Lanier Fussell
Email: lanier@wyeast-rcd.org
Title: Rural Energy Specialist
Organization: Wy’East Resource Conservation & Development
Community: The Dalles
Population: 15,932
County Served: State-wide
Meet Lanier Fussell (she/her):
Lanier is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas. In 2022, she graduated from Louisiana State University with a B.A. in International Studies accompanied by a concentration in Environment and Development. At LSU, she was a student worker in the Department of Political Science, an English language tutor, and a volunteer at the local animal shelter. She spent the summer of 2021 as a Livestock Volunteer with Heifer Ranch in Perryville, Arkansas. After graduation, Lanier spent six months as an English Language Assistant in Montbéliard, France. By gaining experience working at the intersection of energy and agriculture this year, Lanier intends to spend her career mitigating the effects of climate change on agriculture and food systems. In her free time, you can find Lanier painting, knitting, watching college football (Geaux Tigers), or taking too many pictures of her cat, Toaster.
Community and Organization:
Wy’East Resource Conservation and Development is a 501(c)3 non-profit committed to providing technical assistance for rural energy projects across the state of Oregon. Wy’East RC&D works with private and public partners to collaborate on renewable energy projects and bring together a well-informed network of farmers, ranchers, and small business owners.
Wy’East RC&D is headquartered in The Dalles, the seat of Wasco County. The region of The Dalles is one of the longest inhabited places in North America, and has been the heart of major trading networks for more than 10,000 years. This land on the Columbia River—Wimahl in the local Chinook language—is the traditional land of the Wasco and Wishram peoples. The Dalles area is known for its unique climate, cherry orchards, and archaeological significance.
Projects:
Lanier is working with Wy’East RC&D to provide technical assistance to rural small businesses and agricultural producers applying for Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants from the US Department of Agriculture. Wy’East works to make these grants more accessible by assisting with grant organization and project eligibility, as well as connecting applicants with relevant resources. Additionally, Lanier is assisting Wy’East and partners with the E-Farms program, which works to provide Oregon farmers and ranchers the opportunity to test new electric farm equipment.