Joyful Ranch Foundation (JRF) Board of Directors
Name: Ethel Hoskins
Position on the Board: CEO and President, Director
Brief Personal History: Born in Sacramento, CA; has lived on the Ranch her entire life. Graduated from Winters H.S. Attended UC Davis, Solano Community College and graduated from CSU, Sacramento with Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees. Teacher in Vacaville School District for 38 years; taught 3rd, 4th, 5th grades; reading specialist; mentor teacher. Now retired and working full time at Joyful Ranch.
Raised on the Ranch; Grandfather was WJ Pleasants; mother was Ruth Pleasants-Hoskins. A strong desire to preserve the Ranch for future generations; its legacy, its nature, its peaceful presence.
Current Special Projects: conservation practices, especially Pleasants Creek; caretaker of the Ranch; writing a book highlighting the history of the Ranch.
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Name: Pat Marino
Position on the Board: Treasurer, Director
Brief Personal History: Born in Denver, Colorado. Grew up in the Air Force. Lived in Denver, Chicago, Japan, Massachusetts, Santa Cruz, California, Philippines, Travis AFB (twice) and has lived in Vacaville since 1961. Graduated from Armijo H.S. in Fairfield, while living on Travis AFB. Graduated from Solano Community College with an Associate of Arts Degree. Enjoys watching sporting events, especially the SF Giants and “Forty Niners.”
Brief Professional History: Federal Civil Service at Travis AFB for 34 years in the Personnel career field. Twelve of those years as Chief Personnel Systems Manager of a base-wide computer network. Retired in 1994. Assistant to the Human Resources Manager for the Vacaville Police Department for over 11 years. Retired in 2007.
Friend of Ethel Hoskins since 1961 and one who wishes to see Ethel’s vision for Joyful Ranch fulfilled.
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David McKenzie
Position on the Board: Director
Brief Personal History: Born and raised in Napa, CA. Graduated from Napa High School; BA in History, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Married with three children, grandfather to eight. Vacaville, CA resident from 1980 to 1993; currently living in Dixon. Enjoys biking, swimming, reading, and yard projects. Fourth generation at family business, Pacific Ace Hardware.
Brief Professional History: Past President of Pacific Ace Hardware in Vacaville, Winters, and Esparto, CA. Currently Merchandise Manager. Started working at the Vacaville store as a young boy threading pipe and has been there ever since.
Has enjoyed a longtime business association with Ethel and has a deep commitment towards preserving the local history stemming from his family’s roots back to the town of Monticello, now Lake Berryessa.
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Ethan Roschen
Position on the Board: Director
Brief Personal History: Grew up in Vacaville, CA, and resides in Pleasants Valley. Married and has three daughters. Has an Associate of Science Degree in Architectural Drafting & Design and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Construction Management.
Brief Professional History: Has been in construction since 1982. Has General Contractor’s License and is the owner of Roschen Construction. Currently working as a Project Executive for DesCor Builders.
Is a neighbor of Ethel’s and is very interested in the restoration of the Victorian home and other buildings on the Ranch.
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Name: John Onsum
Position on the Board: Vice Chairman, Director
Brief Personal History: Born in Seattle, WA, and grew up in Fresno, CA, where he met Rita at Calvary Presbyterian Church. Married with two sons, two daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren. Has lived in Dixon, CA, since 1972. Graduated from high school in Inglewood, CA. Attended El Camino College in southern California; graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a Bachelor’s Degree; graduated from UC Davis with a Master’s Degree. Also completed a professional program at the Pacific Coast School of Banking at the University of Washington. Enjoys running, biking, fishing and traveling. Community involvement includes being a board member of KVIE, the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at UC Davis, Rotary Club, Dixon Community Church and Solano Economic Development Corporation.
Brief Professional History: From 1972, Banker with First Northern Bank, past President/CEO; retired 2011. First real job was as a Fresno Bee paperboy!
Friend of Ethel Hoskins since 1969. Fondest memories of Sunday dinners with Ethel and her parents, Roy and Ruth Hoskins. Their hospitality and humor helped John survive school and developed a desire to stay and work in this magnificent Solano County!
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Name: Rita Onsum
Position on the Board: Director
Brief Personal History: Married with two sons, two daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren. Has lived in Dixon, CA, since 1972. Graduated from Fresno H.S. Attended Fresno State; graduated from California State Los Angeles with a Bachelor’s Degree. Enjoys spending time with family, traveling, fishing, gardening and photography. Community involvement includes being a former board member of the Vacaville Museum and the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at UC Davis. Former member of the Dixon May Fair Board and Sutter Davis Hospital Foundation.
Brief Professional History: Taught elementary school in Los Angeles, Goleta, and Vacaville.
Long-time friend of Ethel Hoskins with whom she taught school. Hopes to help Joyful Ranch Foundation preserve this wonderful piece of Pleasants Valley history. Wishes to aid in sustaining and expanding on all Ethel has accomplished in reaching JRF’s goals.
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Name: Judy Showalter
Position on the Board: Secretary, Director
Brief Personal History: Born in Oakland, CA. Has 2 sons, 1 daughter-in-law, 2 grandchildren. Graduated from Skyline H.S., Oakland, CA. Attended BIOLA University in Southern CA. Graduated from Solano Community College with an Associate in Arts in Social Science, and an AA in Liberal Arts. Has lived in Colorado and W. VA and now has returned to CA. Enjoys sports—original and ardent Oakland Raiders fan……and has “added” the SF Giants and GS Warriors; also enjoys gardening–almost anything outside, traveling, helping people do odd jobs and errands, table games, Bible Studies, organizing, and historical research & documentation.
Brief Professional History: 22 years with Vacaville School District, including Curriculum/Educational Services Deputy Superintendent’s Administrative Secretary II for 20 years, Medical Secretary & Transcriber for 5 years, K-8 Music Teacher & Performance Accompanist for 5 years & solo performance at large for 65+ years, and private piano lessons for 32 years.
Ethel’s friend since 1985. As visits to Joyful Ranch increased, felt impassioned with the beauty, unique peace and joy, and historic legacy. Wishes to preserve remaining California ranching with special natural habitat and artifact/history and education interest.
Current Special Projects: Uncover / discover Ranch artifacts, preserve / document history and Ethel’s story, day-to-day working around the Ranch—including pet “baby”-sitting.
Thank you, prior Board Members: Gary Crawford, Janet Walker, Pat Barnes.
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Name: John Knowles
(Past) Position on the Board: Ex-officio Board Member, Ranch Manager
In memoriam…..There are not enough words to describe the loss of JRF Ranch Manager and Ex-Officio Board Member John Knowles (2022). He was extraordinary! A gift at a time when the Ranch was taking on a new identity, while also continuing and preserving the old. With a strong and impactful faith, John could “look at ANYTHING, diagnose the plight, and have it fixed in record time.” One in a million…. Networker extraordinaire. John was the JR Ex-Officio Board Member…and was crucial to the workings at Joyful Ranch on all accounts (inside, outside, over the entire Ranch…and then some). John went home to be with the Lord March 6, 2022. Rest well, dear friend…forever in our hearts. Philippines 1:3
Joyful Ranch Foundation 