Volunteers

Dedicated volunteers are the lifeblood of BFC, allowing us to send patrols into the field whenever and wherever wild buffalo are in danger.

These dedicated buffalo defenders also attend public meetings, legislative hearings, and other forums where government decisions affecting wild bison are made. Volunteers help organize rallies and protests, and some individuals have engaged in non-violent direct action to stop the slaughter and raise awareness of the cruel harassment of the buffalo. After completing our application process, selected volunteers receive training, room and board, and the use of winter gear, clothing, and equipment during their time in the field with the buffalo. Since 1997, more than 5,000 people, of all ages, backgrounds and from all around the globe, have joined BFC as volunteers: serving from one weekend to multiple full seasons.

Seasonal Coordinators

Every winter, BFC hires a crew of committed seasonal coordinators who are responsible for key tasks arising from our most busy field season—from approximately November 15 to May 30. It is during this time of year when bison are most likely to migrate outside of Yellowstone and face harassment, shooting, and slaughter.

Each winter BFC employs seasonal coordinators to oversee our kitchen and prepare meals; to recruit and train volunteers; and to maintain vehicles and structures. A full season as a volunteer is required to be considered for one of these coordinator positions.

Executive Council

Dallas Gudgell

Justine Sanchez

Heidrun Kubiessa

Year-round Coordinators

The buffalo are also fortunate to be able to count on the support of a few extraordinary people.

Angela De Sapio (she/her/her)
Office Coordinator

Angela holds a M.S. in Environmental Science from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, and a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Notre Dame. She has a background in Grant Management and Scientific Research and over two decades of community and workplace experience in Diversity and Inclusion. The importance of allowing for sustainable populations of Buffalo on our Public Lands is never far from her mind as is stabilizing the weather through fighting Climate Change and Human Rights advocacy, across the globe, that connects individuals to their communities. She spends more time on land then in the water by 1% and still likes compasses, binoculars, and the Heisman ceremony.

Kaitllyn Broussard
Grants Coordinator

Kathy Principato
Digital Media Coordinator 

Mike Mease
Campaign Coordinator

Mike is a co-Founder of BFC and a founding Board Member. He earned a B.A. in Radio/Television and Psychology from the University of Montana, and has produced more than 20 video documentaries on human rights and environmental issues. Mike’s videography work has received awards from the Best of the Northwest Film Festival, the Hometown Video Festival, and the International Wildlife Film Festival. He has worked as an undercover videographer for Greenpeace, Native Forest Network, and BearWatch. His footage has been broadcast on CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, A&E, the Discovery Channel, as well as French and German Television. Mike is co-founder of Cold Mountain, Cold Rivers, and an environmental organizer and activist with more than two decades of experience. His long history of on-the-ground activism along with his passion and skill in creating compelling short films about bison behavior and management are some of BFC’s greatest organizational assets. Mike leadership in the field has been crucial to BFC’s success. Since 1997, Mike has been one of the primary leaders and organizers of BFC. They have literally trained hundreds of volunteers on every aspect of BFC’s work—and helped launch thousands of activists out into the world after experiencing the effectiveness and empowerment of BFC.

Now come meet our volunteer Board of Directors!