Some of our Key Staff
Nicole Persun
Nicole fell in love with her first horse at five years old, and has loved their company ever since. Throughout her youth, Nicole showed the horse of her heart, Goldie, in both Western and English styles—but her happiest memories are of riding bareback in the hayfields of the farm where she grew up. Nicole has been a volunteer of numerous nonprofits, including Center Valley Animal Rescue and A Farm for Annie.
When she's not spending time at A Farm for Annie, Nicole works as a novelist, most notably writing contemporary fiction under the pen name Jennifer Gold.
Emily Henry
Emily Henry grew up in Port Townsend and spent much of her youth participating in community organizations, such as the Jefferson County 4-H Program, The O'Meara Dance Studio, and The Music Studio. After graduating from Western Washington University with a bachelor's degree in French and English, Emily continued her education by enrolling in the WSU FIELD Program in Jefferson County.
Equipped with farming skills and agricultural knowledge, Emily left for Senegal, West Africa, to be an Agroforestry volunteer with the U.S. Peace Corps. Upon her return, Emily worked at the Chimacum Corner Farm Stand, as part of a team selling local products from the community's farmers and small businesses. She is now the Volunteer Initiatives Coordinator for United Good Neighbors she focuses on the development of Get Connected Jefferson, a free, online volunteer center for nonprofit organizations and public agencies.
Having lived and worked with animals throughout her life, Emily is an enthusiastic volunteer with A Farm For Annie.
Alison E Potter
Alison began riding at the age of three under the tutelage of her aunt Lory, a former riding instructor and trainer. Growing up in the East Bay, Alison rode with Gay Talmey and Heidi Cowley before heading to college to earn a B.S. in Animal Science. During college, Alison was an assistant trainer for Barbara Beans-Slade at Franktown Meadows in Reno, NV.
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She continued her career with Barbara for several years thereafter, and incorporated continuing education participation in extensive clinics with well-renowned horsemen, before starting the next leg of her journey at The Pebble Beach Equestrian Center. PBEC proved to be an excellent venue to gain experience with a large riding school, summer-long camp sessions, and a multitude of year-round horse shows. Six years later, Alison ventured out on her own and started Alison Potter Training at Cypress Stables, where she continued to teach and continued success with her students in the show ring.
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After much deliberation, Alison chose to leave Monterey to continue her lifelong quest of learning and growing and joined the team at Kelly Maddox Training in Northern California, where she expanded the riding school program and developed a successful schooling show series for KMT, which eventually led into horse show management, another passion.
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Alison specializes in starting children and adults with the proper foundation; focusing on safety, confidence and clear communication with the horse, while developing a balanced seat. She believes in teaching her students excellence in riding, as well as, comprehensive and complete horsemanship skills, with an emphasis on FUN. Alison believes in a lifetime of learning, which is something everyone experiences when working around and riding horses.
Polly Thurston
Polly Thurston has a history of working with animals. She worked as a field ecologist and wildlife biologist; had a short stint as manager of an animal shelter; and has given workshops integrating art, animals, and ecological concepts. Polly obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Field Ecology and Masters degree in Environmental Leadership—both degrees focusing on Art and Animals. She also has years of experience as an environmental educator, gardener, and elder caregiver. She has volunteered walking dogs for the Humane Society, helped develop the docent program with the Jefferson Land Trust, and was a volunteer (and on the board) in the early years of the Port Townsend Marine Science Center.
As an artist—storyteller, puppeteer, poet, among other mediums—her art always centers around compassion for other species and the planet. She is handy with tools and likes to build things, thus has participated in building shelters for the horses, maintenance/repair of fences, and other structures. Polly has always been an animal lover. She says, "Caring and being around animals—feeding, brushing and talking to them—is the best thing ever!"