We are pleased to announce that Cindy Riegel, County Commissioner, Teton County, Idaho will be presenting at our Sustaining the New West II: Bold Visions, Inspiring Actions Conference on June 5th. Her presentation: Creating Sustainable and Equitable Communities will help illustrate a vision for the future of our human communities in the Northern Rockies.

Cindy Riegel landed in the Tetons in 1992 and worked for many years as an outdoor educator, field biologist, and environmental consultant throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. During that time, she noticed the difference between communities that prioritize the people who live in them and communities that cater to outside interests. That’s what inspired her to get involved in planning for growth and prosperity in her own community. Starting as a citizen volunteer for comprehensive planning 2001, she progressed to a seat on the Teton County Planning and Zoning Commission in 2008, and was elected to the Board of County Commissioners in 2014. She currently serves as Board Chair.

Cindy is passionate about local food, farming, and agricultural landscapes. She led the effort to hire a community food systems specialist for the University of Idaho Extension office in Teton County and is a founding member of the Teton Food and Farm Coalition. She also serves as the Board Chair of Full Circle Education, a non-profit that supports healthy communities through farm-based education. Cindy still enjoys exploring the far reaches of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem with her husband and their three children (ages 15, 12 and 8).

Email- criegel@co.teton.id.us