Our Team

The Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary team consists of a group of primarily volunteer workers who donate their time, energy, money, and love to keep CCFS up and running. None of the board members draws a salary for their board duties. Our team is rounded out by veterinarian Dr. Joe Guevara. Though he is officially considered an independent contractor and not a staff member, Dr. Joe has worked with CCFS from the very beginning and works closely with the sanctuary to advise on all manner of health issues. Whether it's walking the fields to remove potentially harmful plants or showing up on a Sunday (and his wedding anniversary) for a sick pig, Dr. Joe has always been there for us. 

Erin Amerman, Founder, Board President

Erin founded Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary with three rescued cows in 2016, and is currently president of the Board of Directors. You can read her bio and story here. 

Chris Amerman, Co-Founder, Board Treasurer and Sanctuary Director

Chris met Erin at the University of West Florida in 1995 and they married in 1997. Always an animal lover, he gave up animal products shortly after they married when he ran out of arguments against it. While in medical school, they began volunteering for a no-kill animal shelter and rescuing cats and dogs, which has continued to this day. Through the years, Chris has usually tried to be the voice of reason about their rescues, but Erin generally isn't very good at listening.

At CCFS, Chris is Treasurer of the Board of Directors and the Sanctuary Director. He has also developed something of a donkey problem. In this case, Erin tries to be the voice of reason, but Chris generally isn't very good at listening, either. 

Jamie Woodrum, Board Vice President

Jamie is the Vice President of the Critter Creek Board of Directors. She joined the team in January of 2019 as Critter Creek's social media director. Her vegan journey started a year and a half prior when she decided to stand up for ALL animals and not just the ones that society has deemed important. Previously a volunteer at an animal shelter in high school, she was asked to sell hamburgers and hotdogs to raise funds for dogs and cats at one of their big events. It was at this point she finally realized that it’s hypocritical to kill one animal to benefit another, especially since they are all sentient beings with unique personalities.

Jamie is a graduate of the University of Florida with a major in Biochemistry and a minor in Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology. Jamie currently is a student at the Warrington College of Business at the University of Florida, where she is pursuing her MBA. She is also the owner and founder of Humble Honee, a bumble-free, vegan honey alternative. 

Sheena Drost,  Board Secretary and Office Manager​

Sheena’s vegan journey began January 1, 2017. She had long considered herself an animal lover, but one day it hit her, or as she says, she saw the “vegan light.” Why love some but eat others? Being vegan inspired her so much that she just knew she had to start volunteering with animals. Sheena joined the Critter Creek team in November 2019 after attending Oinktoberfest with her family. 

As office manager and board secretary, she manages email and sponsor communications, bookkeeping, event planning, and social media accounts. She loves being an educator and advocate for the animals. Since coming to Critter Creek, she has been inspired to pursue a Masters of Science in Management degree. 

Lily C. Darnell, Board Member and Interdisciplinary Science Director

Lily is a board member and the Interdisciplinary Science Director of Critter Creek Farm Sanctuary. Lily has always deeply cared for animals, starting when she was a baby, with her first word being “moo.” Growing up, Lily was very close to her grandfather who rescued injured and neglected animals. Lily attributes her love for protecting and advocating for animals to him. Due to her sense of advocacy, she started volunteering for Critter Creek in 2021.

Lily is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst by trade, and uses her skills as a clinician to develop partnerships with educational institutions to bring evidence-based practices regarding improving animal welfare and environmental enrichment to our residents. She hopes to eventually publish data regarding ways to improve the lives of animals, especially those rescued from abuse and neglect, and contribute to the growing field of animal welfare research.

Sam Maybury, Critter Hills Caretaker

Sam joined the team in December 2019. She found her way to Critter Creek a few months prior when she urgently needed to find a home for two heifers, Jingles and Bella. Sam graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences and Plant Science and a minor in Agricultural and Natural Resources Law.

Sam just finished her first year of law school at the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Upon graduation, she plans to practice in the field of agricultural and animal law. When she isn’t working on the farm or studying, she enjoys spending time with her steer, Stanley, and horse, Bennett.