Alisha Horak
Senior Conservation Planner
Rocky Mountain West Regional Office
Topic Areas: Crops, Livestock, Local Foods, Policy, Soil Health
Specific Areas of Expertise: Rotational grazing, USDA policy, farmers markets, cover crops, grass seedings, tree planting
Growing up on a hobby farm with a passion for the outdoors and animals, Alisha Horak received her degrees in Natural Resource Management and Applied Ecology. Now, she and her husband run a small cattle, sheep, and chicken operation in South Dakota, while also gardening and sharing the fruits of their labor at the local Farmers Market. When she’s not working, Alisha is continuing her passion of homesteading goals, learning new skills, and kayaking or being out in nature.
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management, University of Minnesota-Crookston
Master of Science in Applied Technology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Previous Experience:
District Conservationist, March 2020 – February 2024
USDA NRCS, South Dakota
Assisted producers with conservation planning, field inventories, and implemented cost-share programs.
Farm Bill Wildlife Biologist, August 2018 – March 2020
Forever Inc. Woonsocket, SD
Delivered technical assistance in conservation planning, habitat site evaluations, and conducted outreach.
Current Professional Affiliations and Committees:
South Dakota Sheep Growers Association
Featured Publications and Presentations:
Hansen, H.H., E. Forzono, A. Grams, L. Ohlman, C. Ruskamp, M.A. Pegg, and K.L. Pope, K.L. 2020. Exit here: strategies for dealing with aging dams and reservoirs. Aquatic Sciences. 82(1).
Grams, A. 2018. Motivations, specializations, identities, and constraints associated with hunting in Nebraska. Thesis.