2025 Small Farms Conference Guest Speakers

Chris Adair

Chris Adair earned his bachelor's degree in biology from Purdue University and currently runs the Purdue Student Farm. He works closely with students, faculty, and staff to grow many specialty crops that are used in the farm's CSA production, research, or extension programming.

Linda Adams

Linda Adams is a Purdue Extension Community Wellness Coordinator for Marion County (Indianapolis), serving since 2015. She collaborates with communities to implement sustainable policy, system, and environmental changes that improve health outcomes. Key initiatives include the Bethany Community Gardens, Chin Refugee Training Garden, Southport Park improvements, and pedestrian infrastructure improvements.

A passionate advocate for neighborhoods affected by zoning and city regulations, Linda works closely with local officials to drive positive change. She has built strong, ongoing relationships with the Chin-Burmese Refugee Community, providing support to help them navigate the complexities of American assimilation. Through her work, Linda is committed to fostering a more inclusive, healthier, and thriving environment for all. Living in the Indianapolis area with her husband and five children, Linda balances her family life with her dedication to creating positive, lasting change in her community.

Kevin Allison

Kevin Allison, Marion County SWCD Soil Health Specialist, is dedicated to advancing soil health principles and conservation in small-scale agriculture through education and technical assistance. Collaborating closely with USDA-NRCS, Kevin helps inform and develop technical resources and tools for growers and conservation professionals. His background includes a degree in Environmental Science from Indiana University, service with the U.S. Peace Corps, participation in Indiana's Soil Health Teams, and over a decade of hands-on agricultural experience.

Jim Baughman

Jim Baughman established Freedom Valley Farm in 2010. Freedom Valley Farm is a small market farm producing multiple vegetable crops and mushrooms with low till and organic practices to sell at farmers markets year round. Through out the years we have participated with Purdue University on several studies and projects.

Rachel Beyer

Rachel Beyer started farming in 2009. She has managed a variety of educational and organic produce farms around the Midwest. She has also spent several years working in local food system development for the Purdue Extension Nutrition Program and the City of Bloomington. Some of her favorite projects have included helping to develop the Purdue Student Farm, fundraising to expand the Bedford Community Garden, and facilitating the start-up of the Bloomington Farm Stop Collective. She and her partner started Mavourneen Farm together in 2015. With the help of their amazing team, today they operate a diverse plant nursery and grow a wide variety of certified organic vegetables for a CSA program, farmers’ market, and several farm stop outlets.

Jordan Bohall

Jordan Bohall has dedicated the past five years to building Birdie & The Bees Farm, a Certified Naturally Grown enterprise specializing in vegetables, raw honey, pastured livestock, and handcrafted products. As a first generation farmer, he is committed to regenerative farming practices, and the farm employs no-till methods, multi-species grazing, silvopasture development, and intensive crop rotation, which ensures quality and sustainability in every product.

Katherine Boyles

Katherine has been active in local food systems work in Indianapolis since 2007. She worked for Purdue Extension-Marion County's Urban Agriculture Educator during Indianapolis's ReZone initiative and took part in soliciting and compiling public input on urban agriculture zoning aspects of the first draft. As Food Policy Coordinator for Indianapolis Office of Public Health and Safety, she works with the city's code enforcement department to implement effective procedures to ensure agricultural uses are considered in their processes.

Amanda Bradshaw Burks

Amanda is the Purdue Extension Urban Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator in Vanderburgh County.

Jonas Carpenter

Jonas Carpenter became serious about growing food, climate change and holistic land management after taking a permaculture design course in 2010. This led him to developing a forest garden, starting a plant nursery, doing residential landscaping, gardening education, building and construction work, becoming an organic vegetable grower and starting a farmer owned cooperative grocery and cafe. Since 2015 he and his wife Rachel have built Mavourneen Farm, a certified organic intensive vegetable operation and plant nursery. At this year's conference he will share his perspective on growing organically and takeaways from a collaborative SARE research project utilizing wool pellets as a fertility source.

Wendy Carpenter

Wendy Carpenter is the owner/farmer of Christopher Farm in Randolph County, IN. Christopher farm has 1 1/2 acres of vegetables and cutflowers, certified organic by both the USDA and the Real Organic Project. Wendy started farming more than 30 years ago at a certified organic farm in Loveland, OH. After moving to Randolph County, her production was labeled "grown without synthetic herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers". Finally in 2017 she took the plunge, applying for organic certification. Four years ago Christopher Farm also started an Apprentice Program to train aspiring vegetable flowers.

Axel Cooper

Axel Cooper has been a lifelong culinarian. An Indiana native, he grew up in the rural Harrison County farming community. During an early career in high end food service, he spent 2 years working in Portland Oregon were he became enamored with the small farms that brought their wares in the back doors of restaurants, and returned to the family farm where he spent a decade building up a robust market garden, at one time serving a 25 member CSA, 2 Farmers Markets, and over a dozen high end wholesale accounts.

He now splits his time between supporting the family farm and working with and mentoring middle school aged youths at Community Montessori, where he exploring what it means to inspire subsequent generations.

Kendell Culp

Kendell Culp became vice president of Indiana Farm Bureau in January 2016, but he has served the organization at many different levels.

His history with Farm Bureau started with the Jasper County Farm Bureau Young Farmer committee, followed by service on his county board, the state Young Farmer committee, and as county president, before being elected district director in 2000, a position he held for 12 years.

Culp farms near Rensselaer with his father, his wife Tammy, and their son Brandon. They raise corn, soybeans, and beef cattle and have an independent swine finishing operation.

Culp also has served his state and community in a variety of ways. He was elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 2022 and now represents District 16. In the General Assembly, he serves on the Elections, Energy & Utilities Committee and is vice chair of the Environment Committee.

He served as a Jasper County commissioner for 18 years and is a past president of the Indiana Association of County Commissioners. In addition, he is a past member of the Jasper County drainage board, Northwest Indiana Solid Waste District board, Jasper County community corrections board and the Jasper County economic development board.

Culp has served agriculture in other ways in addition to Farm Bureau. He is a past member of the American Soybean Association board, where he served as director, chaired ASA’s farm policy and crop insurance advocacy team, and served on the SoyPac committee.

At the community level, he attends Truth Bible Church and is a past member of the Jasper County 4-H Council.

In addition to their son and his wife, Abby, Culp and Tammy have a daughter, Kayla, son-in-law Brandon, and four grandchildren.

Paul Cummings

Paul Cummings has worked in the renewable energy field since 2006. He has experienced the industry from many sides. He started in state government at the Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) and then the Indiana Office of Energy Development (OED). After his time with the state, he has worked for a public utility (Hoosier Energy) and private developers EDPR, Geenex, and energyRe, where he is Senior Vice President of Development.

Paul runs a 20-acre sheep ranch in Franklin, IN with his wife, Dana and two sons, PJ and Owen, and daughter Susan. He and his family are committed to solar grazing as a resilient, low input agriculture that complements our need for energy production and sets an example for raising food in a future with an uncertain climate.

Ayla Dollar

Ayla began her growing journey as a humble community garden participant of over 10 years. Now Ayla is starting her fourth season as a flower farmer but her first season as a farm and business owner. After the COVID-19 pandemic and becoming a new mom, she decided there was no time to waste in following her farming dreams. In 2021 she began working on the farm she would, 3 years later, become co-owner of, met her future farm partner and dear friend Carmen, and learned the fundamentals of flower farming. Ayla is beyond excited to begin her first season at Butterfly Hill Flower Farm as Co-owner and Operator!

Angie Doucette

Angie Doucette manages American Farmland Trust's farmland protection, access, and transfer efforts in the Midwest, providing research, resources, and direct 1:1 support to build local partners’ capacity, while supporting landowners and farmers, in efforts to create a just and equitable food system for all. Angie has over 12 years of experience supporting farmers and landowners in accomplishing their goals for their land and farm businesses, with extensive experience in farmland protection tools.

Sara Dzimianski

Sara joined Purdue Extension as the Educator for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Perry County in 2013. Her specialties include small ruminant production and management and beekeeping. She has a Masters of Science in Animal Science with a focus on Ruminant Nutrition from Fort Valley State University. Her research centered on the use of alternative legume forages for lactating dairy goats. As a graduate research assistant she participated in small ruminant parasite research focused on efficacy of sericea lespedeza.

John-Michael Elmore

John-Michael Elmore is the Farm Manager at the White Violet Center in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, IN. After completing a year-long internship at White Violet in 2015, he spent five years traveling the country, volunteering, and working on various farms alongside his wife, Tara. In 2020, he returned to White Violet, immersing himself in growing food and soil, while drawing from his experiences at other farms. John-Michael’s degree in economics and previous background in the banking industry give him an analytical approach to farming, while his desire to grow the small farming movement helps drive his dedication to teaching those who visit, intern, or otherwise interact with the farm.

Jonathan Elrod

J.R. Elrod is the proprietor of The Rusted Flatbed Farm, a thirteen-acre agroforest on the southeast side of Indianapolis. The forest of mostly sugar maple and black walnut falls along hills above Little Buck Creek. J.R. is a maple syrup hobbyist who has received a SARE grant to study black walnut syrup. He taps around eighty maples and sixty black walnuts, and he hopes to turn the black walnut syrup into a business. The farm also produces wild black raspberries and wild paw paws.

James Farmer

Dr. James Farmer is currently conducting research on the forces impacting small and mid-size dairy farms and the communities in which they are positioned. Specifically, Farmer is interested in learning from farmers about ways they are pivoting to maintain their operations and bolster their viability for the future. His research centers on people and communities in the Midwestern region of the United States. Relatedly, Farmer directs the new Food and Agrarian Systems Program at the Ostrom Workshop, as well as co-directs the IU Campus Farm. Personally, Farmer is a small-scale dairy farmer. He milks a small herd of mostly Jersey cattle and offers Grade A Pasteurized Milk from the farm and in and around Monroe County, IN.

Yaohua Betty Feng

Betty Feng, is an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist at Purdue University. She is striving to reduce foodborne illness cases and enhance food safety by effective risk assessment, messaging and communication. Feng’s research program explores cultural, social, and environmental factors that affect food safety behaviors using a socioecological approach. The goal of the research program is to identify barriers to understanding food safety issues and evaluate strategies that empower stakeholders to make science-based decisions. By using both qualitative and quantitative research methods and working with farmers, food workers, and consumers, Dr. Feng’s work can increase the knowledge of different sectors of the food supply chain, from consumers, food processors, retailers to the policymakers.

Gabriel Filippelli

Dr. Gabriel Filippelli is a Chancellor’s Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences and Executive Director of the Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute. Filippelli is the Air Quality Fellow for the US Embassies in Pakistan.

Filippelli received his B.S. in Geology from the University of California, Davis, and his PhD in Earth Sciences from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Filippelli is a biogeochemist with broad training in climate change, exposure science, and environmental health. Author of over 200 publications, in 2022 Filippelli also published the book Climate Change and Life with Elsevier and edited Climate Resilience in Indiana and Beyond with Indiana University Press. He was the Editor-in-Chief for the journal GeoHealth, a Fellow of the International Association of Geochemistry, a 2022 Fulbright Distinguished Chair, and former National Academy of Sciences Jefferson Science Fellow, where he served as a Senior Science Advisor for the U.S. Department of State.

Fanny Gozzi

Fanny Gozzi is a PhD student in the Department of Food Science at Purdue University, working in the Food Safety Human Factor Lab under Dr. Betty Feng. Her research focuses on enhancing food safety education through innovative approaches that empower consumers and reduce risks. Her work explores consumer behavior, risk perception, and effective communication strategies, such as using virtual reality, documentary film, or active learning workshops to improve food safety practices.

Carey Grable

Carey Grable is the Home Horticulture Educator with Purdue Extension Marion County. He has been with Purdue Extension since 2021. Before this, he served as an Extension Specialist with the University of Kentucky Nursery & Landscape program where he focused on nursery soils, plant nutrition, and irrigation systems. Carey serves as the Master Gardener Coordinator for Marion County.

Robert Grosdidier

Robert is a PhD student interested in insect ecology. He is originally from Kansas and received his Bachelors of Science from Kansas State University. He earned his Master's degree in Entomology from the University of Florida. There, he studied insect functional traits and explored the role of these traits in governing community assembly processes. Robert's current research will be focused on understanding the ecology of insect pollinators and pests in high tunnel growing systems.

Wenjing Guan

Wenjing Guan is an Extension Specialist from Purdue University, stationed at Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center in Vincennes, IN.

Ross Harding

Ross Harding is a professional beekeeper who started from one hive in 2011 to now over 250 colonies. He provides professional bee services and high quality hive products. Over the years Ross has managed bees for dozens of schools, restaurants, businesses and individuals. Ross is a director of The Beekeepers of Indiana and member of the Indiana Queen Breeders Association. Over 1,000 colonies have been rescued as a result of Ross’ Bee removal service. Currently he is involved in agricultural research for the betterment of bees and humanity.

Kris Klueg Heeter

Kris Heeter (aka Dr. Kris Klueg) is a retired research biologist from Indiana University. She the President of the Indiana Nut and Fruit Growers Association (INFGA) and the North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX).

She and her husband, Brian, a have a small orchard and classified forest on a 100-acre place in Solsberry, IN, near the famous Tulip Trestle (the world’s third-longest railroad viaduct). Kris has worked with INGFA to develop the first Indiana fruit and nut tree repository and they grow hundreds of fruit, nuts, herb, and veggie varieties on their property.

Anna Holloway

Anna has spent the last 20 years in Montana working as food service director and farm to school coordinator for a rural K-12 school. She currently lives on a small family farm in Morgan County where she and her family raise chickens and ducks and will be expanding to produce next year. Anna is very excited to bring her knowledge base back home to Indiana as the Farm to School movement is being developed and grows.

She currently serves as the Value Chain Professional with Indiana Grown for Schools. Her role is to assist producers wishing to enter the school food market and guide food service professionals wanting to procure more local items for their food programs.

Mike Hoopengardner

Semi retired owner/farmer of Redbud Farm and Caprini Creamery. Building a farm in an open field, to a regional dairy and goat cheese operation, to a semi retired farmer with 150 dairy goats. Now advocating for diversified farmers. Member of the Indiana Grown Commission, Farm Bureau Policy Advisor, and on the Purdue Small Farm Conference Team.

Laura Ingwell

Dr. Laura Ingwell is an Extension Specialist in the Entomology Department at Purdue, with a focus on specialty crops production. Her areas of expertise are pest management in high tunnel systems and composting with black soldier flies.

Datrick Jefferson

Datrick L. Jefferson is a seasoned business consultant with a wealth of experience in tax strategy, nonprofit and for-profit business development, and agricultural business consulting. His journey into entrepreneurship began with owning and operating multiple businesses, providing him with practical insights and expertise across various sectors. At the core of his work is a commitment to empowering others through education and strategic guidance. Datrick specializes in helping farmers, agricultural workers, and nonprofits navigate the complexities of business and tax planning. His expertise includes maximizing the benefits of Schedule F, establishing efficient business structures, and developing tailored strategies to optimize growth and success in the agricultural sector. Datrick’s passion for helping others succeed stems from his belief that his work aligns with God’s purpose for his life. By equipping individuals and organizations with the tools and knowledge to prosper, he strives to create lasting, meaningful impact within the communities he serves.

Evan Kokoska

Evan Kokoska is a native Hoosier who earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. He has been active in agroforestry for over forty years at his family farm. He is currently partnering with the USDA on a CSP grant for invasive management and reforestation. In addition to farming, his interests include archery, photography, and motorcycles.

Mimi Kokoska

Mimi Kokoska holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a Doctorate in Medicine. She has over 25 years’ experience as an academic surgeon, while focusing on clinical care, teaching, and quality improvement. She enjoys learning and agroforestry, with a focus on growing edibles which enhance health and quality of life. Her family farms have expanded to include growing fungi, both above ground mushrooms and subterranean truffles, fruit trees, and edible plants. These efforts align with their farm mission to improve food supply, nutrition, and sustainability. She is a member of the Indiana Nut and Fruit Growers Association, Indiana Mushroom Society, and North American Truffle Growers Association. Her personal interests include agroforestry, travel, and cuisines. She has been married to her husband and farming partner, Evan for over 30 years.

Jeff & Elise Koning

Jeff and Elise Koning of Sylvanmore raise sheep and Christmas trees in Parke County, Indiana. Successfully growing their farm relies on implementing sustainable practices such as rotational grazing and enterprise diversification.

In 2020, the farm started with just 10 sheep. They have already produced prize-winning lambs and fleeces. The first Christmas trees were planted in 2022.

Elise has worked with sheep her entire life, and Jeff has extensive experience with horses and trees.

Both have off-farm careers: Jeff as a machinist, Elise as a writer and event planner.

Petrus Langenhoven

Dr. Petrus Langenhoven is a clinical assistant professor and horticulture and hydroponics crop specialist at Purdue University, with a specialization in hydroponics and vegetable crop production in open fields and high tunnels. He is a key member of the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture’s Vegetable Production and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Teams. His interest in healthy and sustainably produced food, local foods, and emerging new technologies provides conditions that push the Urban Agriculture and small rural farm segments of horticulture forward. Through his extension programming and role as editor of the Vegetable Crops Hotline Newsletter, Dr. Langenhoven shares valuable expertise in high tunnel management and vegetable production, including specialized knowledge in peppermint cultivation. His research and teaching continue to shape the future of sustainable agriculture, particularly in advancing sustainable farming solutions. Dr. Langenhoven empowers small and medium-sized vegetable farms with cutting-edge technologies and sustainable practices. His expertise in vegetable and peppermint production also serves a critical teaching need. Dr. Langenhoven serves as director of the Purdue Student Farm and co-editor of the Midwest Vegetable Trial Reports.

Beckie Lies

Beckie Lies, a lifelong resident of North Central Indiana, currently lives on Simonton Lake in Elkhart. She holds a B.S. in Biology and a Master of Public Health degree from Indiana University, along with a Graduate Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from Purdue University Global. Beckie’s career has been dedicated to public health, from working as a WIC nutritionist to serving as a tobacco control coordinator. She now works as the Community Wellness Coordinator for Purdue Extension’s Nutrition Education Program in St. Joseph County. Beckie promotes health through policies, systems, and environmental changes that make healthy choices easier. By collaborating with community partners and local coalitions, she aims to improve the well-being of residents, particularly those who are underserved. In her personal life, Beckie enjoys family time, travel, girl’s nights out, and playing board games.

Roberto Lopez

Dr. Roberto Lopez is an associate professor and controlled environment/floriculture extension specialist with a 45% research, 30% teaching, and 25% extension appointment in the Department of Horticulture at Michigan State University. His research focuses on propagation and production of young and finish plants (including bedding plants, specialty cut flowers, leafy greens, and culinary herb crops) in the field, high tunnels, and greenhouses. His cut flower research aims to increase yield, stem length and caliper, quality and reduce production time by manipulating the growing environment.

Lindsay Maliqi

Lindsay Maliqi (mah-LEE-chee) is an Outreach and Marketing Specialist for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in the Indiana District Office. She collaborates with entrepreneurial support organizations and connects Hoosier small business leaders to counseling, capital, and contracting opportunities.

Liz Maynard

Dr. Liz Maynard serves as an Extension specialist for vegetable crops in Purdue’s Dept. of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture. She spends most of her time developing educational programs and conducting applied research to support sustainable vegetable farming. Her office is in Valparaiso. Contact her at emaynard@purdue.edu or 219-548-3674 (office).

Genesis McKiernan-Allen

Genesis and her husband Eli Robb have been growing vegetables year-round in central Indiana since 2012.

Madison Mehringer

Madison Mehringer earned her bachelor's degree in Food Science from Purdue University, with minors in Fermentation Science and Horticulture. She has worked with multiple companies in the food and agricultural fields including creating a sanitation verification system in tomato manufacturing facilities, flavor analysis and sensory testing, and dairy manufacturing pH developmental analysis in cheese products. Currently, Madison works at the Food Entrepreneurship and Manufacturing Institute (FEMI) within the Food Science Department at Purdue University. In her role, Madison manages and runs the Agriculture Innovation Center (AIC) program that seeks to provide resources and product and business development assistance to Indiana agricultural commodity producers looking to bring value-added food products to market. She has created multiple online courses focusing on food industry and business planning fundamentals, has established and run workshops focusing on the life cycle of food products, and manages food and business development projects.

Candace Minster

Candace Minster is the Flower and Fiber Arts Manager for White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, a farm ministry of the Sisters of Providence at St. Mary of the Woods. WVC is home to a 5-acre produce and cut flower farm, a flock of laying hens and a herd of 30+ alpacas. She managed the farm's vegetable and CSA operation for 10 years before taking lead on the farm’s expanded cut flower operation in 2020. She also manages WVC's fiber art program and enjoys combining the farm’s plants and fibers in natural dyes and leading various workshops for the center.

John Orick

John Orick earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Purdue University in Turfgrass Science. John’s work experience includes nearly 10 years in the golf course maintenance industry, including 4 years as an assistant golf course superintendent at two different Indiana golf courses. After working in the turf industry, he served as a Purdue Extension Educator in Madison County for 16 years. Currently, John is the State Coordinator for the Purdue Extension Master Gardener Program in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture on the Purdue University, West Lafayette campus. He provides leadership for the administration of the program statewide. John has worked on teams to develop Extension programs such as Purdue Master Gardeners…Growing Through Leadership and the Purdue Rainscaping Education Program. He also serves as an instructor on the Purdue Extension Facilitative Leadership team. John’s national involvement includes co-facilitating for the extension staff development training, Achieving the Extension Mission Through Volunteers and serving as a member of the Extension Master Gardener National Committee.

Anna Paltseva

Dr. Anna Paltseva is an international urban soil scientist and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Departments of Agronomy and Horticulture & Landscape Architecture at Purdue University. Her expertise lies in urban soil contamination, remediation, and the impact of soil on public health and urban agriculture. With a Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Sciences from The Graduate Center, CUNY, Dr. Paltseva has authored over 30 publications and presented her research at national and international conferences in Italy, Brazil, China, France, Greece, Mexico, and more.

Dan Perkins

Dan is owner and farmer at Perkins’ Good Earth Farm. He is known as the “Cover Crop Guy” in NW Indiana. Perkins' Good Earth Farm utilizes no-till, permanent deep-compost beds, and is a certified organic farm growing 18,000 bulbs of hardneck garlic and produce via a 200 member CSA, on-farm stand, commercial kitchen, and local wholesale accounts. The farm generates a good living and lifestyle for their family of 6. Dan has over 16+ years of experience in organic and conventional crop management and growing experience in Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, and Indiana.

Jessica Roosa

Jessica Roosa holds a BS in Biology from Purdue University, and is the owner and manager of This Old Farm, Inc., located in Colfax, Indiana. In 2000, she started farming on an 88-acre family farm, raising Katahdin sheep, pastured pork and poultry, hay, dairy cows, and vegetable crops. She continues to raise sheep and has added farm stays through purchase of more ground with cabins. In 2009, meat processing services were added. What started as a single farm operation grew to supporting many farm operations. Jessica is passionate about farm-based education. She is a regular speaker at farm and food conferences. Her personal mission is to revitalize rural communities by investing in one farm at a time to bring life back to the family livestock farmer.

Lita Rouser

Lita has been empowering entrepreneurs and small businesses through her role as a trusted advisor with the Indiana Small Business Development Center since 2016. She holds a MBA in Management and Strategy and a BS in Psychology and she blends strategic expertise with a deep understanding of human behavior to deliver impactful guidance. Lita has presented engaging webinars and dynamic in-person trainings on a wide range of wellness and business topics, offering actionable insights and practical strategies to help individuals and organizations achieve their goals with confidence.

Whitney Schlegel

Whitney and Kip Schlegel own and manage Marble Hill Farm, a small diversified livestock farm in Monroe County. We work to encourage a connection with the land by sharing our farm with community and supporting on-farm educational programs. A whole-farm ecosystem approach guides our land stewardship. The Lowline Angus beef cattle, Shetland sheep and laying hens are managed in a regenerative grazing system for grass-finished beef, wool, and pasture-raised eggs. These products are sold at local markets. Our flock of Shetland sheep provides a magnificent array of natural colored wool, which is processed into yarns, roving and wool products for retail sale. Waste wool from shearing is used and purchased for making sheep wool pellets offered as a soil amendment (9-0-2) and mulch, “Sheep to Soil”. In collaboration with the Indiana Sheep Association we are working to grow a regional wool pelleting partnership model to enhance soil health in Indiana.

Alexis Sheffield

Alexis is a Horticulture Extension Specialist at the University of Kentucky and a Director of the Center for Crop Diversification. She holds degrees in Horticulture and Plant and Soil Sciences from University of Kentucky, which fuels her passion for specialty crop production systems and supporting local farms. Along with work as an Extension Agent, Alexis has 15 years of experience working in greenhouse systems, organic vegetables and floriculture and has a special love of season extension and native plants.

Carmen Sheppard

I was raised in a big, close-knit family and homeschooled my whole life. Flower farming has been a part of my world for as long as I can remember, and I find joy in the beauty it brings. Now married with two wonderful little boys, my days are filled with adventure, laughter, and plenty of time outdoors. Whether hiking, growing flowers, or making memories with my family, I’m happiest when surrounded by the people and places I love.

Nathan Shoaf

Nathan Shoaf earned his M.S. in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture from Purdue University, specializing in soil microbial ecology. With over 20 years of experience in urban farming and specialty crop production, he brings extensive expertise in soil health, remediation, contaminant fate and transport, and risk communication. As the Diversified Farming and Food Systems Program Leader and Urban Agriculture Specialist at Purdue Extension, Nathan leads efforts to enhance statewide programming and resources. He is passionate about advancing soil science and sustainable agriculture by fostering innovative partnerships and collaboration among farmers, Extension staff, and faculty.

Clarenda Stanley

Clarenda “Farmer Cee” Stanley is a farmer, herbalist, and advocate for ethical business and sustainable living. As the founding CEO of Green Heffa Farms, she built the country’s first Black-owned farm to achieve Certified B Corp status. Her work merges agriculture, wellness, and environmental stewardship, centering equity and sustainability. With over 20 years of expertise in marketing and philanthropy, Clarenda transitioned from leading major initiatives at one of the world’s largest environmental organizations to cultivating her own path as an entrepreneur. Green Heffa Farms is a trademarked vertically scaled Consumer Product Goods (CPG) brand that produces high-quality herbal products, specializing in teas and blends for women’s wellness. Through her platform, Farmer Cee amplifies the contributions of Black women in agriculture, amplifies economic prosperity for small scale farmers and inspires others to embrace regenerative farming practices.

Andy Tauer

Andy Tauer serves as the Executive Director of Public Policy at Indiana Farm Bureau. Prior to his work at INFB, Tauer worked for the Indiana Soybean Alliance, Indiana Corn Marketing Council, Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Land O'Lakes Purina Feed, among others. He and his family are farmers in Morgan County.

Arianna Torres

Dr. Ariana Torres is an Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics and Horticulture & Landscape Architecture at Purdue University. Her research and Extension programs focus on helping specialty crop farmers build resilient businesses through improved marketing and financial decision-making strategies. She specializes in the economics of controlled environment agriculture, sustainable farming practices, and integrated pest management technologies. Dr. Torres develops innovative tools like the Hort Calculator, a financial management platform that empowers farmers to make data-driven decisions. Through workshops, webinars, and publications, she actively bridges the gap between academic research and practical farm applications.

Jason Tower

Jason has been superintendent of the Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center (SIPAC) since June 1, 2000. SIPAC is one of 8 regional centers that make up the Purdue Agricultural Center system. Jason is a 1997 graduate of Purdue University and prior to coming to SIPAC, Jason was farm manager for Hedgeapple Farm in Buckeystown, MD. Jason has been active in leadership roles in several farm organization including Indiana Forage Council, Indiana Beef Cattle Association, American Forage and Grassland Council, Indiana Farm Bureau, and the American Forage and Grassland Foundation.

Bridgette Wanhainen

Bridgette Wanhainen is the USDA Beginning Farmer-Rancher Coordinator for Indiana, providing resources and connections for all your agriculture needs. Bridgette is also a Farm Loan Officer for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in the New Castle office. With an upbringing in agriculture and experience in education and community service, helping others reach their farm goals is her passion!

Renee Wiatt

Renee Wiatt serves as the Family Business Management Specialist for the Purdue Institute for Family Business (PIFB) and also serves as the research and extension specialist for the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development. Renee studies the intersection of rural businesses and healthcare and also works on extension and applied research in family business management She conducts research and extension activities around succession planning, business planning, and contingency planning. Renee is certified in conflict management and has worked closely with many family businesses and family farms in improving communication, drafting plans, and moving the business forward to the next generation.

Legita Wilson

Legita Wilson, Indiana Department of Health's WIC Commodities Program Manager, has a broad and eclectic range of experience and skills, having worked in the legal, manufacturing, information technology, and social service areas. She has, for the past twelve years, been a member of the Indiana WIC team focused on USDA Foods programs including The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP), Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (WIC FMNP), and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) as well as grants for Local Food Purchase Agreement (LFPA) Track 1, TEFAP Reach and Resiliency rounds 1 and 2, and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grants for WIC FMNP and SFMNP which allowed Indiana WIC to implement a first-in-region electronic platform for the FMNPs in 2023. She served on the board of the National Association of Farmers Market Nutrition Programs from 2017 through 2021.

Mary Winstead

Mary and her husband, Roger established Beautiful Edibles in 2015 as a small-scale market garden on the last two acres of Roger’s family homestead in Paradise, IN. Both left their careers to pursue a dream of farming year round. In 2021 they established an urban mushroom farm in downtown Evansville as part of the Local Source Food Hub, a farmer owned cooperative. They grow edible flowers, fungi and veggies for the community using sustainable practices year round. Heading into their 10th season, they have numerous farm “hacks” to share that they developed or learned along the way.

Roger Winstead

Roger and his wife Mary established Beautiful Edibles in 2015 as a small-scale market garden. The farm is located on the last two acres of Roger’s family homestead in Paradise, IN. Roger holds a Landscape Architecture Degree from Purdue. Beautiful Edibles offers produce online for both retail and wholesale buyers. In 2021 they established an urban mushroom farm in downtown Evansville. It is part of the Local Source Food Hub, a farmer owned cooperative. They grow edible flowers, fungi and veggies for the community using sustainable practices year round.

James Wolff

James Wolff is the County Extension Director and Agriculture Educator for Purdue Extension - Allen County. In his 10 years with Purdue Extension he has worked primarily with farmers markets, soil health, pesticide applicators, UAV use, and urban agriculture. James oversees Purdue Extension work at Johnnie Mae Farm in Fort Wayne. He also works closely with Allen County Planning Services on land use, zoning, and comprehensive plan development through his service on the Allen County Plan Commission.

Julia Wooby

Julia Wooby is a PhD candidate in the Department of Entomology at Purdue University. Her research focuses on tailoring biological control, namely entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN), for control of pests of specialty crops grown in high tunnel systems. Julia’s ongoing research investigates integrating applications of commercially available EPN products with common low-input high tunnel management strategies to inform practices that maximize biological control services.

Steve Yoder

Steve Yoder is a Regional Educator in Community Development for Purdue Extension, joining the staff in 2012. His responsibilities include the design, refinement, and delivery of high-quality educational programs that address local and regional needs throughout Indiana. His work focuses on the themes of community and organizational development, drawing on over 20 years of experience as an administrator and educator within the field of environmental and scientific nonprofits.

Shelli Yoder

Senator Shelli Yoder was elected to the Indiana Senate in 2020 and currently serves as the Minority Leader for the Indiana Senate Democratic Caucus. She is also a Senior Lecturer at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

With a deep commitment to public service, Senator Yoder holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Human Services from Indiana University South Bend and a Master’s in Divinity from Vanderbilt University. Her leadership and advocacy have earned her several distinctions, including the 2022 Friend of Public Education Award from the Indiana State Teachers Association and recognition from the State Legislative Leaders Foundation for her work in advancing bipartisanship. She was also a 2021 Bowen Fellow through the Council of State Governments’ Legislative Leadership Development program.

Before joining the Senate, she served on the Monroe County Council, where she worked to improve local governance and community resources. Senator Yoder lives in Bloomington with her spouse and three children.