Mike Kerson
Field Operations Co-Leader
Napa CART Advisory Board Member
Mike, along with his wife, Nancy, and their daughter, Saanen, has been involved with Napa CART from the beginning. He accompanied Dr. Claudia Sonder to Lake County during the devastating Valley Fire in 2015 and was very active in Napa CART’s efforts during the Wine Country Complex Fires of 2017.
In 1976, Mike purchased a team of Belgian draft horses and used them on the Kerson ranch and in parades. A Belgian/quarter horse cross foal was born at their ranch and lived there to the age of 33. In 2000, Mike adopted Ruby, a mustang filly from the BLM Wild Horse and Burro program. Mike trained Ruby and rides her and a fine mammoth donkey named Spike. Both Mike and Nancy became active BLM wild horse program volunteers, gentling and training many mustangs for adoptions. They have 5 mustangs, a mule, 2 donkeys, a dog, three cats, and a flock of chickens. Mike, as “Video Mike Productions,” has made horse, mule, and donkey training videos for 6 equine trainers, and numerous documentaries featuring equines. He has been the Executive Director of Vine Village in Napa, a non-profit residential and day activity ranch for people with developmental disabilities for 46 years.
Field Operations Co-Leader
Napa CART Advisory Board Member
Mike, along with his wife, Nancy, and their daughter, Saanen, has been involved with Napa CART from the beginning. He accompanied Dr. Claudia Sonder to Lake County during the devastating Valley Fire in 2015 and was very active in Napa CART’s efforts during the Wine Country Complex Fires of 2017.
In 1976, Mike purchased a team of Belgian draft horses and used them on the Kerson ranch and in parades. A Belgian/quarter horse cross foal was born at their ranch and lived there to the age of 33. In 2000, Mike adopted Ruby, a mustang filly from the BLM Wild Horse and Burro program. Mike trained Ruby and rides her and a fine mammoth donkey named Spike. Both Mike and Nancy became active BLM wild horse program volunteers, gentling and training many mustangs for adoptions. They have 5 mustangs, a mule, 2 donkeys, a dog, three cats, and a flock of chickens. Mike, as “Video Mike Productions,” has made horse, mule, and donkey training videos for 6 equine trainers, and numerous documentaries featuring equines. He has been the Executive Director of Vine Village in Napa, a non-profit residential and day activity ranch for people with developmental disabilities for 46 years.
Nancy Kerson
ASAR (Animal Search And Rescue) Co-Lead
Napa CART Advisory Board Member
From early childhood, animals of all kinds have played a big role in Nancy’s life. As a child, when people asked her what she wanted to do when she grew up, the answer was simple: live in the country surrounded by animals! (It was only much later that she realized this question was actually about making money…) After graduating from the University of New Mexico in 1970, Nancy taught school on a remote island in Alaska before marrying Michael Kerson and coming back to the “lower 48.” In 1972, the two, along with Mike’s parents and another man, founded Vine Village, Inc. a 501c3 program for people with developmental disabilities, which they continuously directed until retiring in 2023. Nancy adopted her first Mustang, Sparky, in 2001. Nancy and Mike both have gentled and halter-trained several wild horses for the BLM adoption program, and their own personal herd now numbers 5 mustangs, a mustang mule, a BLM burro, and a mammoth saddle donkey. They also have a dog, 3 cats, and a flock of chickens. Nancy has been active in Napa CART from the beginning and was active in Napa CART’s response efforts during the 2017 and 2020 wildfires, as well as mutual aid for the 2018 Camp Fire and 2019 Kincade Fire. Currently, she serves as ASAR Co-Leader.
ASAR (Animal Search And Rescue) Co-Lead
Napa CART Advisory Board Member
From early childhood, animals of all kinds have played a big role in Nancy’s life. As a child, when people asked her what she wanted to do when she grew up, the answer was simple: live in the country surrounded by animals! (It was only much later that she realized this question was actually about making money…) After graduating from the University of New Mexico in 1970, Nancy taught school on a remote island in Alaska before marrying Michael Kerson and coming back to the “lower 48.” In 1972, the two, along with Mike’s parents and another man, founded Vine Village, Inc. a 501c3 program for people with developmental disabilities, which they continuously directed until retiring in 2023. Nancy adopted her first Mustang, Sparky, in 2001. Nancy and Mike both have gentled and halter-trained several wild horses for the BLM adoption program, and their own personal herd now numbers 5 mustangs, a mustang mule, a BLM burro, and a mammoth saddle donkey. They also have a dog, 3 cats, and a flock of chickens. Nancy has been active in Napa CART from the beginning and was active in Napa CART’s response efforts during the 2017 and 2020 wildfires, as well as mutual aid for the 2018 Camp Fire and 2019 Kincade Fire. Currently, she serves as ASAR Co-Leader.