Jeff McManus, President

Jeff McManus has spent his life in Wyoming and has deep roots in ranching and the traditions of the American West. He joined the National Stagecoach & Freight Wagon Association in 2009 while attending the organization’s annual conference in West Yellowstone, Montana, and has since become an active advocate for preserving the history and practical knowledge of horse-drawn transportation.

Jeff’s interests extend from wagons and teams to the historic trails they traveled. He has researched early freighting routes in the Cody area, participated in trail reenactments, and shared his knowledge of wagon construction with fellow enthusiasts. He is also an accomplished blacksmith and has demonstrated traditional blacksmithing techniques, including the making of wagon parts and tools.

Jeff and his wife, Barb, maintain a collection of teams and wagons. Through his leadership in the NSFWA, Jeff remains committed to preserving the history, craftsmanship, horsemanship, and knowledge of horse-drawn transportation for future generations.

Patrick Goodknight, Vice-President

The first farm wagon Patrick obtained was at an auction for $50 when he was 11 years old. Being raised in Southwest Missouri gave him the opportunity to get to know plenty of old timers who owned, bought and sold teams and wagons for a living as well as pleasure.

Patrick is a small-town financial advisor for a national firm. With help from sons Trevor & Walker, he runs a small horse ranch as well as a 100-acre crop farm. In her spare time, his daughter Charley assists the local barrel racing circuit.

Patrick is excited to be a part of a great association of wagon and stagecoach enthusiasts and hopes to make a contribution to preserve and protect the traditions of early wheeled transportation and the trails that were used to settle America.

Jerry Palmer, Treasurer

Born and raised in southeast Kansas in Coffeyville, home of the semi-famous Dalton gang bank robbery, Jerry Palmer worked for Farmland Industries for 35 years.

Jerry grew up driving motorcycles and fast cars. After several years of foaling and raising babies from a couple of Quarter horse mares, he and his wife Linda now see the countryside at 4 mph behind a team of stout little Haflinger geldings. The Palmers are now retired and live in Southwest Missouri. They have an original Springfield farm wagon and a couple of Studebaker buggies that they enjoy driving to church occasionally.

Jerry enjoys learning the mechanics of the old wagons and their transition to automobiles and looks forward to continuing his education of wagon history while serving the members of the NSFWA.

Julie Williams, Secretary

A retired Battalion Chief from the Springfield, MO Fire Department, Julie Williams spent 25 years in fire service, with half of that as an officer. A lifelong resident of Republic, Missouri, Julie assists her husband with the operation of their small farm, which she admittedly complicates with too many animals, too large a garden, honeybees, and lots of projects and ideas for her husband’s to-do list. She also works part-time in a Greenhouse complex.

Julie and a close friend founded the “Back to School Blast Horse Show”, which became the largest multi-day youth horse show in the surrounding states. Through service on many boards and committees, along with smaller clubs and projects, Julie also held offices in the firefighters' union and has run Saddle and 4-H clubs. She served as director of the Missouri National Barrel Horse Association (NBHA) and has produced countless barrel races over the past 20 years.

The Williams family has ridden and shown horses, rodeoed, and barrel raced all over the United States. They now have a team of Percherons and a couple of small wagons. Through NSFWA, Julie hopes to meet lots of great people while learning more about wagons, harnesses, and teams.

Cameron Bean

Raised with horses and buggies, Cameron had his first pony at three years of age. From the 3rd-8th grades he rode horses to school, and as a special treat was allowed to take dad’s Velie buggy on the first and last day of school. At ten years old, he built his first chuck wagon out of an old hack, pulled by a single horse. He doesn't claim to be a wheelwright, but has experience repairing and shrinking tires!

He started collecting wagons, buggies, and sleighs in the mid 1960s, and for years has given wagon and buggy rides, and participated with them in weddings, parades and displays. He hosts the chuck wagon at two annual events: a horse sale and a heifer sale. Cameron has been an Owyhee County Museum board member, active in historical events and fundraising, and was very excited to find the NSFWA.

Troy Peterson

Troy Peterson grew up on a South Dakota ranch, where he developed an early appreciation for horses, livestock, and ranch life. His first experience driving came when his grandfather bought him a mule in exchange for helping with fencing—a beginning that sparked a lifelong interest in working animals and horse-drawn equipment.

While still in high school, Troy rebuilt his first wagon box and has continued to restore and rebuild equipment ever since. More importantly, he puts it to work. On his ranch, Troy uses teams to pull mowers, buck rakes, rakes, and a small square baler during haying.

Troy also enjoyed a distinguished collegiate rodeo career, qualifying four times for the College National Finals in Team Roping and Steer Wrestling and serving as a National Student Director.

Today, Troy is Branch Manager for Pinnacle Bank Wyoming in Mitchell, Nebraska. He remains committed to preserving traditional craftsmanship and horsemanship by keeping these skills alive through practical use.

Todd Johnson

Todd Johnson is a lifelong enthusiast of Western history, horsemanship, and horse-drawn transportation. A native of Southwest Missouri, Todd’s connection to Western life began as a young man working as a wrangler guide in Rocky Mountain National Park and later for ranchers throughout West Texas. These experiences fostered a lasting appreciation for horses, mules, ranching traditions, and the equipment that helped build the West.

After a 25-year career as a heavy equipment operator, Todd retired and now devotes more time to his passion for stagecoaches, freight wagons, and historic transportation. He and his wife care for their Quarter Horse and Percheron-cross mules and maintain a cherished collection of wagons.

An active member of the National Stagecoach & Freight Wagon Association, Todd is committed to preserving the stories, craftsmanship, practical knowledge, and traditions of this important era for future generations.

Rawhide Johnson, Advisor to the Board

Ranch raised in Montana and Idaho, Rawhide Johnson grew up in a world where driving teams, working horses, and repairing wagons were part of everyday life. His father operated commercial stagecoach rides, giving Rawhide an early, hands-on education in the equipment, animals, and skills associated with horse-drawn transportation.

That practical background, combined with a lifelong interest in stagecoach history, developed into a commitment to the conservation and restoration of historic horse-drawn vehicles. Rawhide has devoted considerable time to teaching the techniques and principles involved in preserving these vehicles, emphasizing the importance of retaining the individual history, craftsmanship, and character each one represents.

Over the years, Rawhide has shared his knowledge through consulting, educational programs, and service to historical organizations. He has served on several boards, including as Chairman of the Board for the Yellowstone Historic Center. As an NSFWA advisor, Rawhide continues to encourage the preservation of both historic vehicles and the practical knowledge needed to understand them.

Doug Hansen, Advisor to the Board

Doug Hansen is the founder and owner of Hansen Wheel & Wagon Shop, established in 1978. For nearly five decades, he has worked as a wainwright and wheelwright, specializing in the construction and restoration of heavy wagons and wheels with an emphasis on historical accuracy and traditional craftsmanship.

Doug’s lifelong fascination with horse-drawn vehicles has led him to extensively study original vehicles, their construction, and the methods used by early craftsmen. His primary interests include the western vehicles that crossed the prairies of Dakota Territory and the heavy commercial wagons that helped supply a growing nation, including stagecoaches, chuck wagons, freight wagons, and hitch wagons.

Doug’s work can be found in museums, private collections, and corporate holdings and has been displayed nationally and internationally. A respected consultant, speaker, and educator, Doug is also a cofounder of the National Stagecoach & Freight Wagon Association.

Doran Degenstein, Social Media Manager

Doran was born and raised in Southern Alberta. From the age of three and throughout his life he has ridden and driven horses. During his career in financial management, tourism, and heritage management, he maintained a cow/calf operation in earlier years and commercial driving horses in later years. He is an avid teamster, wheelwright, wainwright and collector of horse-drawn vehicles.

He has a keen interest in transportation history, the North West Mounted Police, fur trade history, and Blackfoot tribal history and traditionalism. He has served on numerous boards in various capacities, currently as President and Managing Director of Fort Whoop Up Interpretive Society, which operated Fort Whoop Up National Historic Site for over 42 years, until 2015.

In 2016 he was invited to join the board of the National Stagecoach and Freight Wagon Association, sharing their vision and ideals.

Doran resides in Lethbridge County where he maintains four teams of draft horses for pleasure and commercial purposes, and repair and build wheel and horse drawn vehicles.

Ashlee Ganoung, Event Coordinator

A founding member of the National Stagecoach & Freight Wagon Association, Ashlee has been actively involved in preserving and promoting America’s horse-drawn transportation heritage for more than two decades. Her experience with historic vehicles began through hands-on work in stagecoach conservation and preservation.

Ashlee has shared that experience through educational presentations and has played an important role in organizing NSFWA conferences, symposiums, and special events. She helped coordinate the Association’s 2010 conference in Cody and later assisted with major gatherings including the 2015 centennial commemoration of Yellowstone’s final stagecoach era.

Today, Ashlee serves as the NSFWA’s Event Coordinator, helping bring members together to learn, share knowledge, and experience the history of stagecoaches, freight wagons, historic trails, and horse-drawn transportation firsthand.