1880 Ranch Has been blessed by a volunteer Board of Trustees who bring a breadth of experience and a deep love of 1880 Ranch’s mission.
Jedd Olsen – Founder/Director
Attended U.S.U. with a major in Ag. Econ and Business minor. He was raised on a successful sheep ranch in Utah and traveled to other states and Australia to share his expertise with other ranches.
Jedd also worked in the Personal Development field for a decade, for companies like Howard Ruff and Stephen R. Covey where he presented training courses on personal development across the country.
Jedd found success as an entrepreneur when he started his own roofing business +25 years ago and still climbs up on roofs today (much to his wife’s dismay). Owning his own business allowed him the opportunity to employ youth and teach them the skills of hard work, honesty, integrity, and kindness. He has made it a point to employ youth that have gotten off track, giving them a second chance, and helping them turn their lives around.
With ranching as his heritage, it has been a lifelong dream to create 1880 Ranch and he began building and developing it in 2007. Jedd is passionate about giving back to as many young minds as possible. He has mountains of knowledge and life experiences to pass on to the youth of today.
Giving back is Good
Giving back to Youth is Better
Giving back to Youth by teaching them essential Life Lessons, The BEST
Irelyn Peterson – Speech Therapist/Camp Advisor
A graduate of Utah State University in communication disorders, she has worked for the school system for 6 years, in special needs, speech therapy, and as a resource teacher.
As a new Mom she realizes how important raising a child in this challenging world is. “I’m excited to be a part of the 1880 Ranch Youth campouts. As a camp Advisor I love the opportunity of helping other young minds, The positive impact of this camp can change the trajectory of their life”.
Melissa Hunt – Equine Assisted Psychotherapist/Program Advisor
A graduate of UVU and BYU, majoring in biology and psychology, Melissa went on to pursue her specialty in equine-assisted psychotherapy through EAGALA and PATH intl. certifications. She worked for the National Ability Center and the University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Hospital before crossing over into the corporate world where she currently works as an organizational psychologist, helping large corporations connect with their employees and build their leadership.
Active in the special needs community, she currently holds a position on the South Carolina Disability Council and the executive council as the Self-Advocacy committee chair. She assists the National Disability Council annually on state plan reviews.
Melissa is passionate about building up our youth and helping them reach their full potential. As the president of her local PTA, she is able to work with kids, parents, and teachers to create an environment that supports their success.
Nathan Hunt – Physical Therapist/Program Advisor
After graduating from BYU in sports medicine and receiving his doctorate in Physical Therapy, Nathan now works as the clinic director of an outpatient physical therapy clinic. He has worked with a diverse population of patients, ages, and physical therapy needs, from outpatient sports medicine to inpatient treatment.
Nathan is the father of 4 and an active member of his community and church where he holds various callings and coaches youth basketball. When he is not wrangling kids he is playing basketball, pickleball, or golfing.
Morgan Olsen – School Psychologist/Program Advisor
A graduate of the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina, Morgan has worked at 5 different schools over his career, ranging from elementary to high school age. He has worked with diverse populations, economic backgrounds, and developmental needs. When he’s not working with students, Morgan is busy flipping houses and traveling with his wife and 2 dogs.
