Our Team

Jayme Gallegos - Volunteer Coordinator

Jayme earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Oregon State University. With years of lab experience and management under her belt, she brings a unique set of skills to the ranch. While her background might seem an unlikely match for ranch life, her ability to create systems and streamline processes has made the care of our herd efficient and seamless for both staff and volunteers.

As Volunteer Coordinator, Jayme’s leadership shines through in her dedication to making every volunteer feel welcome and valued. She takes the time to understand the needs of the ranch and works to match each volunteer with a role that aligns with their individual strengths and passions. Her forward-thinking approach and organizational expertise are essential in building a strong, effective volunteer team that plays a key role in the success of Acres of Hope.

Deb Sherwood - Director of Family Support & Board Member

Deb has been a vital presence in the lives of people in Salem for decades, serving with Young Life, her church, and many other community programs to reach those in need. With a deep passion for empowering teens, young adults, and families, she is dedicated to helping individuals step out in courage, no matter the challenges they face. As a Bible study leader, mentor, and friend, Deb’s heart is to walk alongside anyone she interacts with, offering support and encouragement in their journey.

While Deb is passionate about working with youth, she also has a strong desire to foster unity within families. This led her to start the family support program at Acres of Hope, where she provides a safe space for guardians and parents to process, find support, and connect with community resources. Through listening, prayer, and practical guidance, Deb helps individuals and families find healing and strength together.

Paige Greene - Assist. Program Director & Session Leader

Growing up in Salem has given Paige a unique love and calling toward the teens at Acres of Hope. She brings a joyful, fresh perspective to the team, backed by years of experience in both administration and ministry. From working at a well-known mortgage company to serving the homeless, Paige’s heart is to love others as Jesus would—through service, patience, and meaningful connection.

Paige has a remarkable ability to approach every session with creativity, flexibility, and a passion for empowering each youth to make their time at Acres of Hope their own. Her creativity and dedication were key in launching the Teen Time program in the summer of 2021. As Program Assistant, Paige also trains new session leaders, helping them develop better mentorship skills and enhance their work with the horses to guide youth toward healing.

Beth Weaver - Forever our horse trainer

On June 23, 2024, we unexpectedly lost our beloved horse trainer, Beth. She will always hold a place on this page, as she dedicated years to supporting our team and herd. Her wisdom, knowledge, and deep love for horses will remain in our hearts and continue to shape the ranch for years to come.

Beth brought years of diverse horse experience to Acres of Hope, with a special heart for the youth we serve. She worked at dude ranches and therapeutic riding facilities, trained in dressage and jumping, and managed Northwood Farms. A student of Buck Brannaman and a mentee of Parelli, Beth’s expertise was vast. She spent two summers working one-on-one with struggling youth and mustangs, helping teens who had faced abuse, run away, or struggled with self-harm find hope and healing through their relationships with horses.

Beth was a lifelong learner, constantly growing in her understanding of horses and people. Her generosity, patience, and commitment to both animals and youth were unmatched. Over the five years she spent with us, we laughed, learned, cried, and continued to sit in the hard places with our youth. While we will miss her deeply, we are committed to carrying on the work she started, honoring her legacy, and keeping her spirit alive at Acres of Hope.

Tricia McCormick - Session Leader & Herd Exercise Team

Tricia has been drawn to horses since childhood, receiving her first horse at the age of 8 and owning many others over the years, each one uniquely loved. She credits her Natural Horsemanship mentor, Dave Williams, for a decade of guidance in connecting with horses by observing their behavior and learning how they communicate.

In addition to her extensive horse knowledge, Tricia has over 17 years of experience in Equine Assisted Therapy. This invaluable experience, combined with her genuine desire to be a safe place for teens, makes her an incredible gift to the entire ministry. Tricia is kind, humble, hardworking, and passionate. She has a deep love for her youth and listens closely to the Holy Spirit in each session, using wisdom as she prayerfully considers what each youth in front of her needs.

Mandy Neifert - Herd Exercise Manager & Session Leader

Mandy was born and raised in Oregon, where her love of horses was instilled by her mother. She can’t remember a time without horses in her life. At the age of nine, Mandy received her first horse, a foal, and the two grew and learned together, eventually competing as they got older.

Mandy graduated from Western Oregon University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Business. During her college years, God began shaping her heart. It was there that her love for Jesus deepened, and she felt called to work with teens and horses. With 8 years of administrative experience before joining Acres of Hope, Mandy now combines her passion for horses, leadership skills, and her ability to listen and love others well in her roles as a Session Leader and Herd Manager. She oversees herd exercise and training while fostering a supportive, compassionate environment for both the horses and the youth at the ranch.

Judy Hull - Parent Support

Judy has a Bachelors of Science in Computer Science from Oregon Institute of Technology She is a Mom to four grown children.  Judy previously taught math and worked as a College Advisor in Longview Washington at Three Rivers Christian School and in Salem at Western Mennonite (Christian) School. 

Judy learned about Acres of Hope while serving with Deb at Salem Alliance Church. She loves Jesus and people, and has a desire to be used by Him. Judy was an incredible answer to prayer in 2023 to increase parent support at the ranch.

Kevin Smith - Archery Session Leader

Kevin brings many different gifts to Acres of Hope. He has a lot of knowledge in different areas that have helped support this ministry. Kevin works as an electrician, and gives a lot of his spare time to Acres of Hope. He has helped Acres of Hope with different electrical projects around the ranch. Prior to coming to Acres of Hope, Kevin spent 4 years doing endurance riding, and logged over 2,000 miles on horseback during that time. Now Kevin gets to use those skills in working with our herd, and helping support the Horse Exercise team. 

Kevin has felt called to youth ministry for a while. As he prayerfully considered where to serve, God created an avenue for Kevin to join our Archery program as an Archery Session Leader. Kevin was an integral part of the growth of the Archery program in 2023.

Ben Nanke - Development Coordinator

Ben joined our team in the spring of 2024. He comes to Acres of Hope with years of ministry background. Ben has a B.S. in Christian Ministry from Mission College, formerly Reach Training Institute. During his senior year of college, he did a residency in Toulouse, France, working at an international church. In addition, Ben has done 10 years of young adult ministry and two years volunteering with at-risk and foster youth at Teen Reach Adventure camp. 

Ben writes “In ministry, I always feel called to live out the Gospel.” At Acres of Hope, that call looks like using his gift of writing skills to further the ministry. Ben has been an incredible addition to the Acres of Hope team and a gift to this ministry.

Roxann OBryant - Session Leader

From an early age, Roxann has had a love for God. She is rooted in strong faith and a deep belief that with a relationship with God, anything is possible including overcoming the most traumatic of circumstances. A strong desire to help youth drew her to participate in a school mentoring program many years ago. Her passion for horses and her extensive veterinary background allow her to connect with animal-loving youth.

Roxann has a lifetime of diverse experiences with horses. As a child, she spent all her free time riding in the mountains near her home with her beloved first horse. The two formed a very special lifetime bond while enjoying several equine activities. Roxann continues to expand her horse knowledge, including equine behavior and communication by utilizing natural horsemanship techniques as well as learning carriage driving. She competes with her miniature horses in Combined Driving and miniature horse breed shows.

Shiela Duluk - Session Leader

Shiela comes to Acres of Hope with a wealth of knowledge and ministry experience. She received her Associate's Degree from Palomar College, and since then has continued to pursue ongoing training and education in the areas of Youth Mental Health. She brings trauma-informed care, QPR certification, and training in Domestic violence response, Crisis Counseling, and Sexual Assault Response. In addition to her education, Shiela also brings extensive work and ministry experience to our team. From working with YMCA, Avid, and various PTAs, to serving as the President of the Board of Directors at the Gate Youth Association and being a Worship Director for First Baptist Church Independence; Sheila's experience is truly a gift to Acres of Hope. 

When asked about why she felt called to serve at Acres of Hope, Shiela wrote: “After seeing the change in my daughter’s life through sessions at Acres of Hope, I felt God calling me to leave my job and focus on serving him through demonstrating Jesus love to youth working through difficult things.”

Sharon Stapleton - Volunteer Coordinating Assistant

Sharon’s life has always been devoted to caring for children and their families. Prior to joining our team, Sharon had a career as a Critical Care Transport Nurse for Doernbecher Children’s Hospital and traveled the world teaching medical professionals how to care for critically ill children. Sharon's life changed dramatically after a traumatic brain injury which led her on a journey of discovering the powers of patience, self-acceptance, and reliance on the Lord. She has been volunteering now for the past 20 years in various programs. She enjoys serving with horses and programs dedicated to improving the lives of children and their families.

When asked about why she felt called to serve at Acres of Hope, Sharon wrote the following. “I am humbled and proud to be working with Acres of Hope. Their devotion to the love of Christ, and His purpose for each and every person and animal that arrives on the ranch is amazing. I am where I am meant to be.”

Jennifer Klopfenstein - Session Leader

Most of Jennifer’s ministry experience is working with women. She has led many Bible studies, both at church and home, been a mentor, and worked in several settings to bring women together for fellowship. It fills her cup to hear others open up about faith, family, etc. Jennifer had limited horse experience before she started volunteering at AOH in 2020. Mostly, she rode with friends who had horses. 

Jennifer writes: “Acres of Hope has become a huge support in my own life. I’ve had two children go through sessions and teen time and my whole family sometimes comes to help with feeding and clean up. It feels like home to me. I knew the first time I drove onto the property, I would have some significant life experiences here. I want every youth who walks into the barn to have a sense of belonging, feel loved and begin a healing journey.”