Horses, Healing, and the Land:
Cheri Trousil’s Journey
At the crossroads of mind-body movement and land connection stands Cheri Trousil, a trailblazer in equine therapy. Through her work, Cheri offers women ranchers an extraordinary opportunity to reconnect with themselves and their land in profoundly meaningful ways.
Cheri’s journey is marked by diverse experiences and a deep-rooted love for nature. After growing up in a small rural town with no background in ranching or agriculture, she joined the military at 18. Eventually, she was drawn out west, where she pursued an education and career in physical therapy.
“It was a tough time for women in the military post-Vietnam, but I did it for the advancement in education. I had to push through, learned a lot, but ultimately, that decision and experience got me out west, where I began to actualize my belief that true healing happens outdoors,” Cheri reflects.
After completing her education, Cheri spent most of the year working indoors within hospital walls, but as soon as summer arrived, she took healing outside, working at youth camps.
After getting married and having children, life led her and her family to settle in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. There, she played a pivotal role in saving an 11,000-acre ranch from development in 1999. This two-year preservation effort laid the foundation for a non-profit called the Humble Ranch Education and Therapy Center, where Cheri’s vision of integrating physical therapy with land stewardship came to life.
Additionally, for more than a decade, Cheri has been involved in the Chinese cultural practice of Qigong, a comprehensive system that teaches individuals methods to preserve their vital energy, cultivate it through specific practices, and consciously direct this energy within the body to maintain health, balance, and vitality (source: National Qigong Association).
For seventeen years, Cheri partnered with hospitals, schools, and other women to bring the mission of Humble Ranch to life, pairing children with varied abilities with horses for equine therapy. Soon after, it became clear that PTSD could also be well-served by equine therapy. Cheri’s operation expanded rapidly, and she was faced with the strategic decision to partner with another organization, prompting her to redesign what it meant to continue partnering with horses in her work.
“I use my background in physical therapy to help individuals connect with their bodies and the land, fostering a holistic sense of well-being,” Cheri explains.
That’s when Women In Ranching (WIR) came into focus. After being introduced to the Women In Ranching community, Cheri quickly connected with its members and integrated her leadership skills into facilitating transformative experiences.
Cheri was introduced to WIR through mutual friends and personal relationships. Her introduction to a facilitator role came when she was invited to partner with her friend and colleague.
“I was immediately drawn to the idea of women coming together to be on the land and find their place in the land and what it meant to them. This felt familiar to my own work and journey, so I was like, ‘I’m in.’”
Cheri’s commitment to supporting women’s leadership is equally passionate. She began facilitating circles, and shortly after, was asked to join the board of directors for the newly formed Women In Ranching nonprofit. She served as a board member for two years before transitioning into a full facilitator role. “Gathering with women on the land is my first love,” she says.
“When a woman feels that she belongs and trusts herself, the depth and breadth of her impact on her community and the natural world around her are immeasurable,” she notes.
Her goal is to create a space where women feel a deep sense of physical and mental presence in each moment—connected to themselves in a place of trust and authenticity. In that present moment, women can feel how they are in relationship with the land, with animals, and with others. “But to achieve that, you first need to feel what it’s like to be connected and in relationship with yourself.” she says.
By weaving physical therapy, equine partnerships, and land stewardship, Cheri creates meaningful connections that enable women and communities to flourish. Her workshops offer practical strategies that can be implemented into daily routines and have lasting effects that continue well beyond the sessions.
“At the Yellowstone Circle Gathering, I hope the women gathered experience what it feels like to be truly present—connected to themselves, the land, animals, and others,” she says.
Don’t miss the chance to join Cheri at our upcoming Yellowstone Circle Gathering!
Cutting Through the Layers
Anica Wu’s Butchery Story
Jerky completely changed the trajectory of Anica Wu’s life.
Her leap into whole-animal butchery started with an unexpected passion for making the perfect piece of jerky. Her journey began with kitchen experiments and a taste of the meat industry that would catapult her into a full career change and the founding of her successful Asian-spiced jerky company, Bonjerk.
“Walking into a butcher shop for the first time and feeling powerless and intimidated because I didn’t know what cuts to choose for jerky made me realize I needed to learn more,” Anica explains. Determined to become self-reliant, she immersed herself in the world of butcher shops, learning about meat and animal anatomy. Her commitment to understanding meat sourcing and animal welfare deepened her dedication.
Growing up as a first-generation Chinese American in Kansas, Anica’s family used food to preserve their cultural heritage and maintain their traditions. Her passion for meat, combined with the scarcity of high-quality options in American Chinese grocers, led her to pursue butchery. In 2018, she began training as a whole-animal butcher, marking the start of her journey into meat.
Embracing her identity as an Asian American woman, Anica has found a nurturing and genuine community within Women in Ranching, where her unique perspectives are valued and her contributions celebrated. Her involvement with Women in Ranching began serendipitously in 2022 when she was invited to teach a lamb butchery class at the PT Ranch Gathering in Ione, California—her first opportunity to share her expertise in whole-animal butchery. “The encouragement from Amber and the team has been vital,” Anica reveals. “Amber’s mentorship has guided me through challenges and helped me grow my business. The community’s support has been invaluable."
Anica’s upcoming dumpling-making workshop is more than just a cooking class; it’s a chance to experience a tradition that’s deeply valued in her Chinese culture. Making dumplings is all about bringing people together—it’s something families do as a group, from rolling the dough to folding the fillings. The process itself is just as important as the final meal, creating a space for sharing stories, laughter, and connection.
“In Chinese culture, making dumplings is never a solitary task; it’s a collective effort that strengthens family bonds and honors the spirit of togetherness.”
Her experience as a butcher adds depth to the workshop. “Being a butcher connects raising animals to consuming their products,” she explains.
As a butcher, she is committed to using every part of the animal and minimizing waste. “In my culture, we eat everything,” she says. Dumplings are an excellent way to apply this principle, allowing her to utilize a wide variety of cuts and parts of the animal that might be overlooked in Western cuisine. By drawing on her butchery expertise, Anica can transform cuts like the shoulder, belly, and even organs into flavorful dumpling fillings.
This approach not only honors the practice of using the whole animal but also educates on the diverse flavors and textures that different cuts of pork can offer, reinforcing the value of using every part of the animal.
Anica is no stranger to charting into the unknown. Venturing into the entrepreneurial world, she’s learned that creating a great product is just the beginning. Building a brand, scaling a company, and thriving involves a unique set of challenges and requires balancing many priorities. Despite this, she manages to humanize her experience and acknowledges the efforts of other women in her ranching community.
“I wish people would ask, ‘How are you doing?’ It’s such a simple question, yet it holds incredible power,” she says.
This question serves as a reminder that behind our daily grind, whatever it looks like, there’s a human being with emotions, challenges, and victories. Recognizing this reality helps foster a deeper connection, emphasizing that it’s just as much about the people involved as it is about the work—something she hopes attendees will take away from the workshop.
Don’t miss the chance to join Anica at our upcoming Yellowstone Circle Gathering!
Enriching Land and Empowering the Women Who Care for It
Kathy Frisch’s Journey
Kathy (right) evaluating soil cover.
Leaving behind a successful career in technology, Kathy embraced the call of the land, driven by a deep-seated love for nutrient-dense, traditional foods. Starting with a humble homestead and the challenging task of homeschooling her daughters, she expanded her vision to managing a 250-acre ranch in Texas and mentoring other women involved in agriculture.
Kathy’s inspiration to work with animals and agriculture emerged at age 40, when concerns about her family’s health motivated her to seek better nutrition.
“I wanted to provide high-quality food and address health issues at their root,” Kathy explains. This drive led her to Holistic Management® and a complete career shift from technology to agriculture.
Kathy's award-winning eggs, pictured at the 2012 Texas State Fair.
Her teaching approach focuses on hands-on learning and family involvement, which she believes are crucial for success. “With adults, the emphasis is on understanding their starting point and offering a client-directed experience,” she notes, highlighting the importance of engaging everyone in the learning process.
Kathy, pictured with her first dairy cow.
Kathy’s admiration for Amber and her vision for Women in Ranching led her to become involved in the organization. She values the holistic approach that combines education with personal development.
“Yellowstone offers a unique opportunity to create a space where women can connect deeply and grow both professionally and personally,” she says.
In her work with Women In Ranching, Kathy aims to showcase the producer’s efforts and foster an environment where women can connect with themselves, the land, and other women. She focuses on exploring themes of identity and empowerment, helping attendees clarify their niche and find fulfillment in their roles.
Effective communication, particularly nonviolent or compassionate communication, is a key element of Kathy’s approach.
Kathy pictured with an Urban Farmer Class she facilitated.
“It involves understanding and addressing both personal and others’ needs, which can transform conflict into creative collaborative solutions,” she says, emphasizing the transformative power of effective communication.
While technical aspects like soil health, livestock handling, and grazing management are important, Kathy’s core mission is to empower and support people who are deeply rooted in the land.
“The grounding effect of this connection with the land supports the interpersonal work I value most,” she says.
Through her dedication to Holistic Management and empowering women, Kathy not only nurtures the land but also inspires a more resilient and connected community of women who steward it. Her work stands as a testament to the power of combining agricultural expertise with genuine human connection.
Kids playing on a cart at Kathy’s ranch.
Don’t miss the chance to join Kathy at our upcoming Yellowstone Circle Gathering!