Jen Rowray is an Iowa native, born in Cedar Rapids and raised in rural Solon. She attended NMSU (Truman State) in Kirksville Missouri where she earned a BA in English but her love of country living led her to purchase her home and 6 acres of land in Benton County in 1999. When she is not working her full time job with a dog boarding facility she is doing side gigs from mowing to making Kettle corn, and of course, GSA at Indian Creek. In her down time she writes, maintains an active social media, cares for her horses, cats and dogs (and tries to avoid being spit on by her snarky Llama, Snowball) and her land. She has 4 grown children and one 16 year old daughter who keeps her very aware she is not as cool as she thinks she is.
Her love of nature began in her early years while horseback riding on the Corp of Engineers land near her home and it led to her volunteering for them. Her first full time job, at 16, was with The Mayor’s Youth Corps building trails and leveling campsites for the public to use. She really enjoys meeting people coming to the nature center and hearing about the sights and sounds they experience on their visit. Toad stories are her favorite.