Staff
Karl Pratt
Executive Director
director@growsheridancounty.org
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Karl has been an integral part of the foundation since 2018, serving as its first-ever staff member. He oversees daily operations, including donor development and relations, fund creation, communications, and marketing. Karl also leads the foundation’s Strategic Doing and Planned Giving initiatives, supports the board with grants management and meetings, and helps organize community events. His dedication ensures the foundation continues to grow and make a lasting impact.
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He was named Executive Director in January 2022, serving in a full-time role since that time.
Kerissa Payne
Program Officer
programs@growsheridancounty.org
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Kerissa joined the foundation in August 2024. She assists with the day-to-day management of the foundation and is serving as the lead of Economic Development activities and projects in Sheridan County.
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Kerissa, along with her husband, Charlie, and two children, Sadie and Harper, moved to Hoxie from central Ohio in 2023. Together they own and operate Covey Rise Farms, LLC, which produces and sells dry-aged beef and other products ‘from fields to plate’ shipping their goods across the nation.
Sofia White
Special Projects Coordinator
projects@growsheridancounty.org
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Sofia joined the foundation in September 2024 in a part-time, temporary role. She focuses on co-leading the Foundation's Strategic Doing efforts as the liaison between active project committees and the Foundation. She also contributes to marketing and graphic design projects to enhance the visibility of the Foundation's work and support the efforts of Pratt and Payne.
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A native of Atwood, Sofia previously lived and worked in Hoxie as a chef at The Elephant Bistro and Bar. She also formerly owned and operated her own food truck business, Blue Blaze Pizza. After a brief return to Atwood, she and her husband, Jeremiah, and their two children, Astrid and Atticus, moved back to Hoxie in 2023.