He formerly worked as a Senior Vice President for Westchester Group Investment Management, a global farmland asset manager. Prior to Westchester, he was a water rights consultant for WestWater Research, a leading advisory firm in the water rights industry. He is also a licensed real estate broker in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado & Utah, holds Series 63 and 79 licenses through FINRA, and is a graduate of Leadership Idaho Agriculture.

In his spare time, he enjoys teaching and farming. In addition to teaching for the ASFMRA, he formerly taught economics and personal finance at the university level for over ten years. Skye grew up on a large organic alfalfa and cow-calf operation and along with his wife, Becca, and their four children, still runs cattle with his parents and helps when he can on the family operation. Skye’s hobbies include church service, snowmobiling, airplanes, and triathlons.

Skye has served or serves on many boards and committees, including the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA), CFA Society of Idaho, Young Investors Society, Boy Scouts of America, BYU Management Society, Farmer to Farmer, and Realtors Land Institute (RLI). He was named the 2022 ASFMRA Farm Manager of the Year and RLI National Broker of the Year (2020 & 2021) for Cropland.

Her management work includes financial reporting, budgeting, and agronomic research. Prior to Root Agricultural Advisory, Maryellen was the sole financial analyst for a national conservation non-profit where she managed a $5+ million budget with over 65 grants, service contracts and federal awards. She also created the organization’s carbon footprint program. She is passionate about integrating sustainability and environmental stewardship with business.

After completing her Bachelor’s in Accounting & Finance at the University of Wisconsin, she worked as a Commercial Banking Credit Analyst in Milwaukee, WI working on a wide portfolio of deals within manufacturing & real estate. In 2017 she attended Portland State University to receive a Graduate Certificate in Sustainability. Maryellen is a graduate of Leadership Idaho Agriculture.

Most recently, Maryellen has been the sole financial analyst for a national conservation non-profit where she managed a $5+ million budget with over 65 grants, service contracts and federal awards. She also created the organization’s carbon footprint program.

In her free time Maryellen enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, dogs, chickens and garden. She likes to travel and go to concerts.

Throughout Jim’s career, he has focused on environmental and agricultural management, engaging in native ecosystem management, disturbed ecosystem rehabilitation, environmental spray field operations and production agricultural management. Globally, he has a proven record of farming or consulting in Jamacia, Nepal, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, China and Pakistan. Jim is an Accredited Farm Manager (AFM) and a Certified Crop Advisor-Sustainability Specialists (CCA-SSp). Jim is an Accredited Farm Manager (AFM), a Certified Crop Advisor-Sustainability Specialists (CCA-SSp), and graduate of Leadership Idaho Agriculture.

Jim grew up on a Sheep, Cow/Calf and Hay Ranch in northwest Colorado where he developed a love for agriculture, ecology, and the outdoors. These experiences and interests led him to the University of Wyoming, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture and onto Colorado State University where he earned a Master’s Degree in Agriculture.

Prior to Clearwater, she was a public accountant in audit and tax. Becca is a native of McKinney Texas and currently resides in Boise, Idaho. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) – Inactive Status. In her spare time, she enjoys family, the outdoors, volunteering in the community, and managing the Lasting Roots Foundation.

Bradley was born and raised in Central Washington where he spent his youth baling hay, raising cattle, and riding horses. He was an active participant in his local 4-H club and raised show steers. Most summers were comprised of living on the road and chasing custom harvesting crews across the Pacific Northwest, which exposed him to an array of landscapes and deepened his love for agriculture throughout the west.

Aside from spending time with his wife and two daughters, Bradley’s hobbies consist of church service, exercise, snowmobiling, water sports, being outdoors and watching movies.

Prior to Root Agricultural Advisory, Ben worked as Regional Sales Manager for SesVanderHave. Ben managed marketing and sales for Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California, and Canada. He built a team of dealers and had strong increases in sales of sugar beet seed in each market. Ben developed the Arizona and California markets. Ben has enjoyed working closely with growers in managing crop production. Agriculture is a great passion for Ben, and he is excited for the future of the industry and its many, new emerging technologies.

Ben grew up on a dairy and row crop farm in southern Idaho and earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Utah State University. He and his family currently reside near Caldwell, Idaho. At various points throughout adulthood, Ben has also been a row crop farmer on the side.

In his free time, Ben enjoys being with family and outdoor activities, including fishing, snowmobiling, camping, and motorcycles. Ben is active in his church and enjoys mentoring youth and coaching youth sports.

His work includes sourcing new deals for various clients, conducting due diligence, and producing valuation and investment analysis on new acquisitions. Arnav is also a FINRA licensed investment banker with Galena Capital where he assists on food and agriculture transactions. He holds Series 63 and 79 licenses through FINRA.

Prior to Root Agricultural Advisory, Arnav studied at The College of Idaho, where he ski raced and studied Business Administration. In his free time, Arnav enjoys skiing, watching sports and spending time with friends and family. Arnav also chairs the Business Advisory Council at his alma matter and volunteers as a ski coach with the Bogus Basin Ski Education Foundation.

Sonora earned her bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business with an additional emphasis in Animal Health from Brigham Young University – Idaho. She is a member of the Idaho Cattlewomen Association and part of the Organic Valley Generation O Program. She grew up on a dairy farm in Southeastern Idaho, where they also grow alfalfa and barley, and raise beef cows. She was active in her high school FFA chapter where she competed in several National and State competitions and earned her State Degree.

In her free time, Sonora enjoys snow shoeing, propagating house plants, and spending time with her husband and son.