Board of Directors
We are pleased to introduce ourselves as the Board of Directors for the Great Plains Adaptive Riding Academy. We are committed to honoring this program and helping Great Plains thrive.
Thank you for believing and investing your time and energy into this program. We are looking forward to serving you all for this great cause. If you see us around the barn, please feel free to say hi, ask questions, and share any concerns and comments you have. Our goal is to make the Great Plains the best program it can be to serve our amazing community!
GPARA Board of Directors
Board Members
President
Laurie Mosier
Horses have always been an important influence in my life. After discovering Great Plains, I feel like I get to experience tiny miracles all the time. There is truly nothing better than to watch the riders develop and grow while laughing and smiling. At the barn, the outside world just melts away. There is no place quite like this.
Vice President
Anthony Kratke
Anthony started his GPARA volunteering journey in February 2024. He grew up as a country boy in Northeast Nebraska where some of his earliest memories revolve around horses and enjoying the outdoors. Anthony discovered at an early age that volunteering and community involvement are at his core and has carried on through the years. Upon discovering Great Plains Adaptive Riding Academy, he knew he wanted to be part of this organization.
“I am consistently impressed with the folks that I meet in the barn. I have great respect for the fellow volunteers and the riders inspire me time and again. As a member of the board, I will help ensure that the barn remains a safe and welcome place for all as we reach our goals.”
Member/Lori Burchfield
It is a privilege to serve on the board of this amazing organization. Upon discovering Great Plains Adaptive Riding Academy as a place our son could ride, I quickly learned this is ‘not’ just a place to ride. This is a dynamic collection of caring individuals that have an extreme passion toward helping riders succeed, regardless of their needs. I’ve been around many barns in my lifetime and this barn is top notch and stands out in a beautiful way. It is heartwarming and touching to see smiles and excitement on the faces of the riders and equally, the same on the faces of the volunteers. I’m so glad to be a part of this organization. I look forward to bringing my life experiences as a mom of a son with special needs and as a business leader to GPARA.
Member
Jack Kobe
Jack Kobe is a native of Kansas City, KS. He graduated from Bishop Ward High School
and is an alumnus of Kansas State University. He is married to his wife, Sara, and
together they have two boys – Jackson and Logan, and two German Shorthaired
Pointers, Brownie and Nilla. In 2023 Jack and Sara returned to Kansas and currently
reside in Leavenworth.
Jack has worked in a variety of industries: trucking and logistics, agriculture, hog
production and egg production. For the past 5 years he has been in HVAC and is
currently a Project Manager at P1 Group in Lenexa, KS.
Jack has a passion for volunteering. He was a volunteer football coach for over 10
years, coaching 5-6 grade football while living in Iowa. He served on the church council
for Bethany Lutheran Church, and led the cooking for their annual pork loin dinner. He
was selected to be one of Santa Claus’s angels and has been involved with that for over
35 years.
In Jack’s spare time, he enjoys watching sports of all kinds, working on projects around
the house, and spending time with friends and family. He is looking forward to serving
on the board of Great Plains Adaptive Riding Academy.
Treasurer
Camille Fittell
I started volunteering with GPARA in February 2024 and was hooked from the beginning. I have always been amazed by the grace and sensitivity of horses despite only being around them a handful of times growing up. I believe community is an important component of our happiness and our purpose on Earth and that community should adapt to the needs of its residents in lieu of trying to fit everyone into boxes. Seeing the compassion, energy, and grit behind the GPARA program has inspired me to be more involved. I seek to add energy and my own skill set to ensure our community continues to be served in a way that suits each individual and that our barn continues to be a place where uniqueness is welcomed and celebrated.