Image 1 of 1
My agricultural journey is rooted in both lived experience and generational knowledge. My ancestors were sharecroppers in Virginia, and that history continues to shape my commitment to land stewardship, food sovereignty, and equitable agricultural systems. On my mother’s side, my family settled in Montana after immigrating from southeast Europe, traveling by covered wagon and sustaining themselves through hunting, fishing, and gardening. From an early age, I was taught those same values. To work with the land responsibly, honorably and equitably. These methods now guide my regenerative, community-centered farming practice.
Over the last 5 years I have been a migrant farmer travelling with the seasons and learning as much as I can from farms across America. I bring extensive hands-on experience across livestock management, meat processing, and sustainable farm infrastructure. I have managed diverse livestock systems, including herds of up to 50 cattle, 300 pigs, and 12,000 poultry, with direct responsibility for daily rotational grazing, health monitoring , and humane handling. My dairy and livestock care experience comes from working at Twin Oaks communtiy, where I was trained in milking procedures, sanitation, and daily herd management. My butchery and meat processing experience includes poultry, hogs, beef, deer, rabbits, and small game, with a strong foundation in food safety, sanitation, and efficient small-scale processing workflows. I am ServSafe certified and trained in food safety and handling protocols.
My regenerative training includes the Ujamaa Seed Ethics Fellowship led by Ira Wallace (2024), where I studied seed sovereignty, cultural foodways, and ecological growing practices. as well as seed school I am participating in the Not Our Farm Fellowship (2025). I have also completed a six-week beekeeping course focused on hive management and pollinator health. These experiences inform my commitment to soil health, fostering native biodiversity, and closed-loop open pollinated farming systems. Working with Black star farmers in Seattle seasonally since 2021 taught me how to connect with others in the garden, teaching students and future leaders of all ages while working with soil scientist Dr Melanie Malone at Seattle university to test soil content in the seattle area. I am bringing back this training to Virginia.
I have constructed and maintained essential farm infrastructure, including fencing systems (high-tensile, woven wire, and electric), a 500-square-foot chicken brooder, and over 30 mobile chicken tractors. I am proficient with farm equipment, including BCS walk-behind tractors, and have industrial machinery experience from five seasons working as a sugar beet piler operator in North Dakota. I am OSHA certified and experienced in heavy machine operation, maintenance, and workplace safety. Additional skills include chainsaw operation and woodland management, supporting safe and sustainable land stewardship.
My background also includes customer service and agricultural sales through Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, strengthening my ability to engage farmers, customers, and community members with clarity and professionalism.
Together, my ancestral ties, technical training, and practical experience provide a strong foundation to build and sustain a regenerative farm that prioritizes community access.