Experience

University of Wisconsin-Madison

• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Emerging Crops Commercialization Outreach Specialist

  • May 2022 - Present

  As a member of the Emerging Crops team within the Division of Extension at UW-Madison, I help promote, conduct research on, and establish markets for a portfolio of promising crops that have the potential to benefit the agricultural economy and environment in Wisconsin. This includes nut crops like hazelnuts and chestnuts, perennial wheatgrass (Kernza), other grains, industrial hemp, hops, and small fruit. As a member of the Emerging Crops team within the Division of Extension at UW-Madison, I help promote, conduct research on, and establish markets for a portfolio of promising crops that have the potential to benefit the agricultural economy and environment in Wisconsin. This includes nut crops like hazelnuts and chestnuts, perennial wheatgrass (Kernza), other grains, industrial hemp, hops, and small fruit.



Seed Savers Exchange

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Evaluation and Trials Manager

  • Aug 2019 - Jun 2022

• Assistant Curator

  • Aug 2017 - Aug 2019

• Horticultural Technician

  • Aug 2012 - Aug 2017

  I worked in the Preservation Department, specifically on the Evaluation Program, with the goal of characterizing the varieties in the seed collection through data collection (performance and phenotype-based) and photodocumentation. I use this information to write variety profiles in our annual Yearbook publication and make recommendations to the curator for collection management.

• Seed Lab Intern

  • Dec 2011 - Aug 2012

  I worked in the seed lab at Seed Savers Exchange to help inventory and package seed, perform germination tests, monitor climate-controlled seed storage rooms, and conduct seed moisture content tests.

• Preservation Garden Crew

  • Aug 2011 - Dec 2011

  I helped maintain isolation gardens for vegetable variety grow-outs. Work included sowing, planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, seed processing, moisture content testing, seed packaging, and inventorying.



Twin Springs Farm

• Founder/Manager

  • Nov 2016 - Feb 2019

  I founded and managed Twin Springs Farm, a one-acre diversified fruit and vegetable farm that sold produce direct to market through a roadside farm stand, wholesale to the Iowa Food Hub, and grew organic vegetable seed on contract for Seed Savers Exchange. I founded and managed Twin Springs Farm, a one-acre diversified fruit and vegetable farm that sold produce direct to market through a roadside farm stand, wholesale to the Iowa Food Hub, and grew organic vegetable seed on contract for Seed Savers Exchange.



Grant Family Farms CSA

• Farm Intern

  • Mar 2011 - Aug 2011

  My work here included planting, maintaining and harvesting vegetable crops, livestock husbandry, packaging produce and eggs for distribution, and helping deliver boxes to CSA members. My work here included planting, maintaining and harvesting vegetable crops, livestock husbandry, packaging produce and eggs for distribution, and helping deliver boxes to CSA members.