Our Team
The Memory Lane Farm team is comprised of a host of volunteers, instructors, mentors, and project leaders. Our team is a reflection of individual gifts and of collaborative efforts contributing to the heart of each of our programs.
Staff
Beth Zarnke - Executive Director
From a young girl, Beth loved everything related to horses. It wasn’t uncommon to find her in the pasture dreaming of how horses could bring peace, confidence and healing to others.
As a young adult, Beth viewed a TV documentary of a couple who used their hobby farm to bring healing and encouragement to troubled youth. God birthed a vision at that time, however it wasn't until 2016, as she visited Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch (CPYR) in Bend, OR that this vision was refueled.
With a desire to serve her community, Beth served as outreach pastor at a local church, with experience in community and volunteer relations, facilitating small groups, and women’s ministry. Beth holds an undergraduate degree in Business, worked for 14 years in the Human Resources field and is a credentialed Pastor.
From the equine perspective, Beth is a certified Practitioner for Equine Assisted Learning through E3A’s (Equine Experiential Education Association). She completed training in 2022 as an Equine Assisted Life Coach through Wise Life Coach Academy Beth completed Horse Powered Reading® Facilitator Training in 2023, has completed Behavioral Health Training through University Wisconsin Green Bay, among other course work related to mental health and social emotional learning. Beth believes that an experiential learning approach which promotes development of life and team building skills using horses as teachers can bring joy and healing Beth is passionate about seeing individuals on the fringe be brought into a place of belonging.
Korinna Johnson - Mentor
Korinna joined our team in 2022, as a Mentor, assisting with the Cultivating Hope Mentoring program and other programs on the farm. She attends UW Stevens Point, pursuing a Business Administration degree with a Psychology minor. As a Mentor, Korinna has completed Behavioral Health Training through University Wisconsin Green Bay, among other mental health and social emotional learning courses.
Korinna has been working with horses for 10 years and showing in pleasure/ranch horse competitions for the past nine years, achieving impressive awards. Her hobbies include showing horses, hiking, and fishing. We are blessed to have her on our team and love watching her joyfully interact with our mentees, campers and guests!
Aaron Harris
Aaron has been with MLF since fall 2019, as a mentor and horse lover, he has a passion in helping people understand God’s care, hope, and love by using the different opportunities found on a farm. Aaron is a performance-driven, versatile leader with over 20 years of mentoring thousands of military and civilian personnel to overcome life’s obstacles.
He holds an Bachelors degree in Christian Counseling, an Associates degree in Education and Training, is licensed as a Wisconsin Substitute Teacher, and is a Certified Instructor of Novice Western Horsemanship. Aaron also completed training in 2022 as an Equine Assisted Life Coach through Wise Life Coach Academy. He is inspired daily by his wife and four sons and loves to spend quality time with them. In his free time, he loves to camp, fish, worship, and play board games.
Directors and Trustees
Martin Wolf - Founder and Trustee
Martin’s dreams of sharing his family’s farm with the community has been held near to his heart for many years. Since 1908, generations before Martin understood and carried out the value of being a good steward - not only of the land, but of those within their reach and beyond.
As career dairy farmers, Martin and his wife, Lucille, raised their family on the farm, managed and operated a successful Holstein dairy, along with serving their community through local township roles, volunteer fire department, being long-term 4-H leaders and actively involved as church leaders. Martin considers himself a humble visionary, story teller, and lover of nature. He enjoys sharing God’s blessings with those around him.
John Draxler - President
John and his wife, Joy, have been involved with MLF since AgriVenture Farm Camp was just a dream in 2017, participating on the original planning team. John is retired from the Army and
is currently self-employed restoring automotive and other antique restoration work. While in the army, John served as a Military Police Officer for 9 years and a Paralegal for 12 years. He was a firefighter, First Responder, and EMT for 15 years with the Hewitt Area Volunteer Fire Department. John currently volunteers with the Red Cross and Salvation Army. John enjoys blacksmithing and amateur radio. At MLF John can be found serving as the woodworking leader, enjoys helping kids learn new skills and blacksmithing for special events!
Teresa Derfus - Vice President
Teresa attended UW-Eau Claire and earned a bachelor's degree with majors in journalism and psychology. She spent 14 years working for newspapers and was employed at Marshfield Clinic for 30 years, her whole career in Marketing/Communications. She is a member of Marshfield Rotary Club, serving on various committees including Rotary Winter Wonderland. Teresa has part-time job at Soup or Socks, a food and clothing pantry in Marshfield. She is
also active at St. Andrew's Church in Rozellville in choir, lector, parish council, and assisting in finance. In her free time, she volunteers at the VFW in Stratford, WI. Teresa has two adult children, Josh and Kathryn, and two wonderful grandchildren, Abram and Abigail. She is honored to be a part of this board of people, all who are very knowledgeable, compassionate and dedicated to helping people.
Paula Hensel - Secretary/Treasurer
Paula is a Nurse Practioner (DNP) for Family Health Center Alcohol and Drug Recovery Centers in Central and Northern WI. Prior to becoming a nurse practitioner, she was a staff nurse in the settings of the emergency department and public health. She also has over 25 years of prehospital EMS, fire and rescue experience. Paula has been volunteering at MLF since 2018 alongside her daughters; Hannah, Maddy, and Grace. Paula can often be seen at MLF serving as a volunteer at AgriVenture Farm Camp with her daughters and assisting with other MLF events.
Doug Zarnke - Trustee
Doug’s career as a semi-truck driver for a local food and dairy distributor keeps him busy during the day. After work he can be found on the farm busy in the fields and keeping the property in great shape for our guests. Doug enjoys serving at church, nature, hunting, and fishing. Doug and Beth love spending family time with their family enjoying nature, farm animals, and enjoying making lasting memories.