Ms. Lonson owns and operates Canzelle Alpacas, a working ranch in the Carpinterla foothills. An advocate of nurturing children, she is a former director of a special needs preschool in Melbourne, Australia, and is passionate about helping children. She spent 20 years teaching first grade, gifted and autistic children, and early childhood classes at Santa Barbara City College. She holds a degree from the University of Cape Town, and received an MA in special education from Arizona State University.