Golden Hills' Board of Directors represent all eight Southwest Iowa counties and make important decisions to guide the organization.
Walter Utman
Chair Walter is a lifelong resident of Harrison County. Since graduating from West Harrison High School, he has owned and operated his own farming operation for 48 years. For 27 of those years, he also owned a cow/calf operation. Walter is not a stranger to hard work both on and off the farm. He has spent many years in public service from his appointment to serve on the FHA board back in the 80’s, to a 13-year stint on the West Harrison School board from 1995 to 2008, and now as a Harrison County Supervisor since 2010. Additionally, Walter has served as Chair of the Modale United Methodist Church Board and as Chair of the Building Trustees. He is currently Chair of the Finance Committee. He also served as Clay Township Trustee for 24 years and as Chairman for 10 of those years. Walter and his wife, Ruth, have been married for 37 years and have two grown daughters. During their growing up years, he was very involved with the many organizations that supported his children’s activities such as music, library, athletics and post prom. Also, he helped extensively with the Loess Hills Lancers 4-H Club and their community service projects. Walter believes in building the leaders of tomorrow. He now has a new opportunity to do that. Their oldest daughter is married and they have three children. Their youngest daughter is married and they have one child, making four grandchildren. The four of them are his greatest joy and he very feels blessed. |
Barry Deuel
Vice Chair Barry and his wife Donna live near Harlan and own a flower shop on the historic Courthouse Square in Harlan. They are active with the Friends of Downtown organization. |
Sheryl Sanders
Secretary Sheryl has been a Fremont County Soil & Water District Commissioner for many years and also the past president of the East and West Nishnabotna Watershed Coalition. She also is a founding participant in the Southern Loess Hills Interpretive and Welcome Center at the intersection of Highway 2 and Interstate 29 near Percival, Iowa. She is currently the secretary/treasurer of the Board. Her other activities are serving as the secretary of the Farragut Cemetery Board and the president of the Sidney Cemetery Board. Shery’s interest in conservation started long ago when she became one of the first whole farm wetland easements. Her farm includes an undeveloped wetland education center. Retiring from teaching English and being a teacher/librarian in the Farragut (Nishnabotna) Community Schools in 2015, it was natural to look for other activities. Sheryl and her partner Dave enjoy traveling in their RV and visiting their grandkids in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Kansas. |
Lynn Grobe
Treasurer Lynn is a farmer near Hancock and represents East Pottawattamie County. He has two sons, one daughter, and 10 grandchildren. He is past president of the Iowa West Foundation Board ad East Pottawattamie Farm Bureau. Lynn also serves on boards for Hungry Canyons Alliance, Veterans Affairs, Western Iowa Development Association, West Central Community Action, and is chair of Hancock United Methodist Church. He enjoys working with Golden Hills and supporting our projects across Pottawattamie County and beyond. |
Kathy Fiscus
Council Bluffs native Kathy Fiscus, enjoyed a 40-year career in television broadcasting in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Nebraska. After retiring from TV, Fiscus spent 14 years at the Council Bluffs Convention and Visitors Bureau in various capacities. While at the CVB, Fiscus worked closely with Pottawattamie Conservation and became an avid enthusiast and promoter of outdoor conservation and activities. Now fully retired, Fiscus concentrates on several board positions, advisory committees, and being a full time artist. One extensive artistic passion is the Loess Hills National Scenic Byway (TM). Fiscus has a daughter and family living in Kansas City, Kansas, and a son living in Des Moines, Iowa. |
Mark Peterson
Mark is a conservation-minded farmer, longtime resident of Montgomery County, and Montgomery County Supervisor. Mark has been involved with the Stanton Chamber of Commerce, Stanton Fire and Rescue, Red Oak Fire and Rescue, Montgomery County Family YMCA and Montgomery County Fair Board. He is also a board member for Practical Farmers of Iowa, Hungry Canyons Alliance, Waubonsie Mental Health, and several other organizations. Mark is a member of Mamrelund Lutheran Church Mark and his wife Melanie live on their farm near Stanton. They have 5 sons, 2 daughters-in-law, and 2 grandchildren. |
Seth Watkins
Seth Watkins is the fourth generation to care for his family’s heritage farm near Clarinda, where he raises beef cattle, corn, hay, oats, and various cover crops. Watkins is passionate about stewardship, especially water quality, the restoration of prairie, woodlands, & riparian areas. Watkins believes that when you have a healthy and diverse landscape combined with the values of inclusion, equality, & accessibility you can accomplish anything. Watkins serves on The Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation board of Directors and the Leadership Council for The Iowa Learning Farms. His wife Christy is an Early Childhood Specialist for Green Hills AEA. They have a son Spencer and a daughter Tatum. |
Carol Vinton
Carol and her husband Steve farm near Glenwood, and Carol is a Mills County Supervisor. Carol has been a 4-H leader for many years, a Mills County Fair Board member, and a judge at county and state fairs. Carol and Steve host many group tours at their farm with a menagerie of livestock. Carol is also a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. |
Steve Baier
Steve is a former teacher and farmer near Griswold. He is a Cass County Supervisor and also serves on the boards of Healthy Cass County, Hungry Canyons Alliance, East Nishnabotna Watershed Coalition, and more. |