Stefanie Smallhouse graduated with honors from New Mexico State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree with studies focused on Wildlife Science and Range Management.
She worked as a wildlife biologist for the Bureau of Land Management in Southern Utah before marrying her husband Andrew Smallhouse and moving to the San Pedro River Valley in Southeastern Arizona. Their ranch was established by Andy’s family in 1884 and they are currently raising the sixth generation. Stefanie helps to manage their cow/calf operation, farm, mesquite lumber business, and saguaro nursery.
Stefanie has provided environmental consulting services and has been both the Executive Director for the Arizona Natural Resource Conservation District State Association and the Arizona Water Protection Fund for the State of Arizona Dept. of Water Resources. She served as Chairwoman of the Redington Natural Resource Conservation District Board of Supervisors for several years.
Stefanie is a member of many industry organizations, committees and boards, including an advisory board member for the Natural Resource Users Law and Policy Center at the University of Arizona, the Arizona Mining, Mineral, and Natural Resource Education Museum, AgWest Farm Credit, and a CARET delegate for the University of Arizona.
Her most recent years of service and advocacy work were as the elected president of the Arizona Farm Bureau Federation for seven years, the largest general agriculture trade organization in the State of Arizona. During this time, she also served as the western region representative on the Executive Committee for the American Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors and represented Arizona on the Farm Bureau Financial Services Board of Directors for both the property/casualty and life insurance companies.