EcoSource Native Seed & Restoration is committed to Ecological Restoration in the Sage-Steppe Ecosystems. Introducing our full time staff:
Executive Director, Jennifer Taynton
Jennifer Taynton is a fifth generation family member to reside in eastern Oregon, specifically Harney and Grant Counties. Jennifer feels a deep connection to the land and wants to see our landscapes healthy and resilient once again. With hard work and determination, Jennifer will lead EcoSource's program. She is currently focusing of assisting in our Greenhouse, doing some grant writing and working with our partners on multiple restoration projects in eastern Oregon. Jennifer enjoys camping, fishing, kayaking and seeing hard work come to fruition.
Board President: Harney County Soil & Water Conservation Regional Manager, Jason Kesling
Jason Kesling is the Regional Director for the Harney County Soil and Water Conservation District. Jennifer and Jason met through collaborative meetings with High Desert Partnership. Jason enjoys gardening, owning and operating two large greenhouses providing vegetable to the community. He has a degree in wildlife biology from Oregon State University and prior to working with the HCSWCD, he worked for the Burns Paiute Tribe as a biologist. His interest is in working with landowners to improve vegetation and agriculture, conserving water and developing partnerships to work collaboratively to solve critical issues in Harney County. EcoSource is honored to have Jason as our Board of Directors President.
Board Vice President: USDA Ecologist, Dr. Roger L. Sheley
Dr. Roger Sheley is a world-renowned author and ecologist, studying native vegetation and annual invasive species for over 40 years. Dr. Sheley is also a local farmer in Harney County and has an avid interest in seeing the restoration of ecological resources and economic vitality in this area he considers home. EcoSource is honored to have Dr. Sheley as the Vice President of our Board of Directors.
Board Secretary: Local rancher, Rob Sharp
Rob Sharp has worked with EcoSource Native Seed and Restoration since our beginning in 2020. He is well versed in range management, and works at the long term holding facility for the BLM.
Board Member: Botanist-Ecologist, Caryn Burri
Caryn is a botanist ecologist who was working for the Burns District BLM when the first collaborative meetings began to discuss the need of a Restoration Economy in Harney County. She championed the idea that Harney County needed Native Seed Storage, and was fundamental in establishing EcoSource in Harney County. Caryn has since transferred her career to the Vale District office in a department not affiliated with contracts for native seed. Now Caryn has freedom to support our development on a personal level as a Board Director. She is always helpful to our staff in teaching us about native species identification and collection cleaning and storage processes. She is quick to offer suggestions to help us continue to evolve in this industry successfully. We consider Caryn a valuable asset to our EcoSource mission and appreciate her wisdom and insight to restoration using diverse and genetically appropriate native vegetation.
Board Member: Retired Rancher and Producer, Bobb Breck
Bobb Breck has considered Harney County his home since he was a young boy riding his little motorcycle across the Alvord Desert. He was raised in a ranching and rodeo family and has a strong desire to help EcoSource achieve our mission in restoring the Sage-Steppe Ecosystems.
Staff Member: Native Seed Technician, Sheri Williquette
Sheri Williquette is a Utah native who has made Harney County home. As EcoSource's Native Seed Technician, Sheri is responsible for research and data entry, ensuring our seed collection records are accurate and up to date. A mother of three with a genuine love for the outdoors, animals, and learning, Sheri has found her place here — she'll tell you herself she thinks she was born for this work. Whether she's out in the field or at her desk, she finds the work peaceful, exciting, and deeply rewarding. When she's not at EcoSource, you might find her adding to her rock collection or keeping an eye out for her favorite creature — the frog. EcoSource is glad to have Sheri on the team.
Staff Member: Seed Cleaning Technician, Billy Duff
Billy was born in John Day and raised in Oregon. He came to EcoSource with a love for the outdoors that's less of a hobby and more of a factory setting. At home he tends to 150 plants — including a giant starfish plant — and considers himself a lifelong learner when it comes to the natural world. As EcoSource's Seed Cleaning Technician, Billy is responsible for processing native seeds to meet the purity and germination standards our restoration work depends on. Billy has been working hard, improving seed lot quality from the 80–90% range up to 99.8% purity. EcoSource is glad to have Billy on the team — he brings both a sharp eye for detail and a genuine passion for the work, always striving to find ways for improvement.
