Halter, a global ag tech company providing virtual fencing to cattle producers, announced that it has added significant depth and experience with additions to its U.S. team. After launching in the U.S. earlier this year, Halter is now positioned to extend its presence as it expands delivery of its technology.

“We’re excited about what lies ahead in the U.S. market and how we can bring tremendous benefit to ranchers,” said Craig Piggott, Halter founder and chief executive officer. “With the new team we have established, we’re poised to grow our role as the world’s largest virtual fencing company.”

More than 250,000 cattle wear solar-powered Halter collars across the U.S., New Zealand and Australia. The collars and Halter app are connected via solar-powered towers on the ranch. Ranchers can establish virtual fences anywhere on their land through the Halter app. Cows are trained to respond to the collar’s guidance cues as they approach the virtual fence.

The Halter system is designed to fit the needs of the ranch to get the most from pasture, regardless of the terrain and surroundings, the company said.

Halter has added the following individuals to its U.S. team:

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Wells is leading Halter’s expansion into the U.S. market as country manager, drawing on a leadership foundation built during his time as a U.S. Marine. He will be focused on establishing a robust market presence, building a top-tier sales and customer success team and advancing Halter’s mission of transforming cattle management with cutting-edge technology. Wells has a decade of experience in high-growth roles at companies like Duda, DoorDash and Centrica and a proven track record of building teams, driving market penetration, and fostering innovation.

Colbern, as U.S. strategic marketing lead, will be directing marketing efforts across the U.S. to help scale product and brand. Colbern has experience growing early-stage tech startups and spent more than four years embedded at Google with an agency in San Francisco, Calif.

Keating grew up on his family's cow-calf operation in north-central Nebraska. After graduating from the University of Nebraska with a degree in mechanical engineering, he founded his own virtual fencing company to address the challenges he experienced firsthand while growing up on his family’s ranch. He ran the business for five years before joining the team at Halter.

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Harris received her bachelor’s degree in agricultural science from Oregon State University. She brings a strong background in managing client relationships, including as an account manager with Breedr, a cattle management software company.

Eilers grew up in central Texas with a veterinary and ranching background. She attended Texas A&M University and graduated with a degree in agricultural leadership and development, with a minor in animal science.

Koller grew up in Nebraska and comes from a family cow-calf ranch operation. After graduating from the University of Nebraska with a degree in business management, he moved to Denver, Colo., and spent nearly five years working at a tech company.

Based in Boulder, Colo., Pfeller brings a background in ecological research and data analysis with a focus on developing innovative solutions to environmental challenges. She will bring her ecological experience into the agriculture sector, working towards Halter's mission of transforming pasture-based grazing.

“At Halter, we’re committed to building a team and culture that embodies our focus on ranchers and their animals,” Wells said. “Our vision for the U.S. is to foster a culture of collaboration, innovation and excellence. We aim to create a dynamic team that’s solving the challenges facing ranchers today and driving meaningful change for the future of agriculture and sustainability.”

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Halter was founded in 2016 in New Zealand by Craig Piggott. The company’s mission is to enable half of the world's habitable landmass to be more productive and sustainable.

“Halter is unique in the market as we’re the only company dedicated solely to virtual fencing, it’s 100 percent of our product focus, and we have the largest number of collars on cattle globally,” Wells noted. “We know we can provide tremendous value to U.S. ranch families.”