2014 speaker information
Adams, Gerry
406D Plant Sciences Hall Lincoln University Lincoln, NE 68583 (402) 472-2897 [email protected] Gerry is a plant pathologist that specializes in diseases of trees and forests but has also worked in nursery, greenhouse, Christmas tree, melon, cotton, and landscape plant diseases. He has worked as a plant pathologist in Alaska, California, Oregon, Michigan and Nebraska and spent 25 years at Michigan State University prior to moving to Nebraska. Adams, Gretel & Steve 3555 Watkins Road Columbus, Ohio 43232 (614) 361-5102 [email protected] www.oursunnymeadows.com Steve and Gretel Adams of Sunny Meadows Flower Farm grow specialty cut flowers on 6 acres in Columbus, OH. They provide flowers for grocery stores, florists, wholesalers, 3 farmer's markets a week, and create beautiful floral designs for weddings. In addition, they have a line called Gretel's Handcrafted which features soap, salve, lip balm, and a men's line of grooming products. Anderson, Joshua Joshua "Tomato Boss" Anderson is the farm manager of Boys Grow and is a 5th generation Missouri farmer who has grown crops ranging from apples to zucchini in every climate between the African Sahel to the Slopes of the Sierras. Currently Joshua is responsible not only for the crops but the cultivation and "agri-cation" of the organizations' socially and ecologically driven young farmers. Barden, Dr. Charles 2021 Throckmorton-HFRR, Kansas State University Manhattan, KS 66506 (785) 532-1444 [email protected] www.hfrr.ksu.edu Dr. Charles Barden has worked for K-State Research and Extension since 1998. He grew up in Rhode Island, working in his grandfather’s apple orchard, which began using the pick-your-own system back in the 1970’s. He saw a customer base, and as a teenager began raising pumpkins, gourds and sunflowers to sell to the apple pickers. He currently oversees the K-State Master Gardener vegetable trial program. He earned his Ph.D. from Penn State, his Master’s degree from Virginia Tech, and his B.S. degree from the University of Rhode Island. Broz, Bob 205 Agricultural Engineering University of Missouri Columbia, MO 65211 (573) 882-0085 [email protected] Bob has a background in agriculture production and education. He has been with the University of Missouri Extension Water Quality program for over 20 years. Browning, Sarah 444 Cherrycreek Road, Suite A Lincoln, NE 68528 (402) 441-7180 [email protected] http://lancaster.unl.edu As a Horticulture Extension Educator for the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Sarah Browning helps Nebraska fruit & vegetable growers with the diagnosis of insect and disease problems, and provides training to increase their knowledge of food safety issues related to fresh produce reducing the risk of microbial contamination during production, harvest and transport. Byers, Patrick MU Extension – Green County 2400 S Scenic Avenue Springfield, MO 65807 (417) 881-8909 [email protected] Patrick is Regional Horticulture Specialist with the Greene County office of University of Missouri Extension. His educational background includes an associate degree from the University of Nebraska, a bachelor’s degree University of Missouri, and a Master’s degree from the University of Arkansas, all in horticulture. Job experience includes 3 years at the University of Arkansas Fruit Substation and 18 years as Fruit Grower Advisor at the MSU State Fruit Experiment Station in Mountain Grove. His current position of regional horticulture specialist with MU Extension includes outreach programming for commercial and home horticulture in the 16-county southwest Missouri region. Clark, Kerry UMC Bradford Research Center 4968 Rangeline Rd. Columbia, MO 65201 (573) 884-7945 [email protected] http://aes.missouri.edu/bradford/research/organic/ Kerry Clark is a senior research specialist at the University of Missouri Bradford Research Center. Her research examines the effects of agricultural management practices on soil health. She is coordinator of a 16-city educational workshop series on soil health that will travel through Missouri in 2014. Clements, Jon 393 Sabin St Belchertown, Massachusetts 01007 (417) 478-7219 [email protected] http://umassfruit.com Jon Clements is an Extension Educator at the University of Massachusetts Amherst specializing in tree fruit. Previously he worked at the University of Vermont as a Research Technician, and at Michigan State University as Berrien County Extension Horticulture Agent. Jon's interests include commercial tree fruit production, integrated pest management, and applications to help with orchard management. Jon has traveled many places to learn more about modern orchard management, including New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Holland, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. Conrad, Ross PO Box 443 Middlebury, Vermont 05753 (802) 349-4279 [email protected] http://dancingbeegardens.com/ Ross Conrad learned his craft from the late Charles Mraz, world renowned beekeeper and promoter of apitherapy, and Charlies’ son Bill. Conrad is a former president of the Vermont Beekeeper's Association, a regular contributor to Bee Culture - The Magazine of American Beekeeping, and author of Natural Beekeeping: Organic Approaches To Modern Apiculture published by Chelsea Green. Ross has given bee related presentations and led organic beekeeping workshops and classes throughout North America for many years. His beekeeping business, Dancing Bee Gardens, supplies friends, neighbors, with honey and candles among other bee related products, and provides bees for Vermont apple pollination in spring. Counts, Heather and Buck 91 NE 600 Warrensburg, Missouri 64093 (517) 214-0927 or (660) 624-1054 [email protected] www.buckeye-acres.com Buck & Heather own and operate Buckeye Acres Produce, a small fruit and vegetable farm located north of Warrensburg. They pride themselves in producing high quality, fresh, local produce for their customers. They raise strawberries, blackberries, cherries and a large variety of vegetables. They operate a CSA involving over 50 local families and sell produce from the farm and at the local farmers market. Agritourism is an important component of the farm through u-pick strawberries and blackberries, along with their fall harvest festival and pumpkin patch each October. Duffner, Paul USDA Service Center 1711 Boggs Creek Road Jefferson City, MO 65101 (573) 893-5188 [email protected] www.usda.gov Highlight Paul grew up on a corn/soybean farm in central Illinois and holds a B.S. in Plant Industries from Southern Illinois University and a M.S. in Agronomy from the University of Illinois. He was a Sales Representative with DuPont AG Products for 25 years in NE Arkansas and NW Missouri. He joined USDA/NRCS at Macon, Missouri in 2002 as an Integrated Pest Management Specialist and currently serves on the Area 2 Staff at Jefferson City. One of his responsibilities is the EQIP Seasonal High Tunnel offering for Missouri. Egel, Daniel S. 4369 N Purdue Road Vincennes, Indiana 47591 (812)886-0198 [email protected] https://ag.purdue.edu/btny/Extension/Pages/VegetablePathology.aspx Dan is the vegetable plant pathologist for Indiana. In addition to directing the vegetable disease extension program for Indiana, Dan is the lead author for the annual Midwest Vegetable Production Guide for Commercial Growers. Recent research efforts have concentrated on management methods of Fusarium wilt of watermelon and fungicide resistance in strains of Didymella bryoniae causing gummy stem blight of cucurbits. Dan has been involved in efficacy testing of numerous fungicides in various cucurbits as well as tomatoes. Dan is a member of the Botany and Plant Pathology Department of Purdue University and is located in Vincennes at the center of cucurbit production in Indiana. Ellingsworth, Alicia 4223 Gibbs Road Kansas City, MO 66106 (913) 991-2595 [email protected] www.cultivatekc.org Alicia has been the farm manager at Cultivate Kansas City's Gibbs Road Farm for five years. On one cultivated acre the urban farm grows 25,000+ pounds of certified organic produce annually; trains apprentice farmers and maintains yearly sales of over $100,000. Cultivate KC is a 501(c)3 non-profit growing food, farmers and community in the city. Emig, Rachael Rachel is the Agriculture Education Instructor and FFA Advisor at Independence Junior Senior High School. Since beginning her teaching career in Independence, she has helped to establish the agriculture education program and FFA chapter after a 50 year absence. Working alongside the Food Service and Farm to School program has been a major priority thus far and has proven to be a valuable tool in educating students about healthy and sustainable food production. Fahrmeier, Lorin 1106 W Main Blue Springs, MO 64015 (816) 655-6015 [email protected] Lorin works for University of Missouri-Extension as the Missouri Farm to Institution project coordinator and serves as the Missouri lead with the National Farm to School Network. Lorin is also the project coordinator of a local food aggregation effort in the Kansas City area to help give producers more resources for selling their farm products to schools and other institutions. Foster, Dr. Rick Department of Entomology Purdue University W Lafayette, Indiana 47907 (765) 494-9572 [email protected] http://extension.entm.purdue.edu/veg/commercial/index.html Dr. Foster is an Extension Entomologist with responsibility for insects affecting fruits and vegetables. He works extensively on pests of sweet corn, melons, and apples, as well as numerous other fruits and vegetables. He is co-editor of the book Vegetable Insect Management. Franzenburg, Ann 6925 19th Avenue Van Horne, Iowa 52346 (319) 228-8758 [email protected] www.pheasantrunfarmiowa.com Ann joined her husband Eric full-time on the farm in 2007 where they work together in their diversified operation that combines the more traditional crops of corn and soybeans with alternative crops such as produce, cut flowers, and medicinal herbs. Many of their alternative crops are grown in greenhouses or a high tunnel. Prior to becoming a farmer, Ann taught English and French at the high school and community college level. Gold, Michael 203 ABNR Bldg., University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 (573) 884-1448 [email protected] www.centerforagroforestry.org Dr. Michael Gold is the Associate Director of UMCA and a Research Professor for the Department of Forestry. He also directs the center's Outreach program. Goodson, Douglas 1511 NE Parvin Rd. Kansas City, MO 64116 (816) 453-4926 [email protected] www.ams.usda.gov Douglas currently works for the USDA, AMS,FVP,SCI Division and I'm stationed in the Kansas City, MO. Office. He has been a fruit and vegetable inspector/grader and a food safety auditor for 22 years. Gordon, John Jr. [email protected] www.boysgrow.com www.facebook.com/BoysGrow John "The Gentleman Farmer" Gordon Jr. is the Executive Director and Founder of BoysGrow. He is a 1st generation Farmer and s strong believer of the positive impact Agriculture can have on Youth. Growing up in a small family business and having a youth education background the seed of boysgrow was implemented and planted in 2010. |
Grabner, Jennifer
809 S. Henry Clay Blvd. Ashland, MO 65010 (573) 268-8431 [email protected] http://sblearninggarden.org Jennifer is the executive director and co-founder of the Southern Boone Learning Garden. She and her husband have 3 children. With degrees in wildlife & forest ecology, ten years as a research botanist with the Missouri Department of Conservation, & 4 years running a winter vegetable farm, Jenny has combined her passions into what she views as the perfect job! What began in 2007 as a small after-school club has grown into a grant & community-supported nonprofit organization now providing high quality school-day and after-school garden-based outdoor education & resources for all of the students, teachers, and families in southern Boone County, Missouri. Graznak, Liz 17199 Happy Hollow Road Jamestown, MO 65046 (660) 849-2430 [email protected] www.happyhollowfarm-mo.com Liz is entering her fifth year of farming at Happy Hollow Farm, a certified organic farm in northern Moniteau Co. I operate a 80 member CSA and sell nearly year round at the Columbia Farmers Market. I also offer an extensive 7 month long apprenticeship training program during the main part of the growing season. Hahn, Gabriel 1120 Trampe Ave. St. Louis, Missouri 63138 (314) 566.8643 [email protected] www.seedsofhopefarm.org While earning a Bachelor degree in English, Gabriel Hahn began work in organic farming in 2007. An immersion in rural permaculture and volunteering in South America for half of 2009 roused empathy for people in dire situations and spawned a closer look at the food system and ecological state of the U.S. After a year growing exclusively for a local cafe, he became manager of Seeds of Hope Farm, treating community farming as a conduit for applying nature’s principles to improve a social atmosphere. Hail, Robbins 12595 NE 50 Road Osceola, Missouri 64776 (417) 292-5894 [email protected] Robbins Hail, along with her husband Jim, owns Bear Creek Farms in Osceola, MO. with 15 acres in Certified Organic produce. After many years of selling at farmers' markets and to restaurants, BCF has switched entirely to wholesale marketing. Their customers include Whole Foods Markets, Mama Jeans Market, Ball Foods and Door to Door Organics. Hammer, R. David E2409 Lafferre Hall, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 (573) 882-8245 [email protected] http://engineering.missouri.edu/soil Dr. Hammer has been a professional soil scientist for 40 years. He has taught courses in soil genesis, soil classification, forest soils, soil geomorphology, urban land use and watershed management. His research has investigated the above topics, as well as surface mine reclamation, urban storm water runoff and ecosystem services. He supervises the University of Missouri Soil Health, Soil Characterization and Geotechnical Analyses Laboratory and currently is on the faculty in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Hammond, Vaughn 5985 G Road Nebraska City, NE 68410 (402) 874-9231 [email protected] www.kimmel.unl.edu Extension Educator-Specialty Crops located in Nebraska City, NE at the University of Nebraska Kimmel Education & Research Center which is a public/private partnership between UNL and the Kimmel Orchard and Vineyard Foundation. The facility is located on a 90 acre working orchard. Vaughn's work is directed towards tree fruits, small fruits, market vegetable and local food systems in general. Hanson, Shane 4000 NE 33rd Terrace Kansas City, MO 64117 (816) 997-9072 [email protected] www.doortodoororganics.com I am the Location Director for Door to Door Organics here in Kansas City. We empower people to eat Good Food, food that has a positive impact on our health, communities and the environment. Our service includes a wide selection of the most amazing organic, local, humanely raised and fair-trade food we can find. Harvel, Sherri 4223 Gibbs Road Kansas City, KS 66106 (913) 713-9264 [email protected] http://www.cultivatekc.org Team member Cultivate Kansas City and Owner of Root Deep Urban Heldenbrand, Raymond 11393 State Highway 6 Winston, MO 64689 (660) 749-5673 Raymond has been keeping bees for over 17 years, and brings a wealth of practical beekeeping skills and ideas to the conference. A resident of Daviess County, Missouri, he is well-known by local residents for his enthusiasm to help new beekeepers, and willingness to capture swarms and deal with nuisance bee colonies when homeowners call. He is also a Master Gardener and serves on the Daviess County Extension Council. Raymond is retired from General Motors, and the U.S. Army Reserves, where he attained the rank of Command Sergeant Major. Hemwall, Angela 8810 South Route N Columbia, MO 65203 [email protected] Angela Hemwall and her husband, Rob Hemwall, have operated Pierpont Farms, a 34 acre farm located 15 minutes south of Columbia, MO, since 2004. They grow 2-3 acre of vegetables using organic methods and much of it in high tunnels. Markets have included CSA, Columbia Farmer's Market, local restaurants, grocery stores and institutions. Henry, Dean and Judy 62785 280 St. Nevada, Iowa 50201 515-382-5138 [email protected] www.BerryPatchFarm.com 140 acres, since1970, PYO Sby, raspberries, blueberries, apples, pumpkins, currants, gooseberry, tart cherries. Family operation that sells to csa, farmers markets, and restaurants. Hopper, Charlie 1616 Missouri Boulevard Jefferson City, MO 65109 (573) 522-4170 [email protected] http://mda.mo.gov Charlie Hopper is a Marketing Specialist for the Missouri Department of Agriculture and AgriMissouri. Originally from Maryville, he grew up in the horticulture industry. Charlie spent seventeen years in Kansas City as a landscape designer and working in community development. He also spent seven years in Appalachia working in rural development and sustainable land use where he had an organic vegetable operation on the side. Now you can find Charlie promoting both rural and urban agriculture throughout the state. When not working directly with farmers, markets and community groups, you can often find him street preaching the gospel of local food at farmers' markets and workshops. Hunter, Liberty 509 E Broadway Ashland, MO 65010 [email protected] Liberty is an organic farmer in Mid-Missouri. She has been farming for the past 5 years and has co-owned a certified organic vegetable farm in Ashland, MO for the past 3 years. The farm has consistently produced over 50 different types of vegetables every year and uses CSA, restaurants, grocery stores, and a farmers market to sell their produce Hygnstrom, Dr. Scott School of Natural Resources University of Nebraska-Lincoln 415 Hardin Hall Lincoln, NE 68583 (402) 472-6822 [email protected] www.icwdm.org Scott E. Hygnstrom (Hing-strum) Professor, Extension Wildlife Specialist School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln PhD University of Wisconsin-Madison MS UW-Stevens Point BS UW-River Falls Created the Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management in 1996 and extension Community of Practice in Wildlife Damage Management in 2008 Lead editor for Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage and co-editor for National Wildlife Control Training Program Published over 200 peer-reviewed and peer-edited papers in wildlife, wildlife diseases, and wildlife damage management. I served as Chair of The Wildlife Society’s Wildlife Damage Management Working Group, 1996-98 and Wildlife Disease Working Group, 2009-11. James, Kimberly SDSU Plant Science Box 2140C SNP 254D Brookings, South Dakota 57268 (605) 688-5553 [email protected] Kimberly James has been with South Dakota State University for 8 years as an Instructor of Horticulture and is the Program Director for the SDSU Student Farm. She received her MS in Horticulture from ISU and is a PG graduate of Longwood Gardens in PA. Ms. James has also worked as a greenhouse grower and in public gardens with educational programs and operates a small local foods business called Foodtopia Farms. Her passions are local foods, education, and promoting a sustainable way of life in South Dakota. Kelly, Teresa 4223 Gibbs Road Kansas City, KS 66106 (913) 944-7655 [email protected] http://www.cultivatekc.org Teresa Kelly has extensive experience operating market gardens, horticulture research projects, selling retail at a farmer’s market and wholesale. She served on the Technical Committee for OCIA in Montana. Since 2011, she has worked for Cultivate Kansas City on the Get Growing KC Team where she provides technical assistance to urban farmers developing farm based businesses and has been instrumental in the development of the Get Growing Water initiative. Teresa successfully led the way to the creation of a special permit for the keeping of backyard hens in Roeland Park, KS where she was recently elected to the City Council. Kirk, Steven Lincoln University Cooperative Extension, 900 Chestnut St, 302 Allen Hall Jefferson City, MO 65101 (573) 681-5521 [email protected] Steven Kirk has been the Field Supervisor for the Commercial Vegetable Production Program at Lincoln University Cooperative Extension’s George Washington Carver Farm since September 2009. His specialties include chili pepper, pumpkin, seedless-watermelon, companion cover-cropping and high tunnel tomato production. Lawson, Vince 111 North Street Fruitland, Iowa 52749 (563) 262-8787 [email protected] http://www.ag.iastate.edu/farms Vince Lawson is a Superintendent for Iowa State University stationed at the Muscatine Island Research Farm, Fruitland, Iowa. Responsibilities include managing the farm, conducting agricultural research, supporting faculty research projects, and interacting with area producers. Vince has been in his current position since 1982 and has developed a strong research interest in commercial vegetable production with emphasis on cucurbit, potato and sweet corn crops. Lee, Rusty 39358 Pin Oak Church Road Truxton, Missouri 63381 (636) 5979921 [email protected] Lee Farms, LLC is a family operation, providing local food for the greater St Louis area through a variety of wholesale & retail venues. Food items include beef, pork, & chicken, with primary focus on vegetable production which began in 1999. Long, Craig 63800 730 Rd Auburn, NE 68305 (402) 414-1999 [email protected] Facebook: Auburn Community Gardens Auburn Community Gardens is a 1.2 acre vegetable garden that has just finished its fifth year of production. The all-volunteer garden's mission is to involve the community in gardening while addressing food insecurity issues locally, regionally & globally. The vegetables grown are directly donated to pantries and local persons in need but the vast majorities are sold at the local farmer's market with the majority of the proceeds donated to area hunger related projects. Marr, Dr. Chuck 1509 Westwind Dr. Manhattan, KS 66503 (785) 410-6421 [email protected] Professor (Emeritus) of Vegetable Crops at Kansas State University. Conducted vegetable trials and extension programs at K-State for 37 years prior to retiring in 2006. Matson, Beth PO Box 532 Oakland, Iowa 51560 (420) 6592752 or (712) 355-2034 [email protected] www.neverendingharvest.com Roger & Beth Matson, owners of Never Ending Harvest, was started over 15 years ago. It is a family owned and operated sustainable farming business. Our 20 acre farm is in Western Iowa where we have 3 greenhouses in fall, winter and spring production. We also have a mix of livestock and raise alfalfa. The farm is Certified Naturally Grown. We grow using the old ways according to biodynamic and organic standards. In addition to their greenhouse business, they are producers of educational videos on commercial and/or home garden production. |
Meyer, Lani
35230 W 135th Street Olathe, Kansas 66061 [email protected] Lani Meyer is a graduate student pursuing a M.S. in Horticulture with an emphasis in Urban Food Systems at K-State Olathe. A Kansas native, she received a B.S. in Horticulture Science from K-State in 2006. Since then, she worked in Georgia, Vermont and Kansas City gaining a variety of experiences in environmental education, school gardening and nutrition programming, and sustainable and organic agriculture. This fall she returned to study at K-State and is assisting Dr. Cary Rivard’s research in tomato grafting and high tunnel production including post-harvest quality analysis with Dr. Eleni Pliankoni. Miles, Dr. Carol Washington State University Mount Vernon, Washington 98273 (360) 848-6150 [email protected] http://vegetables.wsu.edu ; http://maritimefruit.wsu.edu Carol Miles is an Associate Professor in the Department of Horticulture at Washington State University, and is the Vegetable Specialist located at the WSU Mount Vernon Northwestern Washington Research and Extension Center. She specializes in vegetable crop production and has a strong interest in alternative crops and organic production. Carol has her Ph.D. in vegetable crops from Cornell University. Millsap, Curtis 6593 North Emu Lane Springfield, MO 65803 (417) 839-0847 [email protected] www.millsapfarms.com Curtis and Sarah Millsap, along with their nine children and several apprentices, operate Millsap Farms, a 20-acre diversified farm in Springfield MO. They grow 2 to 3 acres of vegetables, with 10,000s.f. under plastic, using organic practices, for sale through a year-round 85 member CSA, farmers' market, and grocery stores. They host a weekly pizza night in their wood-fired pizza ovens, and they have a recently constructed Chinese-style high tunnel. The Millsaps have been farming full-time for 6 years. Nair, Dr. Ajay 145 Horticulture Hall, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011 (515) 294-7080 [email protected] www.extension.iastate.edu/vegetablelab Dr. Nair is an Assistant Professor working in the area of Sustainable Vegetable Production in the Department of Horticulture at Iowa State University. The focus of his research, extension, and education program is on cover cropping, nutrient management, soil amendments and health, and season extension strategies in vegetable production. He also has an interest in local food production and works on production aspects and techniques needed to meet the rising demand locally grown produce. Neier, Evelyn 9822 Harvest Court Wichita, KS 67212 (785) 410-3760 [email protected] www.kansascommunitygardens.org Evelyn Neier is an Associate Specialist for K-State Research & Extension in the Department of 4-H Youth Development. Evelyn works with youth gardening and plant science projects. She is a project coordinator for the Kansas Community Garden Grants project, a joint venture of K-State Research & Extension and the Kansas Health Foundation. Evelyn received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Horticulture from Kansas State University. Prior to joining the university staff she worked in the retail floral industry. She chaired the steering committee for the Downing Children’s Garden, a one acre expansion garden at Botanica in Wichita. Oerly, Gary PO Box 658 Jefferson City, MO 65102 Gary Oerly is currently employed with Farm Bureau Insurance as a Commercial Underwriting Supervisor. He has worked in commercial insurance for approximately 27 years handling Commercial Auto, Commercial Property and Casualty, Umbrella Excess Liability and Professional Liability. Piñero, Dr. Jaime Lincoln University Cooperative Extension, 900 Chestnut St. Allen Hall 212 Jefferson City, MO 65101 (573) 681-5522 [email protected] http://www.lincolnu.edu/programs-and-projects/ipm Dr. Jaime C. Piñero currently works for Lincoln University as an Assistant Professor / State Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Specialist. IPM is a comprehensive and environment-friendly approach to solving pest problems that relies on a combination of common-sense preventive practices. Examples include the use of cultural practices such as sanitation, crop rotations, trap crops, and the creation of habitat for natural enemies and pollinators. For the last three years, Dr. Piñero has been evaluating the use of trap crops as an effective way of minimizing insect pest damage to vegetables with a focus on cucurbits with excellent results. He also has a state-wide Extension responsibility for all aspects of IPM in vegetable and small fruit production. Rivard, Cary 35230 W 135th St. Olathe, KS 66061 (785) 320-3033 [email protected] www.hightunnels.org Cary Rivard was born and raised near Kansas City, MO where his family owns and operates a small, retail greenhouse business. He received his B.S. in agricultural sciences and biology from Truman State University in Kirksville, MO. Cary completed his M.S. and Ph.D. in Plant Pathology at NC State University as a member of the Integrated Disease Management Lab. His current research projects include work with annual strawberry systems, no-till pumpkin production and the propagation and utilization of grafted tomatoes. He also has experience working and conducting research in high tunnels. Rydberg, Beth 4507 44th Place Des Moines, Iowa 50310 (515) 314-2114 [email protected] Beth Rydberg graduated from Iowa State University with a major in family services. As an active 4-H member, she did extensive work in methods of food preservation and always helped in the family garden. Her city garden though, always started great in May but by august was a patch of weeds. Fast forward to January of 2011, she attended Hope for the Hungry, a conference focusing on the needs of the hungry in Polk County. Many in her congregation at Urban Heights Covenant were intrigued with the idea of a community garden and when she brought back the idea of a garden to benefit the food pantry, Urban Harvest was born. Beth became a Polk County Master Gardener in 2012 and has worked with various youth organizations as they volunteer in the garden. Beth works at Disability Rights Iowa as an advocate for children with disabilities. Sanford, Scott University of Wisconsin-Madison 460 Henry Mall Madison, WI 53706 (608) 262-5062 [email protected] www.bse.wisc.edu Scott Sanford is a Senior Outreach Specialist in the department of Biological Systems Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He manages the Rural Energy Program which looks for ways to reduce energy use in agriculture and rural businesses, provide educational materials on energy efficiency and promotes energy generation from renewable energy sources. Programming areas includes irrigation, dairy farm, greenhouses, crop storage, mint distillation, grain drying, solar energy, wind power, biogas, energy from biomass and maple syrup production. He has authored 20 extension bulletins, written many articles and made numerous presentations on a wide variety of energy related topics that affect agriculture. Strang, Dr John Dept. of Horticulture N-318 Ag Sci. North University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40546 (859)257-5685 [email protected] Dr. John Strang is a Fruit and Vegetable Extension Specialist in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Kentucky. He has been involved in working with Kentucky fruit and vegetable growers in establishing new operations as well as in advising them on some of the latest crop production practices and pest control alternatives. Recent applied research in the fruit area involves thornless blackberry and blueberry irrigation, as well as dwarf sour cherry and blueberry variety evaluations. Thellman, Scott Juniper Hill Farms, LC 1547 N 2000 Road Lawrence, KS 66044 (785) 840-4892 E: [email protected] Scott Thellman is a senior at Iowa State University studying agricultural business, agronomy, and agricultural entrepreneurship. As a first generation farmer and owner of Juniper Hill Farms, a diversified forage and vegetable farm in Lawrence, Kansas, Scott has passion for agriculture, post harvest handling, and food systems. Currently, Scott is working to develop a sustainable business model for local and regional food distribution. After graduation, Scott plans to return to Lawrence to expand his agricultural operation, provide agricultural consulting services, and develop innovative local and regional food systems. Thomas, Andrew 14548 Highway H Mt. Vernon, MO 65712 (417) 466-0065 [email protected] Andrew Thomas is Research Assistant Professor in Horticulture / Agroforestry at the University of Missouri's Southwest Research Center at Mt. Vernon. He received his B.S. degree in Horticulture from the University of Missouri, and his M.S. in Agronomy from Iowa State University. Before coming to the Southwest Center in 1996, Andy held a variety of jobs, working for two agricultural biotech companies in California and Wisconsin, the Center for Plant Conservation at Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis, and the Rwandan Agricultural Research Institute as a Peace Corps Volunteer. He has also consulted internationally on a variety of horticultural projects. Andy enjoys working with a wide variety of horticultural crops and crop production techniques. His research projects at the Southwest Center have included black walnuts, pecans, elderberries, grapes, apples, asparagus, wildflowers, medicinal herbs, persimmons, pawpaws, hickories, prairie restoration, and a solar-heated greenhouse Touzeau, Leslie 4968 Rangeline Road Columbia, MO 65201 (573) 884-7945 [email protected] http://aes.missouri.edu/bradford/ Leslie Touzeau is a research specialist at the University of Missouri's Bradford Research Center where she studies organic vegetable production in no-till systems. She is the farm manager for Tigers for Community Agriculture, a group of MU students that are interested in sustainable agriculture and grow vegetables to supply the campus dining halls. She is also the co-owner of The Salad Garden, a certified organic vegetable farm in Ashland, MO that consistently sells over 60 varieties of produce to area restaurants, a farmers market, and through a CSA subscription program. Trinklein, Rich 1021 Stadium Boulevard Jefferson City, MO 65109 (573) 635-4893 [email protected] I began growing vegetables as a 4-H project in 1959. I worked my way through college by growing and selling tomatoes. After college I taught high school math for 35 years and assisted my younger brothers in forming Trinklein Brothers Greenhouses. We now produce and market about 200,000 lb.of hydroponic greenhouse tomatoes annually, as well as a wide range of bedding plants and flowers. Wall, Gretchen Cornell University Department of Food Science 186 Stocking Hall Ithaca, NY 14853 (607) 255-6806 [email protected] http://producesafetyalliance.cornell.edu/ Gretchen is the coordinator for the Produce Safety Alliance (PSA), a cooperative agreement between the USDA, FDA, and Cornell University. The PSA is focused on developing a science-based, on-farm food safety education and training program for fresh fruit and vegetable farmers to meet the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act’s (FSMA) Proposed Rule for Produce Safety. Gretchen received her Master of Science degree in the Interdisciplinary Food Science/Food Safety Program at Colorado State University and her Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science from Pennsylvania State University. Weber, Jessica Food Service Director and Farm to School Coordinator for Independence CSD- Jessica is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu of Chicago with a degree in Pastry & Baking and has a fascination with anything outdoors. She started her position with Independence CSD in August 2011. With her husband, Eric, and daughter, Emma, they also call Independence home. Wilson, Jacob Lincoln University Jefferson City, MO 65101 (573)681-5591 [email protected] www.lincolnu.edu Extension associate for LU IPM program. |