WRANGLERS
KAULANA ``KP`` NA'AU ALI'I PAPALIMU
Head Trainer/Farrier
CPR & First Aid Certified
Hometown: Hilo, HI
School: Minnesota School of Horseshoeing
KP enjoys music, training horses, horse shoeing horses, dancing and free diving, as he grew up on the big island of Hawaii. KP had the opportunity to attend horseshoeing school the spring of 2014, and now along side of two other ferriers, takes care of Vista Verde’s herd. He gained this wonderful opportunity to work at VVR through a friend during his time working at Disneyland, where they worked with draft horses. Although KP is a horsemen, he does enjoy winter activities such as backcountry skiing and skate skiing. Even though he is from such a tropical home, he has come to love and enjoy the cold, snowy Colorado weather!
BEN YODER-HENLEY
Head Wrangler
Wilderness First Responder
Hometown:Minneapolis, MN
School: Knox College
Ben received a degree in psychology and creative writing at Knox College before deciding he wanted to come to the mountains. In addition to being the Head Wrangler, Ben is also in school to become a certified horse trainer. Before coming to Vista Verde, Ben was living within a Buddhist monastery for four months in Northeastern India. Ben has taken much of what he has learned through daily meditation and transfers these skills to training our horses. Based on this incredible experience and his calm and kind personality, those on the ranch affectionately refer to him as Zen Ben! Fun Fact: Ben loves to Salsa! Catch him at the barn dance because he's got moves!
DAVID LEWIS
Wrangler
CPR & First Aid Certified, USAF Survival/Evasion Certified
Hometown: Louisville, KY
School: University of Louisville
David graduated from the University of Louisville with a degree in Political Science and recently commissioned as an officer in the USAF. When it gets cold you can find him snowboarding out west, most recently in Jackson Hole, WY. When it gets warm you will find him rock climbing, hiking or bumming off friends' horses to ride. Last summer David spent time at the Air Force Academy learning to survive/evade in the mountains, then did a solo backpack trip through the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness and finally ended up wrangling at a Young Life Camp. David loves live music, good food and any adventure that leads to new travels.
ELIZABETH (LIZ) BOIS
Wrangler
CPR/First Aid
Hometown: San Diego, CA
School: Cal Poly Pomona
Liz recently graduated from Cal Poly Pomona, studying Agribusiness and Animal Science, and it has been a dream of hers to work at VVR for quite some time. She has a passion for horses and a desire to travel, she has worked in several different beautiful places working with horses, such as the Rocky Mountains and Orcas Island which is located in the San Juan Islands. In college she was on the Equestrian Team for both English and Western disciplines. She enjoys any time spent outside, and because of her love and interest in photography, behind the lens of a camera as well.
CHELSEY MOE
Wrangler
CPR & First Aid Certified
Hometown: Keene, ND
School: University of North Dakota
Chelsey attended the University of North Dakota and studied Recreation and Tourism Studies. She has worked on other dude ranches in both Colorado and Montana and also worked as a tour guide at Coors Brewery as well as her most recent job as the Recreation Coordinator for her hometown Park District. Chelsey loves Australia and decided to backpack down the east coast of the continent for a month with two good friends. This is Chelsey's third season at the ranch!
ELIZABETH (LIZ) BEYLER
Wrangler
Hometown: Fishers, IN
School: Ivy Tech Community College
Two of Liz's favorite things are the outdoors and traveling. There's nothing like a great adventure and getting to explore new things! Last year, she spent almost three weeks touring Europe from Wales to Italy. Some other things she enjoys are being around animals, spending time with friends, and playing lots of music. One thing on her bucket list would be to drive across the U.S. from coast to coast.
JESS BASS
Wrangler
CPR, AED, First Aid Certified
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN
School: University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Jess grew up riding horses and vacationing at dude ranches with her family but has always lived in a city, so to be working as a wrangler at Vista Verde is an absolute dream come true. She majored in Wildlife Biology, loves animals and all things outdoors. Just a few months ago she quit her job, packed up her car with her two pups and took a road trip to visit her brother in San Diego. She traveled down to Mexico, and all around California while she was there, hiking, swimming and exploring as much as possible! Though she has traveled to Europe, Africa, and all around the US, this will be her first time actually living anywhere other than Minneapolis, and she couldn't be more excited. Other passions include spending time with her two dogs, Phoebe and Pablo, yoga, reading, taking photos, and listening to and playing music!
CATHERINE CROUCH
Wrangler
CPR & First Aid Certified
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
School: University of South Carolina
Catherine recently graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Business Marketing and Management. She has put the business world on hold for a few years to pursue her passion for horses and the outdoors. For the past four years, she has been a Young Life Leader at a high school in Columbia, SC. Colorado really captured her heart last summer after spending a season wrangling in Telluride. She is a sunshine enthusiast who loves to roller blade, snowboard and road trip with pals.
