Andy McDowell is the Land Conservancy’s Vice President of Western Field Operations and liaison to farmland preservation relationships. He provides direction and leadership of the Land Conservancy’s efforts in 8 counties and serves on Ohio’s Farmland Preservation Advisory Board.
Andy began his career as an environmental interpretive technician with the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks conducting outdoor and environmental education programs at three state parks. He also worked as an adjunct instructor at his alma mater community college where he instructed forestry, wildlife management & ecology, environmental interpretation, and introduction to park and recreation courses. He also served five years as a firefighter/EMT with the Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company & Rescue Team where he held several certifications and specialized in situations involving fast water rescue, search and rescue, wilderness medicine, and agricultural rescue. Upon relocating to Ohio in 1995, Andy worked at the Great Lakes Science Center Cleveland for 10 years and served as the vice president of exhibits and building operations before joining the Land Conservancy in 2006.
Andy received a bachelor of science degree in environmental education from Slippery Rock University, the namesake of his hometown. Andy also holds an associate in applied science degree in park and recreation management from Butler County Community College. Andy grew up working on his family’s farms in western Pennsylvania and helping his father who was a farm mechanic which has helped him establish solid relationships with farmers across northern Ohio.
Andy, wife Jennifer, daughter Ashley, 16, and son Duncan, 13, live in North Ridgeville where they are very active in their 4-H club. McDowell is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hunting, fishing, archery, canoeing, camping and maintaining antique International Harvester Farmall tractors.