It takes a whole village of folks to keep HHF running and running well! NO person is paid at Hickory Hill Farm. Being 100% volunteer driven, our Board works diligently and could not do it all without our wonderful volunteers.
Within our board and active volunteer group we are proud to have three FEMA Credentialed DART responders, three Certified Teachers, a Childhood Trauma Certified counselor, three Pet Partners Registered Therapy Teams, a Certified Animal Control Officer, volunteers with degrees in Equine Science, and more than 6 active volunteers that are CPR and First Aid Certified. Our team is dedicated to continuing their education and training in all aspects of the programs HHF provides.
Board of Directors
Jenna Gibbons is our Education, Camp, and Community Outreach Director and President of the Board. Jenna was born and grew up in Plymouth, Michigan. Graduating from Michigan State with a degree in Elementary Education and with eight years of teaching experience in different parts of the country including Detroit, MI and Smyrna, TN, Jenna brings a strong educational background and desire to serve others to our leadership. Jenna has operated successful children’s camps and programs in both Michigan and Tennessee. She states, “I have always wanted to find a purpose in my life that I feel truly passionate about. I enjoy being outdoors with my animals, and I feel that I have a mission to work with children. What better way to bring the two together, than to give my time and experience to Hickory Hill Farm?” Jenna helped form the dream of Hickory Hill Farm in 2015 and co-founded it in early 2016. She is currently a part-time ESL teacher for Wilson County Schools. Jenna and her husband Sean reside on a small farm in middle Tennessee with their son, Rowan, three horses, and one dog (adopted!).
Shea Hutsenpiller is Hickory Hill Farm’s Rescue Director and Vice President of the Board. Born and raised in middle Tennessee, Shea graduated from Middle Tennessee State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Equine Science. She has always felt a strong urge to use her passion and love of animals, primarily horses, to help others. After meeting with Jenna through their mutual friend, Jenny, and sharing their similar ideas, it was clear to Shea that God had big plans for them. She co-founded Hickory Hill Farm in early 2016 along with Jenna, Sean, Jenny, Katie, and Madi. Shea has owned, cared for, and shown horses since she was eight years old. She brings her years of real life experience with horses, educational background, and experience working with other area non-profits to our leadership team. Also active in Lebanon Noon Rotary and Wilson County DART, Shea thoroughly enjoys being involved in the community. When not working on Hickory Hill, Shea spends her time on her farm caring for a herd of animals including horses (including one personal horse, the rest belonging to HHF or boarders), 2 HHF goats, two pot belly pigs (HHF fosters), five dogs (two adopted rescues), and one cat (also a rescue!).
Malia Pack serves on our board as our Secretary. Malia grew up in West Virginia and North Carolina. She now resides here in Middle Tennessee with her husband Mark and their five children. Malia enjoys spending her time hiking, traveling.. preferably to the beach, crafting, and of course, loving on and riding Hickory Hill Farm Rescues. She is also a member of our HHF Riders program and spends time riding and working with our fosters. Most recently, she helped transform a nervous, insecure horse to a bold trail mount for her new family! Juggling her time between her family, Hickory Hill Farm, and her day job as a business analyst, Malia has a full plate!
Stephanie Cox is a member of our Board of Directors and serves as a Neglect Case Liaison working with our Rescue Director and Law Enforcement when HHF is called for assistance by the State or other agencies. Though Stephanie was born in Shreveport, LA, she grew up right in Lebanon. With 30 years of experience owning, showing, and caring for horses, she brings a wealth of knowledge to our team. Not only is Stephanie familiar with the equine side of things, she is well versed in caring for other livestock as well. Her family has raised and shown beef cattle for over 10 years on their Lebanon area farm. A 4H alumnus herself, Stephanie is proud of the work her eldest daughter has put in to showing their cattle and they are the 2017 Wilson Co Commercial Heifer Grand Champions. Stephanie is an advocate for the humane treatment of all animals and is the Director of the Mt. Juliet Animal Shelter where she works to improve the lives of local cats and dogs as well. She is an active member of the Wilson County Disaster Animal Response Team, Wilson Co. County Mounties, and Wilson Co Search & Rescue. When Stephanie is not saving the world in animal control or at HHF, you can find her caring for her 2 horses, 3 rescued goats, 2 dogs, 2 cats, pig, 46 chickens, 28 cattle, rabbit, and fish on her family farm, or trail riding and kayaking!
Sean Gibbons is a member of our Board of Directors. Originally from Michigan also, Sean moved to Nashville while he was obtaining his Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Special Education from Vanderbilt University. He is also a Certified Teacher and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Similar to his wife, Jenna, Sean also has a passion for working with children. Sean has non-profit experience, serving on the Board of the American Youth Soccer Association and the Environmental Action Group. Sean assists with the development of our programs alongside Jenna. When Sean is not working or at the farm, he is spending time with Jenna and Rowan or enjoying one of his other hobbies such as playing the guitar.
Madi Robinson is a member of our Board of Directors. Madi is a middle Tennessee native that has been a horse enthusiast for most of her life. She assists the rescue side of our organization in many different aspects. Growing up, Madi took lessons riding hunter jumpers at a local barn; she then spent several years horseless. She never gave up on her dream of riding again, and after graduating high school, she began getting back to riding, this time in the western arena. She has years of experience caring for, assisting with training, and showing quarter horses. Madi has a passion to assist animals that are in tough situations. “Animals don’t have a say in how they are treated or whose hands they wind up in. It is so rewarding to help neglected animals through the healing process ending in a happy loving home,” shares Madi in regards to her experiences with animal rescue. She enjoys family time, barrel racing her horse, and spending time with her border collie in her spare time.
Supporting Committees
General Admin:
Documents Coordinator: Nathan Huddleston
Intake Committee:
Dr. Kathryn Makoweic, Shea Hutsenpiller, & Jenna Gibbons
Adoption Committee:
Adoption Coordinator: Stephanie Schroyer
Post Adoption Coordinator: Kathy Wear
Training Committee:
Training Coordinator: David Curtis
#HHFRIDERS: Dr Kathryn Makowiec, Madi Beard, Bert Patton, Shea Hutsenpiller, Malia Pack, Duane Pride, Kathy Adams, Shawn Reed, Positions Open
Volunteer Coordination Committee:
Volunteer Coordinator: Shawna Davenport
Foster Operations Committee:
Foster Operations Manager: Jessica Stallman
Donor Relations Committee:
Positions Open
Education & Outreach Committee:
Programs Director: Jenna Gibbons
Committee Members: Kaitlin Belcher, Stephanie Schroyer, Pennie Reese, Shea Hutsenpiller, Open Positions
Our team would not be complete without our fabulous fosters and volunteers. We are greatly appreciative of all they do to keep HHF going.