Board
 OAK Board (clockwise from top left): John Bell, Brian Geier, Jake Schmitz, Tony Powell, Larry Brandenburg, Shayne Wigglesworth, Kim Jordan, Deborah Hill, Molly Stotts. |
Executive
President - Larry Brandenburg
Larry Brandenburg owns and operates (along with his wife and two sons) Harmony Fields Farm, a Certified Organic farm in Shelby County, Kentucky. They market produce and cut flowers through a 40 member CSA, two farmer’s markets and selected wholesale outlets. Larry’s journey toward organic farming starting as a teenager when he was exposed to the effects of chemical sprays while raising tobacco. This journey finally culminated 13 years ago when the Brandenburg’s moved to Shelby County and began implementing the principles of organic agriculture. Harmony Fields became certified through the Kentucky Department of Agriculture in 2006. This journey has also taken him through careers in academia, business and the church. In addition to the farming enterprise, he also serves as Director of Music at Harvey Browne Presbyterian Church in Louisville, Ky.Vice President - Kim Jordan
Kim Jordan is grower at Wilson Nurseries in Frankfort, Ky. She has developed the certified organic edibles program which began in 2007. She grows certified vegetable and herb transplants while maintaining Wilson’s stock plants. She also grows the perennials, grasses and roses conventionally for the nursery. She currently manages two sites that have certified organic vegetable & herb gardens. She received a BS in Animal Science and a Masters in Animal Nutrition with a neonate specialty from Kansas State University. She has been involved with raising livestock, produce and fruit crops most of her life.
Secretary - Shayne wigglesworth
Shayne Wigglesworth is the produce manager at Good Foods Market and Café in Lexington, a natural foods cooperative. She has been the produce manager for two years and has worked at Good Foods for over six years. The produce department’s focus is mainly on certified organic food and local. Before working at Good Foods, Shayne was an environmental educator and public school teacher. She has grown a variety of organic fruit and vegetables in her home garden. She currently lives in Lexington with her son, Leaf.
Treasurer - Molly Stotts
After raising/homeschooling seven children on an organic garden for 30 years, Molly could not stop playing in the dirt and growing large amounts of everything. The result was Molly and her husband, Craig selling their produce at the local farmer’s market. They then discovered the CSA option. They also have a few wool sheep. Molly’s newest pleasure is sitting by the wood stove spinning and knitting her own wool.
Members at Large
John Bell
John Bell lives and farms in Scott County with his wife Melissa and two children. They farm with his sister, brother in law, and father on the family-owned 375 acre family farm. The majority of the farm (approximately 320 acres) has been certified organic since 2000 and supports cattle, poultry, lamb, fruit, vegetables, and grains through a continuous rotation. John and his family enjoy the challenges of producing healthy foods in as sustainable manner as possible for themselves as well as their community.
Brian Geier
Brian Geier is a new farmer in Franklin County, Kentucky, managing four acres (three organic and one transitional) on rented land and one acre of owned land (organic). He started Sour Power, LLC, (formerly Geier Krauts), a fermentation company that produces lacto-fermented products in the University of Kentucky's Bath County Extension kitchen. He also grows on contract for organic seed distribution. He worked for three years at Kentucky State University as a Research Assistant in sustainable vegetable production with Dr. Michael Bomford until December of 2009. He has a BS in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Maine. He lives with his wife, Melissa Calhoun, and friends at Camp Pleasant, in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Deborah Hill
Deborah B. Hill has been an extension professor in the Forestry Department at UK since 1981 and works with county extension personnel and the public primarily with Christmas trees, shiitake mushrooms and other non-timber forest products. She owns a small farm in Frankfort where she implements principles of permaculture and agroforestry with primarily fruit crops. She teaches principles of permaculture and agroforestry to students in the Forestry and the Sustainable Agriculture programs at the university.
Tony Powell
As a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines in 1989 and 1990, Tony Powell learned about different organic gardening techniques and practices. After his return and marriage to Amy, they practiced organic methods on two farms. Since then they have raised three kids, bought a farm in Grant County and moved to Amy's Granny's farm, all the while staying true to their organic roots. They are in the process of having their farm organically certified. They raise and sell vegetables and eggs at several local farmers markets, including the first in the state to intensively promote organic or certified naturally grown products. In addition, they raise hogs, goats, rabbits, chickens, turkeys, ducks, and guineas. Tony is also a Registered Sanitarian and Health Environmentalist with the Northern Kentucky Health Department. Keeping many projects rolling is helped greatly by the many family members who live in the "village", as they call it. With in-laws, parents, aunts, uncle and cousins often numbering 13 people at the dinner table, there is always someone to lend a hand at the Atwood Village Family Farm.
