Neal Wilson grew up in southern Saskatchewan and attended the University of Saskatchewan receiving his degree in Agriculture in 1995. Upon completion of his degree he worked for various ranches in Southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba. He then worked for the Prairie Conservation Action Plan, Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporation and The Nature Conservancy of Canada working with landowners to develop grazing plans with the strategy of helping them conserve their native prairie. Since moving to Antelope Creek Ranch Neal has held positions as director and president of the Canadian Dexter Cattle Association, and presently is the secretary/treasurer of the south east branch of the Alberta Institute of Agrologists. 
Shannon Burnard received her Diploma in Land Resource Management from Olds College in 2000. She started working for the Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporation (SWCC) that summer with their Native Prairie Stewardship program. The next year she worked in the Yorkton area as the Assiniboia Watershed Coordinator. Due to a strong urge to travel she completed her contract with SWCC and headed out to teach English in Taiwan. Neal and Shannon spent three years travelling and teaching in Asia before returning to Canada with a new perspective on the environment and with a new appreciation for open spaces they found a fitting job and lifestyle at the Antelope Creek Habitat Development Area.