she knew she was born to ride. There are few thrills in life that can compare to the feel of 1200 pounds of pure torque moving underneath you. To be able to trust an animal and have him trust you is an experience few can understand. It takes nothing short of grit, guts and unrelenting determination to share your life with horses. For every extreme heart pounding moment of excitement there is an equally tragic moment of overwhelming sadness. For each moment of success, there are just as many moments of disappointment. There are good times and bad. That's just the way it is when you love horses.
After riding, training, teaching and competing into her late 20's Ms. Bryant took a break from horses to raise a family and launch a career. But horses were never far from her heart. She started her daughter in riding lessons and the passion was reignited. Soon she began eventing where she rose through the ranks. She continued to train at high levels across the South before buying a horse property in Montana. After training and breeding Quarter horses she re-located to the Kansas city metro & bought the Albee Farm to house her own horses and teach a few lessons. A few lessons turned into another career until her horses began to age out of their ability to enter the show ring. In less than 4 years she lost 3 horses. As she looked for replacements she realized that at her age, riding no longer carried the importance it once did. With the help of a small staff of volunteers she began taking in older horses and learned that with a nurturing environment and a lot of patience these horses can once again find purpose. They may not put ribbons on your walls but they will warm your heart and give you genuine affection like you have never known.
OUR DEDICATED VOLUNTEER STAFF
Our volunteer staff is invaluable. Without their help we could not operate day to day. Pictured left to right are Julie Schock (Assistant Director), Keith Cooper (Facilities Director), Bailey Pierson (Communications Director) and Abby Tolbert (Health & Sciences Director).