Amanda Charles joined the Climate Smart Agriculture Team in 2022 serving Sonoma, Marin, and Mendocino counties. After completing a degree in Agricultural Business from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, she returned home to Sonoma County to support the local farmers and ranchers in the area. What sets Amanda apart from the team is her success in engaging ranchers in her area, specifically encouraging them to apply for the Healthy Soils Program to receive funding for Range Planting and Compost Application, two conservation management practices that sequester carbon, reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs), and promote soil health. Ranchers in the area have large amounts of land, which has a huge impact potential on GHG reduction. By providing a new perspective for these generational ranchers that often are unwilling to change their management practices, Amanda has had a lasting impact on pasture and rangeland owners.

Amanda organized a Soil Sampling Workshop on her family’s ranch and provided the tools and support to correctly take soil samples. Farmers and ranchers in the area were invited to attend and participate, and this opportunity included soil sampling, sending the sample to a lab, and how to interpret the soil analysis and finding meaning in the report. Amanda continues to find ways to engage with farmers and ranchers in the Sonoma County area and serve her local agricultural community.