Our Audubon Great Plains team is thrilled to welcome Traci Bruckner as our Senior Policy Manager, a newly added position. Traci brings over two decades of experience in public policy, government relations, and philanthropic engagement. She has a Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Sociology from Wayne State College.

Based in Wayne, Nebraska, Traci has experience advancing impactful policy initiatives at both the state and federal levels. Her work has spanned across sustainable agriculture and food systems, rural economic development, and behavioral health access in rural communities. Most recently, she served as Chief Policy Officer for the Western Landowners Alliance (WLA), where she led policy strategies to support working lands, sustain native species, and connected landscapes across the West. Prior to WLA, Traci was with Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders, a philanthropic affinity group where she provided strategic leadership and direction for funder engagement and collaboration around federal agriculture, conservation and food policy.

Traci’s ability to build strong relationships with policymakers, stakeholders, media, and philanthropic leaders is matched by her deep commitment to equity, rural communities, and environmental stewardship. She has served on numerous national advisory boards, including the USDA’s Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers.

In her new role, Traci will lead Audubon Great Plains’ policy strategy to support bird habitat, healthy ecosystems, and resilient rural communities across North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska.

FAVORITE BIRD

Traci has a deep love for the outdoors and a special fondness for two birds in particular: Northern Cardinals and Ospreys. Cardinals because of their color and how tough they are in winter, and Ospreys because they choose their mate based on the location and quality of the nest, which is pretty smart.