Mike Sands
Senior Advisor
With over 40 years of experience in sustainable agriculture, environmental conservation and community-based economic development, Mike has worked on a broad range of innovative projects around the world. Mike's current interests focus on the integration of economically prosperous, ecologically sensitive farms and high-quality nature into vibrant protected, working landscapes. He is committed to on-farm research and field education activities for the development of economically viable, regenerative pasture systems in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. In his role as Senior Advisor to DietelPickering & Partners, Mike works to guide the philanthropic investments of our clients in rural community development projects.
As owner/operator of Bean Hollow Grassfed in Flint Hill, VA, Mike spends his spare time stringing electric fence, fixing water lines and watching lambs being born. Bean Hollow Grassfed manages a “flerd” of 150 Katahdin ewes, 25-35 cattle, and assortedbrush eating goats, demonstrating that livestock can be an effective tool to restore soil health and plant diversity while making a profit. Mike currently serves as the vice-chair of the Culpeper Soil and Water Conservation District in Virginia. Mike is an active volunteer with the local Flint Hill Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company. Previous work included serving as the Environmental Team Leader of Prairie Crossing, the first “conservation community” in the country and the Founding Executive Director of the Liberty Prairie Foundation, a private operating foundation, based in IL.
Mike was a member of the first class (70F) at Hampshire College, Amherst, MA, and went on to receive an MS and Ph.D. in Animal Science from Cornell University. He is married with two sons, born in Kenya and Panama.