Long Ear Love
Meet Our Management and Board of Directors
Diane J. Nedrow, Chief Executive Officer/Founder
Diane Nedrow, founder and CEO of Brayhope Farm, Inc., has lived in the Phoenix, New York, area for most of her life. In the 1990s she owned and operated Jog & Trot Tack Shop, a local business that grew to carry livestock and domestic pet food, along with health-care products for horses, dogs, cats, and other animals. The store (later known as Phoenix Feed and Tack) participated in the community through product donations for fundraisers and for giveaways at horse shows; hosting feed/grain seminars; and an open house with free pony rides, local musical entertainment, and a store sponsored hot-dog cookout by the local Boy Scouts troop.
Diane has had horses for most of her life. “There were a few years I was without them,” she says, “and during those times I missed the farm lifestyle.” Her husband, Andrew, who grew up on a dairy farm, also was fond of the horses they had kept together. During the COVID pandemic, Diane and Andy decided that they needed to re-establish their farm and in 2020 added two miniature donkeys (Ralph and Gus) with the help of Tammy Lozipone. That number grew to ten before the end of the next year. “The donkeys are so affectionate, calm, and loving that we decided we should share them with others,” Diane says, and the idea for Brayhope Farm was born.
Diane retired from the Town of Schroeppel Justice Court in 2017, after serving part-time as court clerk for 23 years. She retired from full-time work with the United States Postal Service in 2023 (after 21 years of service). Her USPS work included management of people, processes, and finances—experiences that she now brings to Brayhope Farm.
“I’m fortunate in my retirement to enjoy a quiet life,” Diane says, “to witness the joy and happiness, the sense of calm, that Brayhope Farm’s donkeys and goats give visitors, not to mention the benefit to the animals. They thrive with the positive interaction, love, and lots of brushing! It’s very fulfilling for everyone.”
Dennis B. Tucker, Chairman of the Board of Directors
Dennis Tucker grew up in Phoenix, New York, attended Phoenix Central Schools, and worked and played on the family farm on Oswego River Road. Between Scouting and 4-H, summer trips to Beaver Lake Nature Center and the Adirondacks, and everyday life in a rural/agricultural community, animals have always been important to him—a love he now shares with his young daughter.
Dennis graduated from the University of Rochester with a degree in Political Science, minoring in Social Psychology. His professional career has been in corporate and nonprofit communications. He was senior writer at Auragen Communications in Rochester;
communications director of All Saints’ Church in Midtown Atlanta; president of newspaper-features distributor Empire Syndicate, Inc.; and for nineteen years was publisher at Whitman Publishing. An active numismatist, from 2016 to 2024 he served on the U.S. Treasury Department’s eleven-member Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, a group that advises the Secretary of the Treasury on coin and medal designs and themes.
Dennis has held membership and committee positions in groups including the American Numismatic Association, the Rittenhouse Society, and the Filipino American National Historical Society. He has taught and lectured nationwide on numismatics, publishing, U.S. history, and related topics.
“I’ve seen the way Brayhope Farm connects kids and adults with animals, and the comforting and therapeutic benefits for everyone involved,” Dennis says. “I’m proud to serve on the board of this active and community-spirited nonprofit.”
Tammy Lozipone, Vice Chair
Tammy Lozipone has lived in the Rochester, New York, area her entire life. She has more than twenty-five years of experience as a project manager for various manufacturing facilities. Tammy’s passion for volunteering her time with nonprofits began when she organized the candy-sale fundraiser for her kids’ school PTA in 2006. Since then, she has held the position of secretary of the board of directors for Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Wayne County and secretary of Begin Again Horse Rescue (BAHR) in Lima, New York, for nine years. While at BAHR, Tammy served as secretary of the board, chairperson of the Adoption and Farm Inspection Committee, and co-chair of the Fundraising Committee.
Tammy’s love for equines started in her pre-school years. “It’s a phase I never outgrew,” she says. In 2020 she decided to pursue equine rescue independently. She met Diane Nedrow when Diane inquired about two miniature donkeys that Tammy was networking in hopes of finding a safe home. Gus and Ralphie were the first two donkeys Diane rehomed, eventually launching Brayhope Farm.
Tammy lives in Walworth, New York, on a ten-acre farmette. She owns five horses and enjoys training them and competing in horse shows. “The horses bring me immense joy,” she says, “and they’re a source of significant stress relief from my hectic career.” The comfort and peaceful feelings the horses bring her were the catalyst for Tammy joining Brayhope Farm’s board. “I wholeheartedly believe in our mission, and I’m excited to be part of helping other people in the community discover the magic of a donkey hug.”
Lynett Bertollini-Greco, Treasurer
Lynett Bertollini-Greco is a native and lifelong resident of Phoenix, New York, and a 1985 graduate of John C. Birdlebough High School. She is a former member of the board of Erin’s Angels, a nonprofit that helps relieve food insecurity in Central New York.
Lynett’s career started in real estate in 1998. She served as the first woman in the history of the Town of Schroeppel to fulfill the term limit as town supervisor (2014 to 2021). Her professional experience in business finance, office management, nonprofit, and public administration is an asset to Brayhope Farm’s board.
“As town supervisor, I saw charitable nonprofits like Brayhope Farm bring support and comfort to our community’s children and others with special needs,” Lynett says. “That’s what motivates me to volunteer for this great cause.”
She describes her three children as her most blessed accomplishments.
Debbie Dates, Director
Debbie Fyler Dates has lived in the Phoenix area most of her life, graduating from John C. Birdlebough High School in 1979.
"Diane Nedrow is a childhood friend who I went to school with and have known all of my life," she says. "We were in Camp Fire Girls together. I always enjoyed visiting her house to ride her horse, and spending time with her family."
Today Debbie and her husband Brian live in Pennellville, next door to her stepson Kevin and daughter-in-law Mindy, along with granddaughters Gabi, Emma, and Ava.
"I retired in 2019 from the New York State Unified Court System as a secretary to a judge after 31 years. After retirement I volunteered at Michael A. Maroun Elementary School, assisting in Ava's classes. I drive my granddaughters to and from school every day. I also volunteer at the Phoenix Public Library, reading and crafting with the elementary school students. I've enjoyed helping to fundraise and create events for the library."
Debbie serves as vice president of the Phoenix Public Library Board. She is past historian of the library's friends group, the Century Club.
In 2017, Debbie's family opened Lock 1 Distilling Co. in Phoenix. She assists at the distillery in sales, tastings, labelings, filling bottles, updating chalkboards, and other tasks, including making up donation baskets for local charities.
Debbie is happy to contribute her experience and talents in fundraising and visitor-experience to Brayhope Farm. "I love being part of my friend Diane's dream and helping her make the farm an enjoyable experience for everyone, especially our special-needs friends. We are so lucky to have a place locally to experience these magical animals."
Seth Grossman, Director
Seth Grossman is a lifelong resident of Syracuse, New York, with more than seventeen years of dedicated experience in the human services field. As a Senior Recreation Therapist with the Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), he concentrates on Day Habilitation sites in Onondaga County, serving more than 100 individuals with developmental disabilities.
Roles in Seth's professional journey have included Recreation Therapist at Hutchings Psychiatric Center; Supervisor for community and respite services at a non-profit; Direct Support Professional in comunity habilitation; and Teaching Assistant with BOCES. In each of these roles, he has facilitated meaningful recreational opportunities for individuals, particularly those facing developmental challenges.
Seth's connection with Brayhope Farm began while organizing farm visits, in collaboration with CEO Diane Nedrow, for individuals who receive services from OPWDD. Around this time, Brayhope began to make meaningful accessibility improvements to the farm, including the installation of wider gates and mats to make entry easier for visitors in wheelchairs. Diane communicated these improvements effectively, which impressed Seth and solidified his decision to join the Board of Directors.
While he's new to working with farm animals, Seth's background serving individuals with developmental disabilities and his experience as a Recreation Therapist are valuable additions to Brayhope Farm. "I'm enthusiastic about the farm's future," he says, "and the positive impact it will continue to have on the community."
Meet Our Advisory Council
Nora Bajohr, Advisory Council Member
Courtenay Keough McKeon, Advisory Council Member
Courtenay Keough McKeon, Advisory Council Member
Nora Bajohr was born and raised in Camden, New York, where she now raises her own family. Her passion for helping others began in high school and has shaped both her professional life and her personal values. With more than fifteen years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Nora has dedicated her career to making a lasting impact on her
Nora Bajohr was born and raised in Camden, New York, where she now raises her own family. Her passion for helping others began in high school and has shaped both her professional life and her personal values. With more than fifteen years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Nora has dedicated her career to making a lasting impact on her community.
Serving as President of the Camden Public Library Association, Nora works to ensure that the library remains a vibrant hub for learning, connection, and personal growth. She is also a Director for Connected Community Schools, an organization committed to assisting individuals facing challenges of all kinds. Whether she’s offering a listening ear or providing resources for those in need, Nora believes that everyone deserves access to the tools and support that can bring them peace and joy.
“Animals have always been an important part of my life,” Nora says. “From playing with our family dog to riding my grandmother’s horses and helping out in my aunt’s barn, some of my happiest memories are of time spent in the company of animals. Their ability to comfort, inspire, and connect with us is truly remarkable, and I believe everyone deserves the chance to experience that bond. Brayhope Farm makes it possible.”
At the heart of Nora’s work is a simple but powerful belief: joy should be accessible to all. Whether through education, community connection, or the simple act of lending a hand, she strives to help create a world where people can thrive, no matter their circumstances.
Courtenay Keough McKeon, Advisory Council Member
Courtenay Keough McKeon, Advisory Council Member
Courtenay Keough McKeon, Advisory Council Member
Courtenay Keough McKeon was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and spent her teen years in California. She attended college at the University of Rochester and law school at the University of California in Davis. In 2007 she moved to Central New York with her husband (an Oswego County native) and their two sons.
Courtenay has been a public de
Courtenay Keough McKeon was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and spent her teen years in California. She attended college at the University of Rochester and law school at the University of California in Davis. In 2007 she moved to Central New York with her husband (an Oswego County native) and their two sons.
Courtenay has been a public defender in Syracuse for the past decade, driven by a strong commitment to justice and the desire to ensure that the most vulnerable members of society are treated fairly in the complicated federal criminal justice system. She is a member of the Federal Court Bar Association (where she co-chairs the Criminal Practice Committee) and the Central New York Women’s Bar Association.
In addition to her work as an attorney, Courtenay is pursuing ordination in the Episcopal Church. She is a Postulant in the Diocese of Central New York and is working toward obtaining her Master of Divinity degree from Bexley Seabury Seminary in Chicago.
Someone (it might have been her husband) once said that there is no better therapy than having a puppy lick your face. For Courtenay, being around dogs, cats, goats, and other animals is the best kind of therapy there is. Brayhope Farm’s mission aligns perfectly with her mission in the world: to bring hope and help to those who need it most.
Krystin Young, Advisory Council Member
Courtenay Keough McKeon, Advisory Council Member
Krystin Young, Advisory Council Member
Krystin Young grew up in Phoenix, New York, where she graduated from John C. Birdlebough High School. From an early age she learned the importance of service, beginning with volunteer activities in high school and continuing through her involvement with community organizations such as Mainstreet Waynesboro and City of Aurora Open Spaces
Krystin Young grew up in Phoenix, New York, where she graduated from John C. Birdlebough High School. From an early age she learned the importance of service, beginning with volunteer activities in high school and continuing through her involvement with community organizations such as Mainstreet Waynesboro and City of Aurora Open Spaces and Natural Resources. She lives with her husband and their son in Lafayette, Colorado, where family, service, and community remain at the heart of her life.
Krystin earned a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from St. Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania, and is now pursuing a Master of Science in Healthcare Management through Colorado Technical University. As the Cash Analytics Manager at Intermountain Health, she applies her expertise in financial operations to manage resources effectively and to strengthen healthcare delivery. With more than twenty years of experience in healthcare, she’s built a career dedicated to improving systems and supporting organizations that serve others.
Krystin’s values are deeply rooted in her early experiences with animals. As a child, she actively participated in a 4-H equestrian club and cared for horses. Today, she continues to champion the importance of the human-animal bond. “I believe the trust and love shared by animals is truly precious,” she says. She proudly supports Brayhope Farm’s mission to foster therapeutic connections between humans and animals.