Our Board of Directors:

Barb French is a maker with a life-long devotion to natural fibers. She learned to sew and knit from her mom, a fiberista of amazing prowess, received a Singer treadle machine at 14 and began making her own clothes, knit a first sweater in high school, took tailoring classes at MSU, studied design at FIT, went off the deep end with spinning, weaving and dying in the early aughts, has co-owned a yarn shop, is active in local guilds, and her fiber obsession continues unabated. As a fourth-generation Montanan, Barb is delighted to be a part of Montana Fibershed, and the work to strengthen Montana's wonderful textile community.

Born and raised in the mountains outside Helena, MT, Alayna earned her undergraduate degree in Geography from the University of Oregon in 2010 and her MFA from Montana State University in 2020.  Always a passionate maker and tinkerer, Alayna’s formal textile training began in 2015 when she was awarded a yearlong residency at New York City’s Textile Arts Center where she focused on handweaving and natural dying. Alongside her fine art practice, Alayna has worked as a designer and production coordinator for a wide range of apparel and softgood labels and has her own line, Absorka which releases small collections of handmade garments as well as custom pieces.  She is most well known in the local fiber community for her sculptural dye gardens and her work with milkweed floss, championing the ‘new material’ as a renewable, pollinator-friendly, plant-based alternative to goose down or synthetic insulation inside winter jackets.  She is currently based in Livingston, MT and teaches at Montana State University.

Elizabeth has always been interested in the relationships between humans and animals, particularly as they pertain to the food we eat and, as she studied more, the fibers we wear. While farming, she became fascinated with the many purposes of sheep and livestock on the land, from fuel reduction to incredible fibers.

She took a sheep shearing course and fell in love with the art of wool harvesting; from there she got a spinning wheel, started dying natural fibers and can be often found weaving and crocheting. 

In her free time she can be found hiking around with her dog and drawing inspiration from Montana's incredible landscapes, or traditionally tanning hides. She is excited to be on the board and bring her background in community advocacy and love of natural fibers. 

Angela and her family own a small flock of 20 Colored South Australian Merino sheep in the Flathead Valley near gorgeous Glacier Park.

With degrees in Biology and Computer Science, Angela puts her experience to work running the IT tasks for the board and growing a regenerative farm through land-beneficial practices. 

With her Master Beekeeping Certification from the University of Montana, Angela teaches beekeeping classes at the local community college and presides as president of the local beekeeping club.

In her "free" time, she volunteers as a court appointed special advocate (CASA) for foster children and sings in the Glacier Symphony Chorale. Her business can be found at foxfarmhomestead.com

Beth grew up in the suburbs of Minneapolis, one generation removed from the family’s farming history. Her mom, a 4H alumni, taught her to knit, sew, and tend a vegetable patch.

Today, Beth is a multi-crafter with a special interest in knitting and weaving. As she learns new crafts, she tends to get very curious about the smaller parts that make the whole. So learning to weave lead to spinning and spinning led to foraging nettle and extracting the fiber (or attempting to, anyway). Hand work and traditional crafts feel like threads of ancestor connections, as well as connections to the land.

Beth is looking forward to a deep connection with the smaller parts that make up the whole of our fiber shed.

Teema grew up in an agricultural family dedicated to working collaboratively with local

agencies and fellow producers to steward the land and make the health of the whole central when

determining all priorities.  MTFS' mission speaks to the values she was taught as a child and continues to foster to this day. She believes dedicating to and focusing on her local community is the best way to effect change.

MTFS has a built-in region that makes this local mission-driven purpose central that she appreciates immensely.

Jon Moore was born and raised in Helena. He spent his childhood enjoying the outdoors.  His love for animals started with training obedience and bird dogs. Jon graduated from Carroll College with a degree in Education.  After 20 years living in Billings, he and his wife decided to return to Helena and start a small farm. The farm started with 2 goats; however, Icelandic sheep soon captured Jon’s interest.  He currently teaches in East Helena, manages a mixed breed flock of sheep, and runs a fiber business with his wife, Molly. 

Molly was born in Helena, Montana and spent much of  her childhood on a ranch doing 4H. She raised pigs, steers, and sheep. She has always had a love and  admiration for animals. After spending 20 years teaching and away from the agriculture life, her and her husband Jon returned to Helena to start a small farm. It all started with a couple goats and has escalated to a large herd of fiber, sheep, and a herd of milking goats. She has one milk cow, six dogs, chickens, and cats. 

Molly recently retired after 25 years of teaching to spend more time on the farm taking care of the animals and working to grow their farm business.