06-29-20 Announcing Farm Foundation’s Young Agri-Food Leaders and Young Farmer Accelerators

The Young Agri-Food Leaders Network is comprised of 10 highly accomplished young leaders in the agri-food and agri-business sector selected to participate in a year-long series of interactive learning and networking experiences, focused on gaining a deeper understanding of the food and agriculture value chain. This program aims to help young professionals build a strong, enduring network of peers in business, farming and government through sponsored attendance at events, virtual conversations, and participation in exclusive learning and networking opportunities.

We welcome:

Andrew Uden, Lincoln, Nebraska: Co-Founder and President, AgVision International

Emily Hennessee, Washington, DC: Policy Coordinator, The Good Food Institute

Emily Zakowski, Sacramento, California: Environmental Scientist, California Department of Food and Agriculture

Erin FitzPatrick, St. Louis, Missouri: Vice President, Rabo Agrifinance

Fabiola Perez, Moline, Illinois: High Value Crop Specialist, John Deere

Michael Zorger, Washington, DC: Senior Associate, The Cohen Group

Nicole Ledoux, Boston, Massachusetts: Co-Founder and CEO, 88 Acres

Stephanie Westhelle, Washington, DC: Development Manager, Sustainability & Partnerships, Fairtrade America

Sylvester Miller, II, Memphis, Tennessee: Sr. Supply Chain Program Manager, Indigo Ag

Tristan Hudak, Sacramento, California: Vice President, Ag BioTech Inc. and Director of New Business Development, Ag Ploutos, Co. Ltd.

We are also pleased to announce that 15 young farmers, from a diversity of operations, have been selected for Farm Foundation’s Young Farmer Accelerator program. This program, aimed at helping young farmers grow their knowledge, experience and network, will help to accelerate their careers and contacts through interactive learning and networking experiences, focused on gaining a deeper understanding of a wide variety of agriculture, agribusiness and government issues.

We welcome:

Aaron Clark, Warren County, Indiana: Caretaker, Cloverleaf Farm

Alexis Mena, Brooklyn, New York: Co-Founder, Lead Farmer, Universe City

Brad Stinson, San Jose, California: West Coast QA/QC Field Supervisor, Duda Farm Fresh Foods, Inc.

Erin Galloway, Campbell County, Wyoming: Owner of Our Wyoming Life and Co-Director and Co-Founder of Edible Prairie Project

Erin Hargrove, Henry County, Kentucky: Co-Manager and Farmer, Boxcar Acres

Georgina Sarpong, Providence, Rhode Island: Co-Owner and Farmer, Abundance Farm

Gracie Danner, Muscatine County, Iowa- Co-Owner/Manager, Danner Family Grain

Jess Daily, Fulton County, Indiana: Operations Manager, Mainstay Farming Partnership

Larna Schnitker, Montgomery County, Missouri: Farmer, Schnitker Farms

Luke Gosse, Black Hawk County, Iowa: Chief Operating Officer, Blue Diamond Farming Company

Michael Hill, Lake County, Florida: CEO/Owner, H&A Farms

Stan Usery, Jr., Limestone County, Alabama: Owner, Usery Consulting, Inc.

Tiffany Bailey, Sarasota and Manatee Counties, Florida: President and Owner, Bayside Sod Inc. and Honeyside Farms

In living out our vision to build a future for farmers, our communities and our world, Farm Foundation offers a suite of multi-stakeholder and intergenerational programs to accelerate the next generation of agricultural leaders. Farm Foundation’s most established program is our Round Table, an invitation only group of established leaders across the food and agriculture sector. The Young Farmer Accelerator Network and Young-Agri Food Leaders complement our Round Table program and expand our suite of next generation programs, including our Cultivator, Agricultural Scholars and Congressional Fellows programs. Farm Foundation is excited to provide a space for leaders in food and agriculture to connect and accelerate practical solutions for agriculture. To learn more, visit www.farmfoundation.org.