Some of our Key Staff
Nicole Persun
Nicole Persun started riding and attending horse camps when she was just five years old. It was around this time that Nicole also met Goldie, her “soul mate” of horses. As Nicole got older, it was clear that horses were her passion; she leased Goldie and competed in horse shows until she was twelve. Nicole continues to spend time at the farm, which includes brushing and caring of all the horses and, of course, riding Goldie whenever she gets the chance.
Nicole is currently living in Seattle, where she follows her (other) dream of being a writer. She has published books and numerous stories and poems, serves on the board of the Pacific Northwest Writers’ Association, and has an MFA in Creative Writing.
Nicole is also experienced in social media marketing and search engine optimization, a skill she shares with AFFA to help spread the word to as many animal lovers as possible. Despite her busy life, Nicole visits the farm as much as possibe, spending the majority of her time with Goldie: hand-walking her in the fields, brushing her, “kissing her pink nose,” and reminiscing about all the blue ribbons they collected over the years.
Stephanie Lutgring
Stephanie Lutgring grew up in Louisiana with a passion for horses that began when she was only two-years old. During her childhood she participated in saddlebred horse shows for eight years and, though her life changed directions, she never lost her interest in horses. After receiving her BA in Spanish, Stephanie went on to earn an MA in Spanish and Latin American Literature from Middlebury College. She taught at Bethany College in West Virginia for three years before going on to acquire her Ph.D. in Medieval Spanish from Indiana University.
Stephanie moved to the northwest in 1978 where she began to create metal sculptures and gained recognition as an artist. At that time she reconnected with her horse interests while riding a friend’s Arabian. Bitten with the horse-lovers bug for the second time, she bought her own horse when she turned sixty so that she could go trail riding anytime she wished. Stephanie began volunteering for A Farm For Annie in 2013, mucking paddocks twice a week, helping take care of the barn cat, and whatever else she could do. She is always available to lend a hand when she’s not cooking (enjoys Cajun food) or gardening at her home.
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.
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!"
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.
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.
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.
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.
Kathy Targos
After growing up in the suburbs of Detroit, MI, Kathy Targos studied to become a certified Veterinary Technician and worked in a small animal clinic for five years. She moved to Minnesota in 1982 and continued her work with animals for another seven years at the University of MN Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and attended business school in the evenings.
Upon receiving her accounting degree, Kathy became a CPA and worked as a tax accountant until retirement in 2015. During her time as a tax accountant, she continued her love of animals through volunteer work with the Animal Humane Society in Minnesota and the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Minnesota.
Once she moved to Port Townsend, where she now lives with her husband, George, and their two cats and one dog, she decided to find a worth cause where she could volunteer part time. After meeting with the director of A Farm For Annie, she found the perfect place to spend her time.