Ava Nora Cocking
community lands steward
Ava was born in Moscow and raised adventuring her giant backyard of the Moscow Mountain forests where she lived in her childhood home. Exploring the Mountain either by foot or cross-country ski are some of her most formative experiences. She holds vivid memories of being a fifth grader on field trips to the magical Idler's Rest and then begging her mom to take her back there as often as possible. Her summers included trips to the Big Lost River Range, joining her then University of Idaho professor father, Peter Isaacson on many of his geology adventures. These early experiences instilled in her a deep love for the natural world, later developing into a deep passion for environmental protection.
Ava graduated from the University of Idaho with a BS in Environmental Science and a minor in Conservation Social Sciences in 2014. Shortly thereafter, she completed her Masters of Science in Natural Resources from the McCall Outdoor Science School. Ava landed at MOSS after two AmeriCorps terms with Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute and 4-H Youth Development. After spending several years in environmental education, she sought to revisit her roots and expand her environmental preservation ethos. This passion brought her to Idaho Rivers United in Boise where she was a champion for salmon, and keeping the Salmon River contaminant free. Her wandering heart then brought her from the rivers of Idaho, to the remote rivers and mountains of Northwest Montana where she worked for the Forest Service out of Troy, Montana for two seasons. On the reforestation crew, she oversaw planting contracts, fought forest fires, and conducted reforestation surveys. After one more year with the Forest Service on the Payette National Forest, Ava found herself in love, not with a place, but with a man.
In 2022, Ava married third generation Latah County farmer Nathan Cocking. They recently celebrated the birth of their daughter, Evelyn. Ava feels blessed to be back on the Palouse with her strong conservation experiences to guide her in preserving her home. She is beyond grateful for the opportunity to work with the Palouse Land Trust and preserve what makes this area remarkable for her children, someday fourth generation Latah County farmers. Ava enjoys spending time with her family anywhere, but especially anywhere outside. Ava works to take her daughter on as many outdoor adventures as possible, even if that is just a tour of their flower or vegetable gardens. She enjoys downhill skiing and cross-country skiing over the rolling Palouse hills, hiking forested areas nearby, writing, open-water swimming when she can, Sunday afternoon drives, cooking meals with her husband and any time spent with close family and friends.