Our Team

Get to know the adventurous disciples who have the joy of working at Prairie Star Ranch.

Book Your Retreat

Full-Time Staff

These lucky folks have the pleasure of working at Prairie Star Ranch all year and work to keep the ministry of the Ranch alive and well year-round. Find out who they are and how they serve the Ranch during the year.

Dcn. Dana Nearmyer

Executive Director

Deacon Dana Nearmyer is the Executive Director of Prairie Star Ranch and heads the Office of Evangelization for ArchKCK. He is also the Co-director of Camp Tekakwitha and an adjunct instructor at Benedictine College.

Gregory Wellnitz

Ranch
Director

Gregory Wellnitz is the Director of Prairie Star Ranch for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. He has served in this role since 2011 and holds a master’s degree in Theology from the Augustine Institute.

Dale Hutcheson

Ranch Maint.

Dale Hutcheson serves as the Lead Maintenance Technician for Prairie Star Ranch. He boasts a background in a wide variety of technical fields. 

Casey Baker

Horse Prgm. Mgr.

Our Equine Manager since 2020, Casey comes from a lifetime of horse care and a career in leadership and instruction. His love for horses is second only to his love of the Lord and his family.

Tori Gambino

Retreat Coord.

Tori Gambino joined the Prairie Star family in 2015 as a Retreat Team Member. In 2016 she accepted the role of Retreat Coordinator. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders from Truman State University.

Grace Malinee

Retreat
Missionary

Grace Malinee joined the Retreat Team in 2019. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Truman State University. Born and raised in Missouri, she first served in our Archdiocese as a Totus Tuus missionary in the summer of 2016.

Shannen Freeman

RETREAT Missionary

Shannen Freeman earned a Bachelor’s degree in Catechesis and Evangelization from Benedictine College and first came to Prairie Star in 2014 as a camp counselor. In 2016, she began serving as a member of the Retreat Team.

Caroline Hooper

RETREAT Missionary

Caroline joined our team in 2021. She has degrees from Loras College in Iowa and has long been involved in the Catholic camping world, with former experience at Catholic Youth Expeditions, and Camp Gray in Wisconsin.

More About Our Retreat Missionary Team

Our Retreat Team

Prairie Star Ranch offers an exciting opportunity to become a missionary for the New Evangelization through our Retreat Team Missionary Program. As a member of the program, you will lead retreats, help out around camp and have the opportunity for great personal and spiritual growth. It is a wonderful chance to share your faith, build Christ’s Kingdom and serve others in a beautiful natural setting.

Tori Gambino

Retreat Coordinator

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Grace Malinee

Missionary

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Shannon Freeman

Missionary

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Caroline Hooper

Missionary

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We Share Your Desire for More

There is a great longing in the body of the Church, a yearning to carry forward the mission Christ entrusted to each of his disciples. Our missionary staff recognize this thirst and seek to guide the thousands of souls who enter our gates to fall ever more in love with Jesus Christ. 

Men and women from all walks of life, whether right off a college campus or out of the workforce, are choosing to respond to the world’s need for missionaries.

 

More About Our Retreat Missionary Team

Contact Us Today

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Prairie Star Ranch is a division of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas

Copyright © The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. All Rights Reserved.

Site Design by Lee McMahon

Book Your Retreat

Our Team

Get to know the adventurous disciples who have the joy of working at Prairie Star Ranch.

Employment
Missionary Program
Contact Us

Full-Time Staff

These lucky folks have the pleasure of working at Prairie Star Ranch all year and work to keep the ministry of the Ranch alive and well year-round.  Find out who they are and how they serve the Ranch during the year.

Dcn. Dana Nearmyer

Executive Director

Deacon Dana Nearmyer is the Executive Director of Prairie Star Ranch and heads the Office of Evangelization for ArchKCK. He is also the Co-director of Camp Tekakwitha and an adjunct instructor at Benedictine College.

Gregory Wellnitz

Director

Gregory Wellnitz is the Director of Prairie Star Ranch for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. He has served in this role since 2011 and holds a master’s degree in Theology from the Augustine Institute.

Dale Hutcheson

Ranch Maintenance

Dale Hutcheson serves as the Lead Maintenance Technician for Prairie Star Ranch. He boasts a background in a wide variety of technical fields.

Casey Baker

Horse Program Manager

Casey Baker has served as our Equine Manager since 2020, coming from a lifetime of horse care and a career in leadership and instruction. His love for horses is second only to his love of the Lord and his family.

Tori Gambino

Retreat Coordinator

Tori Gambino joined the Prairie Star family in 2015 as a Retreat Team Member. In 2016 she accepted the role of Retreat Coordinator. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication Disorders from Truman State University.

Grace Malinee

Missionary

Grace Malinee joined the Retreat Team in 2019. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Truman State University. Born and raised in Missouri, she first served in our Archdiocese as a Totus Tuus missionary in the summer of 2016.

Shannen Freeman

Missionary

Shannen Freeman earned a Bachelor’s degree in Catechesis and Evangelization from Benedictine College and first came to Prairie Star in 2014 as a camp counselor. In 2016, she began serving as a member of the Retreat Team.

Caroline Hooper

Missionary

Caroline joined our team in 2021. She has degrees from Loras College in Iowa and has long been involved in the Catholic camping world, with former experience at Catholic Youth Expeditions, and Camp Gray in Wisconsin.

Our Retreat Team

Prairie Star Ranch offers an exciting opportunity to become a missionary for the New Evangelization through our Retreat Team Missionary Program. As a member of the program, you will lead retreats, help out around camp and have the opportunity for great personal and spiritual growth. It is a wonderful chance to share your faith, build Christ’s Kingdom and serve others in a beautiful natural setting.

Building a Camp for your kids, your family, and your parish.

Book Your Retreat

Tori Gambino

Retreat Coordinator

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Grace Malinee

Missionary

Brief bio will go here. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. 

Shannon Freeman

Missionary

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Caroline Hooper

Missionary

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Contact Us Today

Contact Us Today

Send us a message below or give us a call at (785) 746-5693.

Prairie Star Ranch
1124 California Road, Williamsburg, KS 66095
(785) 746-5693
psrministry@archkck.org
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Prairie Star Ranch is a division of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Copyright © The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. All Rights Reserved.

Site Design by Lee McMahon