Name: Local Produce Safety Initiative Field Day with Operation Spring Plant
Start: 2026-05-01T10:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-05-01T14:00:00-04:00
Location: Operation Spring Plant, Inc.

Thea Bergen

Membership Coordinator | Durham, NC

Thea is originally from southern California but has lived in Oregon, Washington, Colorado, and now calls North Carolina home. She has always been passionate about the environment, but during her undergraduate years became particularly passionate about local food systems, nutrition education, and health equity.

Thea has spent time as an outdoor educator for Olympic National Park, then transitioned to farm to school education in the mountains of Colorado. Here, she worked as an Americorp member, grew food for the school garden, and provided nutritional and environmental science lessons.

Recently, she graduated from her Master’s program from UNC – Chapel Hill with a degree in Public Health and a focus in Health Equity.

Thea brings her background in education and local foods systems to CFSA and is excited to connect with members to provide the best support she can.

Email Thea: [email protected].

Green Heal Farms

3111 Greenhill Rd, Snow Camp 27349

NEW Farm in 2026!

KICKOFF FARM: Opens at 12pm.

Farmer Rep: Kenny Boodman & Courtney Martin

For Sale: Cut flowers, possible strawberries, lettuce, arugula, salad mix, spinach and other seasonal produce.

About the Farm: In late April, visitors to Green Heal Farms will see vibrant rows of early spring vegetables, blooming perennial pollinator flowers, and honey bees actively pollinating the fields. Guests can walk the farm, observe sustainable practices in action, and experience a peaceful, regenerative landscape rooted in community and care. Guided tours will be held at 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm each day.

Celebrity Dairy

198 Celebrity Dairy Way, Siler City 27344

Farmer Rep: Clare Redding

For Sale: Cheese, gelato, fudge, skyr.

About the Farm: Celebrity Dairy is situated on 340 acres, featuring several pre-civil war era buildings including the original log cabin, smokehouse, corn crib, and hay barn. It also hosts a 15-acre pond that is home to many bird species. April is a special time at Celebrity Dairy as the barn is bustling with baby goats, and their moms are in full milk, so we are as busy as always turning that milk into our many special products. Stop by to take some home!

Parker Farm & Vineyard

2059 Laws Store Rd, Hurdle Mills 27541

Farmer Reps: Ashley Parker, Jason Conway, Clay Parker

For Sale: Cut flower bouquets.

About the Farm: Our family farm in northern Orange County has been involved in continuous agricultural production for over 100 years and is recognized as a century farm. Our diverse operation includes grass-finished beef cattle, laying hens, fresh produce and herbs, cut flowers, wheat, corn, soybeans, and muscadine grapes. Our farm tour will include seeing our pastures, flower fields, and gambrel barn.

Boxcarr Farms & Boxcarr Handmade Cheese

2207 Carr Store Rd, Cedar Grove 27231

KICKOFF FARM: Opens at 12pm.

SNACK SPOT: Boxcarr Farms anticipates having samples, snacks, and prepared meals available for purchase.

Farmer Reps: Austin Genke, Dani Copeland, Samantha Genke

For Sale: Baby goats and a variety of cheeses.

About the Farm: Spend the afternoon strolling our 30-acre farm, meeting the Boxcarr dairy goat herd, and sampling award-winning cheeses made in our on-site creamery. Peek inside the milking parlor on a self-guided tour, snack on fried cheese and crisp tempura vegetables, and enjoy the springtime magic of kidding season — when our playful baby goats are eager to meet new friends.

The Farm at Common Ground Ecovillage

5797 Daisy Evans Gunn Trail, Mebane 27302

Special Directions: Our address cannot be found on Apple Maps. People must use Google Maps or some other service to find 5797 Daisy Evans Gunn Trail.

KICKOFF FARM: Opens at 12pm.

SNACK SPOT: The Farm at Common Ground Ecovillage anticipates having samples and snacks available for purchase.

Farmer Reps: Doug Jones, Caleb Buchbinder, Lucas Babinec, Kai Madrone, & Goni Ronen

For Sale: Various seasonal vegetables, vegetable seedlings, herbal medicines, baked goods, other ready-to-eat snacks

About the Farm: Learn about our Agrarian Intentional Community, our transition to No-Till soil management, our extensive seed saving and plant breeding work, pollinator habitat beds, experiments with staple crops like peanuts and flour corn, plus our elaborate season extension techniques which provide a year-round supply of veggies to our CSA. Visit our shiitake mushroom operation, “caterpillar” production tunnels, worm composting beds, and cover crop fields. Baked goods with various farm-grown ingredients will be available. Hear music played by local musicians!

WildSide Farm

4001 Teer Rd, Chapel Hill 27516

Farmer Reps: Debbie & Walt Tysinger

For Sale: Plant starts, vegetables; possibly u-pick strawberries.

About the Farm: WildSide Farm is transforming a former conventional dairy into a biodiverse, regenerative haven on 70 rolling acres near Chapel Hill. Our mission is to rehabilitate soil health, restore water systems, and nurture wildlife habitats, while producing nutrient-dense food for our community. Learn about our expanded u-pick offerings, which include thornless blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, muscadine grapes, and a variety of vegetables. See how we are reshaping our 1-acre market garden — which supplies our online store and farmers boxes — to focus more on u-pick crops and hands-on family experiences, emphasizing where food comes from and regenerative techniques that grow healthier, tastier produce without chemical pesticides or fertilizers. Explore our thriving market garden, expanding berry patches, muscadine grape vineyard, young 400+ tree chestnut orchard, and budding perennial food forest. These are all part of our commitment to long-term, land-stewarding food systems. Visit the historic dairy barn, hike our trails, enjoy the open spaces, and picnic by the pond!

Little Way Farm

5776 Siler City Snow Camp Rd, Siler City 27734

ONLY OPEN ON SATURDAY; CLOSED ON SUNDAY

Farmer Reps: Joe & Michelle Sroka

For Sale: Grass-fed beef and lamb, pasture-raised pork, chicken, eggs, milk, honey, flour, seafood, peanut butter.

About the Farm: Little Way Farm is a small-scale family farm providing pasture-raised and grass-fed meats, eggs, dairy, and honey, and more. Join us on a guided hay ride tour where we’ll visit the cows, pigs, and chickens, and explain how we create partnerships among animals and steward healthy soil. Learn why grass-fed and pasture-raised meat is different for you, the land, and the animals, and how our farm partners with other local farms and vendors to create a stronger local community. After the tour, stop by our farm store and community hub to take home some of our farm’s offerings, and learn more about our home delivery, farm pick-up, and subscribe and save options.

Little Pond Gardens

220 Lorax Lane, Pittsboro 27312

Special Directions: Little Pond Gardens is located at the back of The Plant’s parking lot. Find the check-in table set up at the large gate outside the farm’s main field!

KICKOFF FARM: Opens at 12pm.

SNACK SPOT: The Plant campus is home to a number of food and beverage vendors.

Farmer Rep: Arlo Estill

For Sale: We won’t have farm products but The Plant has food and beverage available. Other vendors include Hempsmith Clothing, a candle shop, and a native nursery.

About the Farm: We are a sustainable farm located at The Plant NC which is an old aluminum plant that has been repurposed into a food and beverage campus. We have pollinator gardens and native plants around our fields and encourage conservation by building permanent, perennial beds- which you will find a mix of perennial gardens spread across the whole project, in addition to fenced in fields for annual veggie production. It’s a great place to start the day with lunch or end the tour with a drink on the pavers.

Granite Springs Farm

265 Granite Springs Rd, Pittsboro 27312

Farmer Reps: Meredith Leight, Luis & Allie Gochez

For Sale: Ginger and turmeric plants, tomato seedlings, produce.

About the Farm: Granite Springs Farm is a diversified vegetable farm ten minutes from downtown Pittsboro. Visiting our farm, you’ll see cover crops growing for soil fertility, and for mulch. Check out our mini round baler! While you’re here, see our large red wiggler worm habitat, and learn how we make vermicompost sprays and other potions for our plants. See our pollinator garden and hear about the research done here by an NC State entomologist. Visit our newly planted, geothermally heated paradise for citrus and other subtropical fruits!

Chatham Oaks Farm

573 Dewitt Smith Rd, Pittsboro 27312

KICKOFF FARM: Opens at 12pm.

SNACK SPOT: Chatham Oaks Farms anticipates having prepared meals available for purchase.

Farmer Reps: Rachel & Justin Clark

For Sale: For Sale: U-pick and pre-picked strawberries. JDub’s Po Boys food truck will be at the farm on Saturday and we will have another food truck onsite on Sunday.

About the Farm: Chatham Oaks Farm is a family-run strawberry farm in southwestern Chatham County, dedicated to growing sweet, seasonal berries for our local community. During the Piedmont Farm Tour, guests can pick their own strawberries or grab a box of freshly pre-picked berries to take home. Visitors will also have the opportunity to learn about the strawberry growing process directly from owners Justin and Rachel, who are excited to share how they care for the crop from planting to harvest. Be sure to stop by our newly renovated barn, now a welcoming space for visitors to gather — and available to rent for events and special occasions. We can’t wait to welcome you!

Wolfberry Hawthorn Farm

2503 Joyner Rd, Durham 27704

Farmer Rep: Jason Bzdula

For Sale: Vegetable, herb and native plants, microgreens, produce, cut flowers, dry flower crafts.

About the Farm: The farm produces a wide variety of products on a small scale, making it an interesting example of what can be possible on less than 2 acres: from growing microgreens to cut flowers, to both common and uncommon produce, to a nursery growing herbs, vegetables, and native plants, to workshops. Visitors will get to tour the various vegetable garden areas, plant nursery, greenhouse, high tunnels, orchard, herb, and native plant gardens. There’s even a possibility to spot local wildlife such as songbirds, turtles, ducks, and the geese that nest on the pond!

Jireh Family Farm

1310 N Mineral Springs Rd, Durham 27703

KICKOFF FARM: Opens at 12pm.

SNACK SPOT: Jireh Family Farm anticipates having snacks available for purchase.

Farmer Reps: Immanuel & Valarie Jarvis

For Sale: Beef, chicken, pork, eggs, herbal tea, ice cream, and fresh herbs.

About the Farm: At Jireh Family Farm, visitors in late April can experience a blend of animal husbandry and emerging herb gardens. Explore how we raise healthy livestock while cultivating medicinal and culinary herbs, all in a welcoming, faith-centered environment. Visitors can learn about humane care techniques that ensure healthy, stress-free animals, while also exploring how we grow medicinal and culinary herbs to support both livestock health and community wellness. Visitors can purchase same-day laid eggs and local ice cream. As a Black-owned farm rooted in faith, we are dedicated to creating a welcoming, inclusive space that connects sustainable agriculture with holistic health education.

Catawba Trail Farm

2080 Sawmill Creek Parkway, Durham 27712

SNACK SPOT: Catawba Trail Farm anticipates having snacks available for purchase.

Farmer Reps: Delphine Sellars & Urban Community AgriNomics (UCAN)

For Sale: Variety of seasonal vegetables and herbs, wooden products made from cedar trees grown on the farm, seedlings for spring and summer planting, and UCAN merchandise and cookbook.

About the Farm: As one of the oldest farms in Durham County, there’s plenty to take in at Catawba Trail Farm. While visiting the reclaimed historic farmstead, visitors will see a mixture of old and new farm buildings, a large community garden, a youth garden with an outdoor classroom, a high tunnel, a small fruit orchard, the farm’s bees, and chickens. Visitors can walk on an original section of the Great Native American Trading Path, meander along its miles of walking trails to the Little River, see the oldest marked gravesite in Durham County, and visit a memorialized gravesite of the Enslaved while learning about the farm’s history from the 1800s to the present day. Hear the story behind two beautiful murals drawn by local artisans, the environmental friendly process of creating new agriculture space, and the additional activities of their new naturally enriched farm acreage.

The Garden at Spring Forest

1907 New Sharon Church Road, Hillsborough 27278

Special Directions: Be sure to turn down the driveway with the sign with the Spring Forest Celtic Tree of Life, and the number 1907 on the mailbox post. (Google maps sometimes sends people to the neighbor’s driveway.)

KICKOFF FARM: Opens at 12pm.

SNACK SPOT: The Garden at Spring Forest anticipates having prepared meals available for purchase.

Farmer Reps: Elaine Heath

For Sale: Seedlings, cut flower bouquets, hot lunch.

About the Farm: At The Garden at Spring Forest, you will enjoy a guided tour of our beautiful non-certified organic market gardens, see our herd of dairy goats and chickens, walk the Spring Forest Tree Trail with over 25 tree species, enjoy a lovely meadow, and be able to purchase a delicious farm snack lovingly created by Spring Forest’s Chef Netta Edwards. Farmer Elaine and staff will be available to answer questions and share our vision for a peaceful and equitable world.

Sunset Ridge Buffalo Farms

465 Yarbrough Rd, Roxboro 27574

KICKOFF FARM: Opens at 12pm.

SNACK SPOT: Sunset Ridge Buffalo Farms anticipates having snacks available for purchase, and a bison burger and hot dog lunch sale on Saturday.

Farmer Reps: Jack & Sandy Pleasant

For Sale: grass-fed bison steaks, ground, burger patties, hot dogs, 6 flavors of sausages, roasts, ribs, organs, 6 flavors of meat sticks & jerky.

About the Farm: Sunset Ridge Buffalo Farm is one of NC’s oldest farms, continuously family-owned and operated since 1797. Grass-fed bison have been raised here since 2001 using rotational grazing, no-till pasture management, and soil conservation practices. While visiting the farm, join one of our narrated covered wagon tours through the pastures where you’ll see bison calves, cows, and bulls. We discuss farm history, bison history, handling, feeding, and bison behavior. Tours depart every 30 minutes beginning at noon! There will be a bison burger and hot dog lunch sale at our lakeside gazebo on Saturday only.

Stoney Mountain Farm

6559 Old Stoney Mountain Rd, Burlington 27215

SNACK SPOT: Stoney Mountain Farm anticipates having snacks available, as well as snacks for purchase.

Farmer Reps: John & Olga Elder

For Sale: Lamb, felting kits and supplies, finished wool products including yarn, roving and raw wool, tshirts and hats.

About the Farm: Dating back to the late 1700s, Stoney Mountain Farm sits on 56 acres just off the beaten path in Burlington and is home to three unique breeds of endangered sheep raised for their wool. You’ll see young lambs alongside their mothers and get to meet our guard llamas! We’ll have a few outdoor activities for the little ones and plenty of tables and vistas to sit and take it all in. There will be guided walking farm tours on the hour where you can learn how we implement rotational grazing systems and land/water conservation along with our permaculture system. And for anyone interested, we’ll share what we’ve learned along the way pertinent to raising sheep! Our farm store will be open with our sheep-related products for sale. Drinks and snacks will also be available for purchase.

Sankofa Farms

2916 J A Killough Dr, Cedar Grove 27231

SNACK SPOT: Sankofa Farms anticipates having snacks available for purchase.

Farmer Reps: Kamal Bell & Amber Bell

For Sale: Kale, chard, parsley, possibly eggs, copies of Akeem Keeps Bees

About the Farm: Sankofa Farms is centered around solving issues involving food security for African Americans by offering an educational program for students through our agriculture academy. We also provide various educational opportunities for members of the community and a program called Bees In The TRAP, which allows participants to develop a unique relationship with honeybees. Visitors will hear the story of Sankofa, get a chance to tour our apiary, see our layer hens, and get a peek into our caterpillar tunnels!

Ever Laughter Farm & Nursery

2921 Open Ln, Hillsborough 27278

Farmer Rep: Will Cramer

For Sale: Vegetable, herb, and flower starts; native perennials.

About the Farm: Ever Laughter Farm is a small market farm that raises produce, flowers, and plants with organic and sustainable practices. In spring, our main focus is on cut flowers and our plant nursery, though the field will be full of growing vegetables. On the tour, you can see the native pollinator plant garden that serves as a demonstration for nursery customers and diversifies the insect ecosystem on the working produce farm. The greenhouses will be full of ready-to-plant starts and pollinator plants, with plenty to take home for your gardens!

Cedar Grove Blueberry Farm & Botanist and Barrel

105 Persimmon Hill Ln, Cedar Grove 27231

KICKOFF FARM: Opens at 12pm.

SNACK SPOT: Botanist & Barrel anticipates having samples, snacks, and prepared meals available for purchase.

Farmer Reps: Kether Smith, Deric McGuffey, Lyndon Smith

For Sale: Wine, cider, mead, non-alcoholic beverages, plant starts, local meat and cheese, and other local food products.

About the Farm: We are proud to be home to Botanist & Barrel Cidery and Winery, the first winery in Orange County and the South’s only natural cidery and winery. Our mission focuses on preserving heirloom apples, fruits, and culture. Take a stroll through Cedar Grove Blueberry Farm’s blueberry and apple orchards with our orchardist while learning about our spray-free farming practices and the farm’s rich history. After your orchard walk, enjoy a guided winery tour led by one of our winemakers. Conclude your visit with a cider or wine flight paired with a farm pizza from our wood-fired oven or fresh oysters shucked by NC oyster farmers Morgan Klein and Griffin Canady.

YESA Farm

5123 N NC HWY 119, Mebane 27302

NEW Farm in 2026!

KICKOFF FARM: Opens at 12pm.

SNACK SPOT: YESA Farm anticipates having snacks available for purchase.

Farmer Reps: Crystal Cavalier-Keck & Jason Keck

For Sale: Native gifts and foods, coffee, tea, and dirty sodas from Sacred Village Coffee Shop.

About the Farm: YESA Farm is an Indigenous-led regenerative teaching farm located along the historic Occaneechi Trading Path. Rooted in generations of stewardship, YESA shares knowledge about land, food, and community through Indigenous teachings and hands-on learning. In late April, visitors will see hoop houses filled with tower gardens, leafy greens, early crops, and blooming pollinator habitat. Guests can explore herb gardens and raised beds while learning traditional planting methods, including mound growing. Guided walks highlight traditional ecological knowledge, seed stewardship, and watershed protection. Our family has stewarded this land for over 300 years. YESA means “the People” in the Occaneechi-Saponi language.

Transplanting Traditions Community Farm

2912 B Jones Ferry Rd, Chapel Hill 27516

Special Directions: PLEASE follow signs for parking.

SATURDAY KICKOFF FARM: Opens at 12pm on Saturday; 2pm on Sunday.

SNACK SPOT: Transplanting Traditions Community Farm anticipate having snacks and prepared meals available for purchase.

Farmer Reps: Transplanting Traditions Community Farmers

For Sale: Traditional food, flowers, and vegetables.

About the Farm: Transplanting Traditions is an eight-acre community farm made up of about 25 refugee families from Burma, growing a mix of traditional, Southeast Asian vegetables and more familiar American vegetables. The farmers sell through a CSA program, at several local farmers markets, and throughout the broader refugee and immigrant community. The farm also provides a cultural gathering space for families to come together, build healthy communities, and continue agricultural traditions in the Piedmont of NC. Visitors can walk through our fields, see beautifully hand-crafted bamboo structures, and learn about how refugees from Burma build culture around good food and farming.

Faithfull Farms

1400 Ferguson Rd, Chapel Hill 27516

Farmer Reps: Howard & Ronniqua Allen

For Sale: Seedlings, cut flower bouquets, blackberry plants, and fig root trees.

About the Farm: Faithfull Farms is a small-scale, no-till market farm that grows year-round produce for local restaurants, grocers, and the Carrboro Farmers Market. Farmer Howard will give a walking tour of the property, or visitors can do a self-guided tour. There will be fresh produce and seedlings for sale. Visitors can relax under the pavilion. Bring lunch and have a picnic on the lawn.

PlowGirl Farm

9907 Leta Dr, Chapel Hill 27516

Special Directions: Park ONLY at the Kraken Bar on the corner of Hwy 54 & Dodson’s Crossroads, FOLLOW SIGNS TO THE FOOTPATH that leads to the farm.

SNACK SPOT: PlowGirl Farm anticipates having snacks available for purchase.

Farmer Rep: Sally Jo Slusher

For Sale: “Grow your own” shiitake logs and culinary ginger pots, honey from our hives, spring vegetables, and craft beer and cider brewed on the farm.

About the Farm: Conveniently situated off Hwy 54, PlowGirl Farm is home to two acres of vegetable fields, honeybees, and Dingo Dog Brewery, a zero-waste nonprofit craft brewery whose proceeds benefit animal rescue. Learn about the symbiotic relationship between a farmer and a brewer, see log-grown shiitake mushrooms, and explore fields of organic vegetables. You can also tour the brewery and sample or purchase craft beer and cider made with farm-grown ingredients! There will be culinary ginger pots and shiitake mushroom logs for sale so you can grow your own at home!

Chapel Hill Creamery

615 Chapel Hill Creamery Rd, Chapel Hill 27516

KICKOFF FARM: Opens at 12pm.

SNACK SPOT: Chapel Hill Creamery anticipates having samples, as well as snacks and prepared meals available for purchase.

Farmer Reps: Florence Hawley & Portia McKnight

For Sale: Farmhouse cheeses

About the Farm: Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet eating her curds and whey….wait a minute! What are curds? What is whey? And above all, what is a tuffet?! While we’re not so familiar with tuffets, we know a lot about curds and whey – and so will you after visiting Chapel Hill Creamery. You’ll understand more about cheesemaking than 99% of Americans! We’ll have a self-guided tour where you can learn about pasture grasses, see our jersey cows and their spring calves, taste our cheeses, and of course, watch us demonstrate how to make curds and whey. Plan on eating a fabulous grilled cheese sandwich for lunch, starting at noon. Looking forward to seeing you!

Fickle Creek Farm

211 Fickle Creek Crossing, Efland 27243

SUNDAY KICKOFF FARM: Opens at 2pm on Saturday, 12pm on Sunday.

SNACK SPOT: Fickle Creek Farm anticipates having snacks and prepared meals available for purchase.

Farmer Rep: Noah Ranells & Bryan Horton

For Sale: Grass-fed & finished beef and lamb, beef snack sticks and jerky, pasture & woodland-raised pork, pasture-raised hen eggs, pasture-raised chicken, never-sprayed vegetables, and hot sausages to eat at our picnic tables!

About the Farm: With sheep & lambs and cows & calves on pasture, pasture and woodland-raised pigs, free-range pastured chickens and hens, egg mobiles, Great Pyrenees guard dogs, and hoop houses for produce, there is something for everyone at Fickle Creek Farm! Friendly farm staff will gladly assist you on the self-guided tour to see pastures, cover crops, and grazing animals, and learn about regenerative & sustainable farming. Join us for music, tractor trikes, and farm-raised meats to eat at our picnic tables in the pole barn. Our farm store offers beef, pork, chicken, lamb, eggs, and veggies to take home. Bahasa, Español, Français, Hebrew, & Thai spoken here!

Haw River Mushrooms

1122 Ossabaw Wy, Graham 27253

KICKOFF FARM: Opens at 12pm.

SNACK SPOT: Haw River Mushrooms anticipates having samples, snacks, and prepared meals available for purchase.

Farmer Reps: Ches & Laura Stewart, Annie Seifts

For Sale: Fresh and dried mushrooms, mushroom grow kits, a variety of frozen mushroom meals, lions mane and reishi tinctures, mushroom jerky, mushroom coffee, mushroom-powered salts and seasonings, and a selection of mushroom-themed gifts and gear.

About the Farm: Come see the mushroom growing process up close — from sawdust to harvest — at one of North Carolina’s largest mushroom farms. You’ll see how we’ve built our farm over the last 14 years, and sample innovative mushroom dishes that reflect our mission to make mushroom nutrition more accessible to everyday eaters. Join us at noon for a mushroom-tastic lunch on the farm featuring some of our award-winning dishes, and Ran-Lew Dairy ice cream for dessert!

Full Plate Farm

4227 Bass Mountain Rd, Snow Camp 27349

Farmer Rep: Matt Ballard

For Sale: Strawberries, pastured chicken.

About the Farm: Come see our 2-acre annual market garden where we use organic growing practices, low-till methods, and human-scale tools. We incorporate native perennials and flowers as hedgerows in our garden bed design to support pollinators, birds, and other wildlife habitats. Check out our increasing perennial fruit production in partnership with Bountiful Backyards. Take a walk through our new multi-species, 1.5 acre orchard (apples, pears, peaches, pawpaws, Asian persimmons) planted on a master line system. You’ll see a quarter-acre each of blueberries and thornless blackberries also in early production, as well as figs, pomegranates and pineapple guava. We bring in practical permaculture strategies for our fruit plantings by selectively “guild planting” natives that provide plant, soil and wildlife diversity. You’ll also see pastured poultry for both meat and egg production, incorporated into our annual and perennial plantings to provide beneficial ecological services. Take a look at our black soldier fly bin that supplements feed for chickens, as well as native berry shrub plantings in the orchard, both of which provide high-quality, non-grain feed. After the tour on Saturday, join us for pizza made with farm ingredients in our new cobb oven. Follow us on social media for updates and more information about Saturday’s and future pizza dinners.

Benevolence Farm

4265 Thompson Mill Rd, Graham 27253

KICKOFF FARM: Opens at 12pm.

Farmer Rep: Kristen Powers

For Sale: Natural, farm-to-body care products infused with herbs and flowers grown on the farm.

About the Farm: Benevolence Farm is where second chances grow naturally. Visitors will have an opportunity to learn more about how our non-profit utilizes permaculture and horticulture therapy to train and work alongside formerly incarcerated women as they return from prison. We will host activities that show visitors how we infuse oils from herbs and flowers in our value-added body care product line. Visitors are also welcome to bring food and picnic with us or walk our trail.

Flower of Carolina

5903 Swepsonville Saxapahaw Rd, Graham 27253

NEW Farm in 2026!

SNACK SPOT: Flower of Carolina anticipates having samples for visitors, and snacks available for purchase.

Farmer Reps: Philip & Mackenzie Moore

For Sale: Native plants, honey, mead, beeswax products, t-shirts.

About the Farm: Spring is a perfect time to see native plants in action, as there are many attractions to feast for the eyes. Butterflies and other insects will be buzzing in the garden. Neatly organized, robust native transplants await a perfect spot in your home garden. Walk through our apple and fruit orchard and see fruit flowers being pollinated. Sample our honey from across the years and see the differences in flavor. Have a sip of our honey wine or apple cider, and take a walk through the woods on the trail to the Saxapahaw lake.

Piedmont Agrarian Collaborative

2053 Willow Springs Lane, Burlington 27215

NEW Farm in 2026!

KICKOFF FARM: Opens at 12pm.

SNACK SPOT: The Piedmont Agrarian Collaborative anticipates having snacks and prepared meals for purchase.

Farmer Rep: Josh Humphreys

For Sale: Pastured meats (Braeburn & Weslin Farms), spring produce (Eat Dirt, Henry & Machaven Farms), pastured eggs & nursery plants (Pont Reading Farm), Red Tail Grains, honey, t-shirts from TS Designs, and more!

About the Farm: Join us for a festive farmers’ market organized by the farmers of Piedmont Agrarian Collaborative (PAC), hosted at Willow Springs Farm. We will be kicking off with a cook out, with grilled sausage, chili, and brews from Burlington Beer Works. Tour our gardens and the expanding PAC food hub and pick-up point. Browse 100% cotton t-shirts from TS Designs. Piedmont Fibershed will demo natural fiber weaving and showcase their textile maker space. Triad Electric Vehicle Association (TEVA) will demo EV tech, including drones for farmers.

Jim Johnson

South Carolina Small Business Development Centers | Orangeburg, SC

Jim Johnson is the Director of Rural Development and Agribusiness and a Senior Business Consultant with the South Carolina Small Business Development Centers (SC SBDC) at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina. He resides in Orangeburg, SC with his spouse and three children. Johnson brings extensive experience as a small business owner and entrepreneur, having owned and operated a healthcare business for 16 years, a restaurant business for seven years, and a property management company for more than 25 years.

Johnson earned a Bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston and a Master of Business Administration from Claflin University. He is a graduate of the Clemson Palmetto LEAF Leadership Program and the South Carolina Economic Development Institute. He holds professional credentials as a Certified Global Business Professional (CGBP) and a Certified Rural Grocery Transition Specialist. His consulting specialties center on food systems development, including agribusiness, hospitality, tourism, and rural grocery stores. Additional areas of expertise include international trade, environmental sustainability and energy, property management, and business acquisitions. In his role with the SC SBDC, Johnson works closely with entrepreneurs, farmers, and community partners to strengthen rural economies and expand opportunities for small business growth.

Johnson has served in numerous leadership roles, including Chairman of the Midlands Local Food Collaborative, Chairman of the Tri-County Health Network, Vice-Chair of the South Carolina Food Systems Network, Co-Chair of the ASBDC Rural Agriculture Special Interest Group, and board member of the Catawba Certified Regional Development Corporation. He previously served as Chairman of the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Orangeburg County Elections Commission.

His recognitions include Orangeburg Businessperson of the Year, the Community of Character Award for the character trait of collaboration, multiple SC SBDC awards for Team Spirit, Outstanding Supporter, and Leadership, and the 2024 SC SBDC State Star award. Johnson also served as a Boy Scoutmaster for more than 10 years and has contributed to numerous nonprofit boards throughout his career. He remains committed to advancing entrepreneurship, food systems, and sustainable economic development in rural communities across South Carolina.

Alex Borst

TrueField Systems | Durham, NC

Alex Borst is Director of Supply Chain at Grainwave, a project of TrueField Systems, where he focuses on the operational realities of strengthening regional grain supply chains and the relationships that make them work across producers and the middle layer, including mills, feed operators, malt houses, and specialty processors.⁠ Alex brings operator experience from the food hub and organic produce distribution world, including seven years at Happy Dirt, where he helped scale the business from roughly $2.7M to $30M in revenue and led procurement work spanning vendor relationships, supply planning, and logistics execution.⁠ Earlier in his career, Alex worked with Working Landscapes on local farm-to-school value chain development in Eastern North Carolina.

Jennifer Curtis

Firsthand Foods | Durham, NC

Jennifer is the Co-Founder and CEO of Firsthand Foods, a women-owned, B-Corp certified meat business specializing in local, pasture-raised meats sourced from a network of North Carolina farmers. Firsthand Foods buys whole animals and partners with small scale slaughter facilities to have them processed into marketable meat products. At Firsthand Foods, Jennifer is responsible for sales, marketing, producer network development and team engagement. Along with her Co-Founder, Tina Levy, Jennifer has grown Firsthand Foods into a robust wholesale business that supplies restaurants, retailers, and institutions throughout North Carolina and beyond, directing millions each year to the livestock producers and meat processors in their supply chain. Prior to Firsthand Foods, Jennifer worked as a consultant on sustainable agriculture and food systems projects, including with clients such as NC State University, the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, Gerber Foods, and the World Wildlife Fund. Jennifer serves on the Advisory Boards of NC Choices and Partner Community Capital and holds a Masters Degree in Environmental Management and Policy from the School of Public Health at UNC-Chapel Hill. In her spare time, Jennifer loves to cook, read, hike, and garden. She lives in Carrboro with her husband Rich.

Jamey Lowdermilk

Brooks, Pierce, McClendon, Humphrey & Leonard, LLP | Greensboro, NC

Jamey Lowdermilk provides dynamic and passionate counsel on complex business and family litigation, including heirs’ property, insolvency challenges and bankruptcy strategies, and nonproﬁt matters. As a partner of Brooks, Pierce, McClendon, Humphrey & Leonard, L.L.P., she represents businesses and individuals in complicated commercial matters in state and federal courts, and has tried multiple state court bench trials. She also advises clients establishing new entities and reorganizing existing endeavors. Lowdermilk is a former law clerk for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. Before her legal career, she served as a Presidential Management Fellow with the U.S. Forest Service, where she facilitated internal land management projects and achieved certification in incident qualifications for wildland fire. She earned her J.D. from the UNC School of Law, graduating with honors, and her M.S. in applied economics and statistics from Clemson University, including a certificate in public administration. She lives with her family in Greensboro, NC, where she commutes (mostly) by bike.

Shameeka McKoy

Jen & Flo Garden | Faison, NC

Shameeka McKoy is the founder of Jen & Flo Garden in Detroit, Michigan, and former co-owner of 12:03AM Farm in Faison, North Carolina, both Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned and Women-Owned farms dedicated to community resilience, sustainability, and food equity. A U.S. Air Force veteran and former mental health technician, Shameeka uses agriculture as a form of healing and empowerment and education, combining her passion for service with her commitment to sustainable food systems and environmental restoration. In addition to her farming work, Shameeka serves as President of the Strategic Planning Council for North Carolina A&T State University, where she helps lead initiatives that strengthen agricultural research, community engagement, and strategic growth. She also partnered with NC A&T to conduct research on specialty produce and organic practices, advancing innovation and inclusion in local agriculture. As a consulate for MCL JASCO, Shameeka briefs local municipalities across North Carolina and South Carolina on the Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program, a service offered through USDA NRCS, helping communities recover from natural disasters and build long-term environmental resilience. Shameeka is deeply committed to building sustainable food networks, empowering underrepresented farmers, and promoting agriculture as a pathway for wellness and opportunity. Her leadership blends service, strategy, and compassion…values she hopes to bring to the CFSA Board of Directors to advance sustainable agriculture and equitable food access across the Carolinas and beyond.

Advocacy

We train food and farming community leaders, drive local, state, and national policies, and coalition-build for strong, thriving fair food and farming systems.

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Education

We host conferences, workshops, meetups, and farm tours to keep farmers and food systems stakeholders engaged with local, organic food and farming.

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Technical Assistance

We provide farmers and food hubs with the support, resources, and technical assistance they need to be resilient, profitable, and productive.

Explore CFSA’s Technical Assistances offerings.

Sara Runkel

Local Food Program Director | Bakersville, NC

Sara grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, where her parents always had large ornamental gardens. She attributes her love of farming to the many summers she spent at farm camp as a child. Sara received a bachelor’s in environmental studies from Warren Wilson College and a master’s in sustainable systems from Slippery Rock University.

Before joining CFSA, Sara worked as an extension agent for NC Cooperative Extension and as an assistant professor of practice in horticulture with Oregon State University Extension. She also managed a new farmer training and business incubator program in Pennsylvania and has more than 15 years of diversified farming experience in Pennsylvania, Oregon, and North Carolina.

Sara is passionate about creating sustainable food systems and is committed to helping farmers manage risk to be environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable. She is a lead trainer with the Produce Safety Alliance and has worked with growers on produce safety issues since 2010.

She lives on a small farm in Bakersville, North Carolina, with her daughter and husband, who is an artist blacksmith, and their two dogs Okra and Piper. In her spare time, she enjoys tending a large garden, swimming in the river, and cooking delicious food with friends.

Email Sara: [email protected]

Joe Rowland

Organic Initiatives Coordinator | Gold Hill, NC

Joe has called the Piedmont of North Carolina home for over 35 years. His farming passion comes from summers spent on his grandparents’ farm in Indiana. Driving tractors, feeding cows, bailing hay, helping his grandmother in the garden, and fishing in the afternoons cemented that farming was the path for him.

After years in the craft beer scene in Boston reignited his interest in the integrity and artistry of artisanal products, Joe returned to North Carolina to focus on growing food. He spent four years as a farmer in training at the Elma C. Lomax Research and Education Farm. He purchased an 18-acre homeplace in 2012 and operated a sustainable, formerly organic-certified fruit and vegetable farm. Joe has also managed multiple farms in that area.

He has a B.S. in agricultural education from NC A&T and a horticulture certificate from NCSU. He was CFSA’s beginning farmer of the year in 2015 and the Cabarrus County Soil and Water Conservation’s farm family of the year in 2018.

He lives on his farm in Gold Hill, North Carolina, with his daughter Eleanor Pearl and their dog Holly, growing fruits and vegetables, edible nursery crops, and a permaculture orchard and food forest.

Email Joe: [email protected]

Cheryl Ripperton Rettie

Finance, Administration, & HR Director | Pittsboro, NC

Cheryl joined CFSA in 2006 and holds degrees in accounting and ancient & medieval history and has worked for almost 20 years in various accounting positions.

A native of Chatham County, she still lives on the family farm near Pittsboro, North Carolina, where she meanders in the woods with her dog, gardens, keeps bees organically, and rides horses.

Email Cheryl: [email protected]
Call Cheryl: 919-542-2402

Shediah (Shy) Palmer

Community Mobilizer | Raleigh, NC

Shy Palmer is a proud Raleigh NC native, deeply rooted in the vibrant tapestry of her community. A UNC- Chapel Hill alumnus with a degree in political science, a passion for DEI, and an unwavering commitment to fostering unity and empowerment among marginalized communities, she has dedicated her life to uplifting those around her.

A Champion of Community Organizing: Shy’s impact extends far beyond the garden. Her extensive experience in community organizing has empowered marginalized communities to raise their voices and advocate for positive change. Having collaborated with lawmakers and other Black farmers from TFNC’s Women of Color Farmer’s Network on Black Farmer Lobby Days, in addition to working to uplift countless other local community causes, she understands that true transformation starts with a unified community.
A Passion for Teaching and Agricultural Training: Shy’s journey is marked by her fervent passion for teaching and agricultural training. Over the past five years, she has blossomed into a formidable urban farmer, sharing her knowledge and skills with others to cultivate self-sufficiency and resilience.
Expertise in Learning Garden Creation and Community Garden Management: With a strong focus on creating learning gardens and community garden management, Shy has been instrumental in creating thriving green spaces that teach valuable skills, bring people together, nourish bodies and souls, and promote sustainable living.
A Heart for Nonprofit Work: Shy Palmer has also dedicated herself to nonprofit work, leveraging her talents to address pressing issues within her community. Her tireless efforts have helped raise awareness, mobilize resources, and drive meaningful change where it matters most.

In Shy Palmer, we find a tireless advocate, a dedicated educator, and a passionate urban farmer, all committed to making the world a better place. Her journey exemplifies the power of community and the enduring impact of individuals who champion the causes they hold dear.

Email Shy: [email protected]

Wanda Morrison

HR Coordinator | Hickory, NC

Wanda brings more than 20 years of human resources experience to CFSA. Ranging from consultant to manager, she has held positions in recruitment, employee relations, and benefits administration. Wanda has supported small to medium and large organizations, with staff ranging from 400 to more than 1000 employees and managers in 23 locations throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

She received her Bachelor of Arts in human services from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Wanda’s strengths lie in her approachability, congeniality, and general upbeat attitude.

She lives in Hickory, North Carolina, and enjoys traveling, interior decorating, and spending time with friends and family.

Email Wanda: [email protected]

Mary Beth Miller

Education Manager | Cedar Grove, NC

Mary Beth was grown and raised in the Piedmont of North Carolina. She realized her passion for agriculture while interning on a sustainable farm in Hillsborough and spending time on farms abroad after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In 2012, she founded Blue Merle Farm, growing vegetables, mushrooms, cut flowers, and keeping bees in Orange County, NC. She is passionate about climate change solutions in agriculture, environmental justice, and farm policy.

Email Mary Beth: [email protected]

Karen McSwain

Associate Executive Director for Programs | Black Mountain, NC

Karen brings more than 20 years of organic farming, teaching, and research experience to the organization. Her practical hands-on experience, combined with a Bachelor of Science in Crop and Soil Science from Cornell University and a Master of Science in Horticulture & Sustainable Agriculture from Iowa State University, makes her keenly aware of issues faced by small farmers.

Based in Black Mountain, North Carolina, Karen directs CFSA’s technical assistance programs and oversees CFSA’s organic research and the Elma C. Lomax Education & Research Farm.

Email Karen: [email protected]

Roland McReynolds

Executive Director | Pittsboro, NC

Roland grew up in Columbia, Missouri. His grandma was a longtime subscriber to Organic Gardening; his family raised its own layer and fryer chickens, as well as grew most of their own vegetables. The family home was surrounded by conventional corn and soybean fields.

Roland is a licensed attorney, and after the births of his children, he decided to devote his legal training and business experience to the service of promoting healthy agriculture for future generations.

Roland lives in Pittsboro, North Carolina.

Email Roland: [email protected]

Emily Ling

Farm and Faith Community Organizer | Winston-Salem, NC

Emily Ling is a native Texan whose path has been influenced by time living in New Orleans, Georgia, Boston, and now North Carolina. With roots in the Christian tradition, her interdisciplinary work encompasses advocating for economic & social justice and actively creating the Beloved Community she longs to see. Prior to her current work in organic agriculture, Emily spent years advancing criminal justice reform and advocating on behalf of those who experience incarceration. Her interests in social transformation and ethical leadership led her into theological studies, and later into roles as the Social Justice editor of the EcoTheo Review and teaching workshops for faith leaders at educational institutions including Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and Boston University. Most recently she has enjoyed blending her passions for social and environmental justice through regenerative farming, and she is delighted to assist congregations in growing their food ministries by serving as CFSA’s Farm and Faith Community Organizer.

Emily holds a Master of Divinity and a Certificate in Religion and Conflict Transformation from Boston University and a Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas. She lives with her partner in Winston-Salem, where they enjoy hosting storytelling salons and being dog parents.

Email Emily: [email protected]

Jacob Leech

Associate Executive Director for Operations | Raleigh, NC

Jacob grew up on a small family farm in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, where he spent his youth working with cattle or hiking and fishing in the mountains. This experience guided Jacob down a career path focused on natural resource conservation and protecting the viability of small, sustainable farms.

Jacob studied political science and biology at Guilford College, which included an enlightening summer internship with his hometown’s soil and water conservation district. After college, he spent seven years in Florida working on various projects, ranging from integrated water resources management to beginning farmer training programs. Jacob returned to North Carolina in 2011 to work on dam removals, agritourism projects, and farmland preservation plans before coming to CFSA in 2015. He lives in Raleigh.

As CFSA’s head of operations, Jacob puts his 12 years of nonprofit leadership, budgeting, and grant management experience to good use.

Email Jacob: [email protected]

Angie Lavezzo

Project Assistant | Candler, NC

Inspired by a childhood of reading books where the heroines have bountiful kitchen gardens, Angie started her first plot in the backyard of her family’s suburban Washington DC home when she was 14 and has been a passionate grower ever since. After studying botany and horticulture in college, Angie comes to CFSA after eight years at Sow True Seed. While there, she educated gardeners and farmers on selecting and saving crops for seed, growing tips and strategy, pollinator stewardship, and writing seed stories and how-to guides.

Angie moved to Asheville in 2003 with her partner and son and now lives in Candler, North Carolina, just west of Asheville, on a 13-acre farm in the beautiful Hominy Valley region. So far, she’s planted an extensive orchard, far too large of a vegetable garden to reasonably keep up with, and installed dozens of birdhouses, bat houses, and native bee houses. She and her partner will be exploring agritourism opportunities in the coming years.

Email Angie: [email protected]

Matt Kneece

Policy Director | Columbia, SC

Matt Kneece is the Director of Policy at Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, with more than fifteen years of experience in government relations, campaigns, nonprofit leadership, and policy analysis.

His work at CFSA involves advocating for state and federal policies that better support local food, organic farming, and resilient regional food systems. He works closely with CFSA members and allies to educate policymakers on issues of importance to the local, organic farming communities and spearhead grassroots communications in support of specific policy needs.

Prior to joining CFSA, Matt worked in marketing and communications at the South Carolina Department of Commerce, and studied political science and geography at the University of South Carolina, with a focus on the relationship between conservation and rural development.

Email Matt: [email protected]

Cassidy Fryga

Local Produce Safety Coordinator | Spartanburg, SC

Although she was born in Lexington, South Carolina, Cassidy has considered the Upstate SC her home for the past eight years. Ever since she was 10, she dreamed of attending Clemson University. She did so as a food science and human nutrition major in 2016. As an undergraduate, Cassidy worked for the Clemson University Student Organic Farm and fell in love with the farm-to-table process. After graduating in 2020, she worked for three years as a food safety practitioner for a packaging and manufacturing company in Spartanburg, SC. There, she learned the ins and outs of the GFSI certification process, principles of good food production, safe food handling, and good hygiene practices. This laid a solid foundation for her food safety experience and launched Cassidy toward her true passion of applying her knowledge to support local food systems. As a local produce safety coordinator with CFSA, she looks forward to building connections with farmers across North and South Carolina and learning more about sustainable food systems in her area.

Email Cassidy: [email protected]

Sonia Frischemeier

Development Director | Carrboro, NC

Sonia comes to CFSA with over two decades of cross-functional, nonprofit experience in fund development, partner relationship management, and operational management. She is passionate about bringing people together to build resilient, equitable communities.

Sonia shares a little slice of heaven in Carrboro, North Carolina, with her husband, Brooke, and an assortment of furry rescues. Their kids have flown the coop.

Email Sonia: [email protected]

Lenwood Edwards, Jr.

FarmsSHARE Coordinator | Greensboro, NC

As the FarmsSHARE Coordinator at Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, Lenwood manages relationships with over 300 farms, 18 food hubs, and over 200 community partner organizations throughout the Carolinas. He assists in grant reporting, data management, and project management to fulfill CFSA’s mission of creating a sustainable local food system for North and South Carolina. He’s passionate about building resilient communities, empowering underrepresented populations, and investing in sustainable agriculture.

Email Lenwood: [email protected]

Jay Dunbar

Local Produce Safety Coordinator | Winston-Salem, NC

Jay joined the local food movement in 2008 after previous education and non-profit development careers. He started his journey as an observer, helping The Greenhorns produce video content about young farmers in the Southeast. Jay then promoted local foods and farming in Winston-Salem, organizing local foods-focused events, and engaging with the community on the challenges and rewards of building a resilient local food system.

Following a life-changing experience at Slow Food’s Terra Madre in 2014, Jay began earnestly pursuing his agricultural career, establishing and managing River Ridge Organics, an organic berry farm in southwest Virginia. Immersed in all aspects of organic production and farm business management, he discovered a passion for food safety.

Jay brings that passion and interest to CFSA, where he serves as a local produce safety coordinator, assisting growers with GAP certification and conducting workshops and webinars on farm food safety throughout the Carolinas.

Email Jay: [email protected]

Mark Dempsey

Organic Technical Service Provider | Clemson, SC

Mark grew up in Georgia and moved to North Carolina for the first time to attend Appalachian State University. There he received his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Biology and then received his Master of Science in Soil Microbiology from Miami University in Ohio.

After graduating, Mark worked as a researcher in Penn State University’s sustainable agriculture program, focusing on improving cover crop management and reducing tillage in organic systems.

At CFSA since 2015, Mark currently writes conservation plans geared toward organic production and certification. These plans are funded by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and can help growers do a better job stewarding the natural resources on their farms with technical and financial assistance.

Mark lives in Clemson, South Carolina, where he’s working on his Ph.D. at Clemson University in lentil breeding.

Email Mark: [email protected]

Amelia Bruss

Soil Conservationist | Wilmington, NC

Born in California, Amelia lived in Arizona, Ohio, and Colorado before her family settled on a farm in central New York, where they grew vegetables and hay and raised fiber sheep, dairy cows, chickens, and pigs.

Amelia received a bachelor’s in sustainable farming systems from Green Mountain College in Vermont. Since graduating in 2017, she has worked on and managed small diversified farms in New England. Since 2020, Amelia has worked for Natural Resources Conservation Service districts in Vermont and Massachusetts, helping farmers access resources, improve production practices, and increase soil health.

As CFSA’s Soil Conservationist, Amelia provides technical assistance to farmers on conservation planning and organic production, transition, and certification.

Amelia lives in Wilmington, North Carolina, and enjoys riding her horse, spending time in the woods with her dog Frankie, cooking, hunting, and spending time with family.

Email Amelia: [email protected]

Lynn Brinkley

Junior Salesforce Administrator | NC

Lynn grew up on her family’s farm in the Neuse River basin, which led to a deep love of nature and its preservation. She holds degrees in environmental politics and policy, with focuses on food waste and the global effects of climate change on agriculture. Although her career has shifted towards tech, lest she ever forget the old adage that all of civilization’s accomplishments are dependent on about six inches of topsoil and the hope that it rains.

Outside of managing CFSA’s database, Lynn enjoys walks at dawn among North Carolina’s songbirds, growing tomatoes and potatoes for her family, and tending to pet goats who are retired breeding stock.

Email Lynn: [email protected]

Alesia Bock

NC Policy Specialist | Chapel Hill, NC

Alesia, originally from the Midwest, moved to North Carolina during the pandemic and joined CFSA’s Policy Team in May 2024. Her vision for sustainable, climate-smart organic agriculture and the development of robust regional and local food systems with healthy food access for all led her to CFSA, whose passionate advocacy aligns with her own. In this role, she advocates for policies and funding in the NC legislature that align with our farmer members’ needs.

In addition to being a recent graduate of the CFSA Member Advocacy Program (MAP), Alesia holds a degree in Food Science with an emphasis on Food Safety from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. After a long career in corporate and facility Quality Assurance with a large food company, she started her own consulting business to help growers and processors obtain organic certification. This experience brought her to the Organic Trade Association in Washington, D.C., where she advocated for sustainable agriculture funding in the Farm Bill and collaborated with the National Organic Standards Board to ensure that organic regulations remain consistent and workable.

Alesia enjoys the Triangle area of North Carolina for its outdoor recreational opportunities. When she’s not advocating for farmers at the General Assembly in Raleigh, you can often find her training for her next ultramarathon on the many forested trails this area has to offer.

Email Alesia: [email protected]

Grace Baucom

Communications Coordinator | Triangle Area, NC

Grace is a communications professional passionate about amplifying causes including equitable food systems, regenerative ag, sustainable community development, and nonformal education through creative, data-driven campaigns and storytelling.

She and her family caught the farming bug during a farm stay vacation when she was a teen, and what started as a backyard garden quickly sprouted into a flock of chickens, hives of bees, four very spoiled goats, and Grace’s enduring interest in small-scale farming and sustainable food systems. She holds bachelor’s degrees from NC State in Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems and in Extension Education, and a master’s degree from Duke in Graduate Liberal Studies.

Grace brings to CFSA her experience working at the intersection of agriculture, sustainability, and communications for organizations including NC State Extension, the Center for Environmental Farming Systems, and the Environmental Educators of North Carolina. Grace is an almost-native of the NC Triangle, where she lives with her family on their small hobby farm.

Email Grace: [email protected]

Dylan Alexander

Lomax Farm Manager | Charlotte, NC

Dylan grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina, and became interested in the ability of food to heal after a medical diagnosis. He was accepted into the Farmers-in-Training (FiT) program at CFSA’s Elma C. Lomax Research & Education Farm in 2014 and set out to share the benefits of organic farming with others. Dylan’s efforts were made official with the founding of Alexander Acres in 2015, selling certified organic produce at various farmers markets and to local restaurants.

Shortly after graduating from the FiT program, Dylan became the Lomax Farm coordinator, and was recently promoted to manager. He is responsible for land management, maintaining equipment, and assisting with Lomax’s research, education, and the FiT program. Dylan has extensive experience in seasonal organic vegetable production, hydroponics, indoor and outdoor mushroom production, and management on farms and in greenhouses and high tunnels.

Dylan and his wife live outside of Charlotte on their 14-acre homestead and focus on mushroom cultivation, high tunnel production, and raising small livestock.

Email Dylan: [email protected]

Tiki Windley

Blue Cross NC | Morrisville, NC

Tiki’s grandmother instilled a passion and commitment to help those in need in her at a young age. “To whom much is given, much is required” is an ideology Tiki tries to put into practice in both her personal and professional lives. Seeing the ever-widening gap between those who have access to resources needed to create a better quality of life and those who do not, reminds Tiki of her own humble beginnings and inspires her to pay her blessings forward.

Tiki joined Blue Cross NC in 2025 as a Senior Program Manager for Corporate Social Responsibility. In this role, Tiki joins a team whose focus is on community engagement, investing in local initiatives, and improving equitable health access. This focus includes but is not limited to supporting community-led initiatives, employee volunteering, play spaces, capacity building, and partnerships.

Prior to her current position, Tiki was the Program Officer for the Community-Based Strategy portfolio at Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation. In this role, she helped guide investments that demonstrated community-led and community-centric efforts to create change in a local-level ecosystem.

Tiki holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Elizabeth City State University and a master’s in public administration from NC Central University. She has a daughter, Dorean; a son, David; absolutely perfect granddaughter, Arielle; and an adorable grand-doggy, Mikey.

Andrea White

Food Bank of Greenwood County | Greenwood, SC

Andrea oversees the Lakelands area’s largest hunger-relief organization as Chief Executive Officer of the Food Bank of Greenwood County since 2021. Through a network of more than 25 food resource banks and satellite pantries, 100 community partners, agencies, schools, colleges, and universities, the Food Bank of Greenwood County provides nearly 60,000 pounds of food to thousands of people in need on an annual basis. Andrea oversees programs that support children, families, veterans, and senior citizens. She has created a holistic approach to food insecurity, food equity and access, and food ecosystems that include producers (both large scale and small), retailers, processors, restaurants, community gardeners, and organizations that distribute food to impoverished households in the Lakelands community. She directs all aspects of the organization’s efforts of fundraising, communications, advocacy, outreach, and volunteer services.

Prior to her role at Food Bank of Greenwood County, Andrea spent 18 years in educational leadership, serving as a special programs administrator, responsible for family & community resources, student performance outcomes, gifted and talented data analysis, and state regulations and policy research. With a deep personal commitment to strengthening communities, Andrea has been an avid volunteer and board member throughout her career, including service with: the Leadership Greenwood Board of Regents for the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, Keep Greenwood County Beautiful; Greenwood Chamber of Commerce’s Nonprofit Council, Rotary Club of Greenwood, Greenwood Lions Club, Greenwood Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, Greenwood Promise Engagement Committee, and Lakelands Food and Hunger Alliance.

Andrea holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Limestone University, a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Webster University; certification in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) from the University of South Florida, and Nonprofit Management from Winthrop University; graduate of the Leadership Greenwood Class of 2021, a 2022 Riley Fellow at Furman University and a Women’s Leadership Institute graduate also at Furman University. Andrea was recognized as an Under 45 Star in 2021 from the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce and inducted into the Marquis Who’s Who biographical registry for her standard of excellence in leadership, education, and community advocacy.

Andrea’s philosophy is summed up in a quote by Shirley Chisholm: “Service is the rent we pay for the privilege of living on this earth.”

Becca Watson, President

GrowFood Carolina | North Charleston, SC

Becca is a South Carolina native who grew up “on the ridge,” known for its rich agricultural history, in the small town of Monetta. Her passion for sustainable food systems, promoting local farms, and preserving agricultural landscapes has deep roots. Growing up on a fourth-generation organic fruit and vegetable farm, she has felt a connection to agriculture and the land all her life and has witnessed firsthand the innumerable challenges that farmers face. She has devoted her energy and industry expertise to serving farmers throughout South Carolina.

A Clemson University graduate, Becca returned to Monetta after her studies to support her family’s farm for two years. She implemented and managed the farm’s food safety program, assisted with housing compliance for seasonal workers, and managed various farmers markets throughout the Midlands. Becca then accepted a position at GrowFood Carolina, a food hub and program of the Coastal Conservation League, where she began as a Quality Assurance Specialist in 2017. She was promoted to Farm Coordinator in 2018 and now holds the role of Farm Outreach Manager. Her current focus includes grower outreach, market access, wholesale development, and production planning.

Throughout her career, Becca has prioritized farmers as the cornerstone of regional food systems that are essential for the security of our nation’s food chain, community nourishment, and land preservation. Her dedication and agricultural roots fuel her enthusiasm for supporting local growers and building resilient food systems.

Grace Summers

Summers Farm | Browns Summit, NC

Grace Summers has a B.S. in Agronomy from North Carolina State University, a M.S. in Plant Science and Horticulture and a M.S. in Agricultural Education from North Carolina A&T State University. She is currently a part-time Small Farm Outreach State Program Assistant with the Virginia State University Cooperative Extension Program. She coordinates a collaboration with the Small Farm Outreach Program and USDA NRCS to get information to farmers about NRCS Programs. She also provides technical advice on crop production as well as High Tunnel management. Grace recently became the Outreach and Education Specialist for the Southeast Region of American Farmland Trust.

Grace retired from North Carolina A&T State University Cooperative Extension Program in October 2016, where she was an Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Associate/ Applied Research Coordinator. She set up and managed the Horticulture Research Unit as well as coordinated the Plasticulture and Drip Irrigation Program. She helped farmers transition into new enterprises by providing technical production expertise for Horticultural and Agronomic crops. She has 35 years of Greenhouse Management and Production experience and 20 years of High Tunnel building and production experience.

Grace currently owns and manages her family farm which has been in her family since 1878. They raise vegetables, hemp, strawberries and chickens and turkeys for meat and eggs. Grace serves on the Guilford County Farm Bureau Board as well as the NC Farm Bureau Ornamental Horticulture Advisory Committee. She is a member of the Guilford Soil and Water Board of Supervisors, a founding Board member of Green Rural Redevelopment Organization (GRRO), and also a founding Board member of Feast Down East. She currently serves as an Advisory Council member for Southern Risk Management Education Center.

Rev. Keith Sexton, Vice President

Restoring The ‘Souil’ Farm | Oxford, NC

Keith retired in 2024 having served for 27 years as a pastor in the United Methodist Church. He completed work for a Master of Theology at Duke Divinity School in 2003. Keith was in CFSA’s first Member Advocacy Program and serves as a member of the North Carolina Food System Advocacy Coalition. He is Chair of the Board of Church and Society for the North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Keith is the co-creator of The Regenerative Agriculture Toolbox, a resource to aid congregations to support local farmers, as well as employing regenerative practices on church-owned land. In March of 2025 Keith and his wife Tracy purchased nearly 28 acres of land near Oxford, NC to begin their farm. Restoring the Souil Farm will be solar powered, committed to restoring the health of the soil using regenerative practices, and restoring the health of the soul (whole being) sharing in good food while fostering a community of peace builders .

The Sustainable Agriculture program at Central Carolina Community College has prepared Keith for running a small farm. He will complete the Public Theology program at Wesley Seminary, Washington, D.C., in December of 2026. The capstone project connects faith communities, farms, and neighbors to share in local sourced meals and work together to foster thriving communities that build peace.

Katherine Lewis

Naturally Katherine | Columbia, SC

Katherine Lewis has always had a passion for local food and farms, so when a part time opportunity blossomed into a full time position managing a 40 acre blueberry farm, she said yes! As the Director of Operations for 6 years, Katherine created and implemented food safety strategies, maintained good standing with Clemson’s organic program and oversaw the day to day operations. Like other small farms, she wore many different hats from weeder to packer to sales representative and more! After several years being certified organic, she began consulting for several other farms that were interested in becoming an organic operation and helped them receive and maintain their organic certification.

She is passionate about implementing sustainable and organic farming practices that can apply to both large and small farms! In 2021 Katherine decided to focus on being a mom to her 2 young boys and kickstarting her website Naturally Katherine. On this platform, she strives to bridge the gap between consumers and farmers through empowerment and education. She loves highlighting local farms and helping connect consumers with local products that they will love!

Danielle Hutchison, Secretary

TendWell Farm | Old Fort, NC

Danielle Hutchison is a first-generation organic farmer based in Western North Carolina. Graduating from Warren Wilson College in 2007 with a degree in Environmental Education and Agriculture, Danielle has dedicated her career to organic vegetable production.

Since 2008, she has amassed a wealth of experience in various agricultural sectors, including market gardens, CSA farms, and wholesale vegetable production. Danielle’s small farm dream became a reality in 2015 on one small diversified acre and has since flourished into the largest certified organic vegetable farm in WNC.

In 2019, Danielle embarked on a successful joint venture with Steven Beltram, forming TendWell Farm. This collaboration has allowed both farms to thrive as a unified business increasing their local and regional produce distribution. TendWell Farm’s commitment to quality is evident in their specialization in a diverse range of products such as tomatoes, kale, watermelons and lettuce. In 2023, TendWell Farm grew, sold and distributed over 3.5 million pounds of fresh organic produce throughout the Southeast.

Danielle prioritizes the well-being of her farm crew, ensuring safe and supportive working conditions. Her dedication to creating a sustainable work-life balance for herself, her employees, and her family is a cornerstone of her agricultural philosophy. With a focus on quality, sustainability, and community impact, Danielle’s journey in sustainable agriculture continues to inspire and uplift those around her.

By echoing the sentiment that women like herself are not only growers of food but also drivers of change and progress in the agricultural sector, Danielle exemplifies the invaluable impact that women have in shaping the future of farming. Her dedication to balancing excellence in farming with a profound understanding of the critical role women play underscores her commitment to driving positive change and empowerment within the agriculture community.

Ken Harvin, Treasurer

SC Association for Community and Economic Development | Summerton, SC

Ken has spent 20 years as a community development practitioner in Communities of Color, addressing the issue of social inequality using community-building and organizing principles. Ken graduated from Scott’s Branch High School in the historic civil rights community of Summerton, SC, and was honorably discharged from the United States Marine Corps. He holds a master’s degree in nonprofit management specializing in community development finance from the New School for Public Engagement, Milano School of International Affairs, and Management and Urban Policy.

As a practitioner, Ken has consulted with nonprofits, community action agencies, and public charter schools in urban and rural environments to build organizational capacity to effect change at the individual and community levels. In 2017, Ken was awarded a Research Institute for Scholars of Equity (RISE) fellowship at North Carolina Central University in partnership with the University of North Carolina of Wilmington, funded by the Institute of Education Sciences. In June 2017, he was selected to serve in the Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS) as AmeriCorps VISTA with the Enterprise Community Partners.

Ken was the first African American Student Government Association President of Kennesaw State College. Among his accomplishments is securing more than $2.2 million in federal awards for his community development projects. Ken has successfully managed multiple USDA Rural Development, Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS), and other state contracts and local private foundation grants designed to build the capacity of socially disadvantaged farmers and low-wealth rural communities for economic prosperity. Currently, Ken works with socially disadvantaged farmers to access NRCS, EQIP, CSP, FSA, COVID-19, ARPA, and LFAP resources to help sustain their enterprise.

Abbie Dillon

Gaia Herbs | Brevard, NC

Since the moment she decided to study horticulture at the University of Georgia, Abbie has tried to have at least one hand in the soil at all times. She managed a green roof garden while interning at the Office of Sustainability at UGA, where she got to teach others the magic of growing food and native plants organically in an urban setting. She also learned the ins and outs of medicinal herb growing, tea and spice making, and business managing/marketing while working under Noelle Joy at UGArden, and later completed the BotanoLogos Foundation of Herbalism course with Patricia Howell.

She experienced a small stint at an organic veggie farm in Athens, GA after graduating, and then she found her dream job as a farm crew leader at Gaia Herbs. She quickly learned Spanish in order to effectively lead Gaia’s incredible farm crew, and also leads the wellness and safety committees at the company. She has a deep passion for regenerative agriculture and sustainable food systems and believes that proper land management is one of the greatest solutions we have to the environmental issues we face. When she’s not working, you can find her hanging out with plants and mushrooms in the forest, making herbal concoctions, mountain biking, and jumping in the river when it’s not too cold.

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Michael Brown

Sustaining Way | Greenville, SC

Michael is the executive director of Sustaining Way and its flagship demonstration site, Annie’s House, located in Greenville, South Carolina’s historic Nicholtown.

A native of Spartanburg, Michael holds a BA in political science from Alabama A&M University, an MPA from The Ohio State University, and a JD from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Michael served 12 years as the District One Representative for Spartanburg County Council, was the first African American vice-chair, and chaired the Public Safety and Judiciary Committee. A long-serving member of the Economic Development Committee, Michael worked to establish 20,000 jobs and deliver more than $8 billion of development to the county. Among many community service roles, he has served on the South Carolina Bar Board of Governors, serves as president of the Spartanburg NAACP, is an alumnus of the Liberty Fellowship, and is an Aspen Global Leadership Fellow.

A trained apiarist certified in Sustainable Agriculture, Michael is a board member of the South Carolina Food Policy Council working to combat the reality of food swamps/food deserts in the communities throughout the state. He is passionate about helping heal the land and started a regenerative urban farm, Roots of Life, in 2019.

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