Douglas County Rancher Named Vice-Chair of Washington Fish & Wildlife Commission

Douglas County rancher Molly Linville is the new vice-chair of the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission.

She's been a member of the commission that sets policy for the Fish and Wildlife Department since 2019, when she was appointed by Governor Jay Inslee.

The commission unanimously approved Linville's move to vice-chair Friday after she was nominated by previous seat holder Barbara Baker.  She'll serve with current Chair Larry Carpenter.

“Commissioner Linville has proven herself a thoughtful, fair-minded and valuable voice on the Commission since she joined us two years ago,” Carpenter said. “I look forward to continue working with her to benefit all of Washington’s fish, wildlife, and residents.”

Leadership positions at the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission carry a two-year term, voted on in odd-numbered years.

Linville has operated the KV Ranch in Palisades with her husband since 2011, and previously worked for US Fish and Wildlife Service as a wildlife biologist in central Washington.

KV Ranch covers 6,000 acres and raises mostly commercial Angus cattle, and alfalfa and timothy hay, according to the Pacific Northwest Society for Range Management.