Since 1988, our team has won every major yak conservation victory in north america.
In 2023, our heritage yak were acknowledged as Critically Endangered.
World Heritage Yak Conservancy’s
WHYC Board of Directors
Nicole Geijer Porter, Phd.
DePaul University, and the University of Chicago, IL
WHYC Founding Member and Legacy Sponsor. WHYC Genome Committee Chair, IYAK “Distinguished Service” Awardee (2019), AZA Conservation Partner, Livestock Conservancy Lifetime Member, and member of the University of Wisconsin-Madison/UIC Campaign-Urbana Yak Genotyping Team. She is an epidemiologist and animal behaviorist.
Lawrence G Richards.
Living Diamonds Yak Ranch , Polson, MT
WHYC Founding Member, he' was also the founder of the first yak breed association in North America in 1988. As well as directing the WHYC Registration and Genome Committees, he’s remarkable for being the 1st yak breeder in the US. With 35 years experience, Living Diamonds Yak Ranch has, by far, bred the most pedigreed and award-winning yak in America and Canada. His experience, knowledge, and dedication are outstanding.
John Francis, MD.
Jana Francis.
Breagha Vista Ranch, Belding, Michigan, and Lafayette, Indiana
WHYC Board member and Registrar. She has hands on experience raising heritage yak, and is an experienced fundraiser, philanthropist, and an international traveler.
Mark Priest
A Yak or 2 / Great Lakes Ranch, Mancelona, Michigan
Micheal Kozlowski, Esq.
Esbrook Law , Chicago, Illinois
WHYC Founding Member and Legacy Sponsor, Attorney, and Yak Enthusiast
WHYC Committee Administration
Jana Francis, Registrar.
Breagha Vista Ranch, Belding, Michigan and Lafayette, Indiana
Steve Hill, Conservation Committee Advisor.
Sunny Hill Ranch , Willow, Alaska
WHYC Founding member, Livestock Conservancy member; past IYAK BOD member, and Life Time member.
Brent Huffman, Conservation Advisor.
Toronto Zoo , Lead Zoo Keeper, AZA, Taxon Advisory Committee, UltimateUngulate.com, Founder
Nicole Porter, PhD.
Yak Genotype Team Chair, Department of Animal Sciences
Ryan McCaffrey.
Community Outreach Coordinator.
Jandy Sprouse, Fiber Committee Chair
Great Lakes Ranch , Maple City, Michigan
WHYC Founding member, IYAK past-President, BOD member, Fiber Committee, and Life time member. Livestock Conservancy Shave Em to Save Em Initiative advocate.
WHYC Marketing Committees
Membership.
Mark Priest, Membership Chair.
A Yak or 2 / Great Lakes Ranch, Mancelona, Michigan
Anita Hill, Membership Advisor.
Sunny Hill Ranch, Willow, Alaska
Marketing.
Bethany Priest, Marketing Advisor.
A Yak or 2 / Great Lakes Ranch, Mancelona, Michigan
WHYC Heritage Yak Expert Advisors
Hasan Khatib, PhD.
Yak Genotype Team Advisor, Department of Animal Sciences
Camila U. Braz, PhD.
Yak Genotype Team, University of Illinois, Champaign - Urbana, Animal Sciences Laboratory
Ted Kalbfliesch, PhD.
University of Kansas, Louisville, Intrepid Bioinformatics
Jessica Petersen, PhD.
University of Nebraska at Lincoln, ANSC Animal Genetics
Kobus Mulder.
Yak Cheese enthusiast and international exotic cheese judge.
Hua Wu, PhD.
Qinghai Academy, Animal Science Veterinary Medicine (青海畜牧兽医职业技术学院)
Clemens Heirschberger.
Old Order Amish, Heritage Dairy Specialist, Vernon County Wisconsin
Norm Monsen.
Friend and Big Cheese at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture
Scott Rankin Phd.
Department of Food Science, University Madison
Imran Sheik Nepali.
Nomadic Yak Herder and Cross-cultural Epicure, Kathandu, Nepal, and London, England
Dr. Yangbum Gyal, M.D.
University of Wisconsin Madison