AMES, Iowa—Shellie Orngard of Ames, Iowa, has joined Prairie Rivers of Iowa (PRI) as the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway coordinator replacing former coordinator Jan Gammon. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a Master of Arts in English from Iowa State University. She taught part-time in the Department of English at Iowa State University from 1995 to 2018, and from 2010-2013 collaborated with PRI to establish gardens in two Ames elementary schools.

In her new role, Orngard will lead one of PRI’s major programs, managing the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway. The job is part historic preservation and interpretation and part tourism, and she will work closely with government officials, business leaders, and community members in the 13 counties and 43 towns that lie along the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway from the Mississippi to the Missouri rivers across Iowa. This byway is one of three national byways in Iowa, joined by 11 state byways.

Orngard is committed to restoring, protecting and preserving the cultural and natural resources in Iowa. “This work provides the opportunity for me to work on some of the things I’m most passionate about, the natural environment and our cultural resources. In fact, I’d love to combine the two, restoring and preserving the natural environment along the Lincoln Highway.”

“We are very happy to have Shellie’s love of history and her commitment to Prairie Rivers of Iowa leading the Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway effort,” said PRI Executive Director Penny Brown Huber. “Having someone who has great communication skills and a passion for the work will help us continue bringing the history of this important road to life in Iowa.”

Orngard grew up in Ames, and like many others left Iowa for a period of time, living in San Francisco and then New York City before returning to Ames to finish college. She ended up raising a family here too. Her son, Sam, is a Ph.D. candidate in Anthropology at University of Chicago, and her daughter, Anya, is an interior designer whose job allows her to work remotely and travel. The three enjoy traveling together and in just the past three years have been to Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, and the San Francisco Bay Area together.

Prairie Rivers of Iowa Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway Coordinator Shellie Orngard

Section Lincoln Highway Heritage Byway in Marshall County, Iowa (Photo by Tom Apgar)

(contributed press release-PRRCD)