Crew
The undergraduate students on our crew are the heart and soul of the Student Organic Farm. Through their work here, students gain valuable hands on experience producing organic fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs, as well as a deeper understanding of organic farming, food, and community.
Allison Aigner
Allison is a senior at MSU studying Environmental Studies and Sustainability with a minor in Sustainable Food and Agriculture systems. She enjoys anything and everything outside, such as riding her horse and competing in cowboy mounted shooting. She also enjoys playing guitar and cooking, especially food that she’s helped grow! Since our food system and its impact on the environment is what Allison is most passionate about, working at the SOF has given her the perfect opportunity to get involved in local sustainable food. She plans on using what she has learned at the SOF to start her own vegetable garden this summer.
Allison is a senior at MSU studying Environmental Studies and Sustainability with a minor in Sustainable Food and Agriculture systems. She enjoys anything and everything outside, such as riding her horse and competing in cowboy mounted shooting. She also enjoys playing guitar and cooking, especially food that she’s helped grow! Since our food system and its impact on the environment is what Allison is most passionate about, working at the SOF has given her the perfect opportunity to get involved in local sustainable food. She plans on using what she has learned at the SOF to start her own vegetable garden this summer.
Kellen Boyd
Kellen Boyd is an Environmental Engineering senior with a Water Resources focus and a minor in Environmental Studies & Sustainability. He discovered the farm and small-scale agriculture through volunteering at the Student Organic Farm in his sophomore year and has been around since. Kellen’s favorite aspect of the farm are the fellow crew members and staff that make the environment so positive. To him, the farm represents a place to learn, work, and enjoy good food with good people. Winter spinach is his favorite farm vegetable of the season. He plans to work towards a more sustainable future with respect to irrigation application in water-stressed regions.
Kellen Boyd is an Environmental Engineering senior with a Water Resources focus and a minor in Environmental Studies & Sustainability. He discovered the farm and small-scale agriculture through volunteering at the Student Organic Farm in his sophomore year and has been around since. Kellen’s favorite aspect of the farm are the fellow crew members and staff that make the environment so positive. To him, the farm represents a place to learn, work, and enjoy good food with good people. Winter spinach is his favorite farm vegetable of the season. He plans to work towards a more sustainable future with respect to irrigation application in water-stressed regions.
David Chickering
David is studying Biosystems Engineering at MSU, with concentration in Ecosystems Engineering. Originally an Organic Farmer Training Program member, the community at the Student Organic Farm was instrumental in his decision for further education at MSU. The diversity of student majors as well as staff background makes the SOF a very special place to learn and farm together. Upon graduation, David plans to work with smallholders and family farmers to facilitate the discussion of their social and economic importance in the global food climate.
David is studying Biosystems Engineering at MSU, with concentration in Ecosystems Engineering. Originally an Organic Farmer Training Program member, the community at the Student Organic Farm was instrumental in his decision for further education at MSU. The diversity of student majors as well as staff background makes the SOF a very special place to learn and farm together. Upon graduation, David plans to work with smallholders and family farmers to facilitate the discussion of their social and economic importance in the global food climate.
Jaime Davidson
Jaime Davidson is a freshman horticulture major and Arabic minor in RISE who is very involved in campus activism and enjoys visual art and writing. The SOF means that Jaime gets to have continuous hands-on learning even during the school year.
Jaime Davidson is a freshman horticulture major and Arabic minor in RISE who is very involved in campus activism and enjoys visual art and writing. The SOF means that Jaime gets to have continuous hands-on learning even during the school year.
Brandon Denler
Brandon is a senior majoring in plant biology with a minor in sustainable agriculture and food systems. He has been with the SOF for 3 seasons now and will be graduating in May 2018. For Brandon, the SOF is a place to escape from the all the ruckus and stress on the MSU campus. It has connected him to a network of farmers that have provided work and support for his future. But the real reason Brandon keeps coming back is for the pleasure of working with genuine humans. At MSU, Brandon is the founder and president of an environmental activism student organization known as the Spartan Sierra Club. When he has time to himself, Brandon enjoys traveling with family and friends, trying new foods, thrifting, and catching his favorite bands on tour.
Brandon is a senior majoring in plant biology with a minor in sustainable agriculture and food systems. He has been with the SOF for 3 seasons now and will be graduating in May 2018. For Brandon, the SOF is a place to escape from the all the ruckus and stress on the MSU campus. It has connected him to a network of farmers that have provided work and support for his future. But the real reason Brandon keeps coming back is for the pleasure of working with genuine humans. At MSU, Brandon is the founder and president of an environmental activism student organization known as the Spartan Sierra Club. When he has time to himself, Brandon enjoys traveling with family and friends, trying new foods, thrifting, and catching his favorite bands on tour.
Matthew Diekman
Matt is currently in his fifth year at MSU, studying to become a Landscape Architect. Starting school as an undeclared student, Matt navigated classes and college life, ultimately falling into Agriculture through an internship at Urbandale Farm in Lansing. He liked the work so much that in January of 2016 he began working as a crew member for the SOF. Since then, the farm has helped shape his journey toward the Landscape Architecture field, acquiring a minor in Horticulture, and cultivating a desire to be a part of food production for years to come. Words cannot describe what the SOF means to him, and he will cherish the relationships made on the farm for life. When Matt is not standing over a bed of veggies or a drafting desk, he enjoys reading, music, cooking, movies, and being with friends and family.
Matt is currently in his fifth year at MSU, studying to become a Landscape Architect. Starting school as an undeclared student, Matt navigated classes and college life, ultimately falling into Agriculture through an internship at Urbandale Farm in Lansing. He liked the work so much that in January of 2016 he began working as a crew member for the SOF. Since then, the farm has helped shape his journey toward the Landscape Architecture field, acquiring a minor in Horticulture, and cultivating a desire to be a part of food production for years to come. Words cannot describe what the SOF means to him, and he will cherish the relationships made on the farm for life. When Matt is not standing over a bed of veggies or a drafting desk, he enjoys reading, music, cooking, movies, and being with friends and family.
John Eitner
John started volunteering at the Student Organic Farm last semester and got the opportunity to work here in January. He transfered from New Jersey in the fall for MSU's Horticulture program. His concentration is in sustainability, but he also has an interest in floriculture. With his degree he hopes to one day own and operate a small scale organic farm. When John isn't working, he enjoys spending time outside and cooking.
John started volunteering at the Student Organic Farm last semester and got the opportunity to work here in January. He transfered from New Jersey in the fall for MSU's Horticulture program. His concentration is in sustainability, but he also has an interest in floriculture. With his degree he hopes to one day own and operate a small scale organic farm. When John isn't working, he enjoys spending time outside and cooking.
Degen Gembarowski
Degen is a senior majoring in Sustainable and Organic Horticulture. In addition to this degree, she is also earning a minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies through the RISE program. Combining technical education on how to produce vegetable and fruit crops with social and sustainability education on how to engage communities to responsibly solve environmental problems, she is working toward her goal of managing her own farm someday. Degen enjoys farm activities that allow her to interact with the larger SOF community, such as CSA distribution and potlucks, and her favorite veggie is Hakerei (salad) turnips. Although she will soon be leaving MSU, she will always value the respectful and supportive community that the staff at the SOF nurture and will take these experiences with her to help her build such a farm community on her own farm.
Degen is a senior majoring in Sustainable and Organic Horticulture. In addition to this degree, she is also earning a minor in Environmental and Sustainability Studies through the RISE program. Combining technical education on how to produce vegetable and fruit crops with social and sustainability education on how to engage communities to responsibly solve environmental problems, she is working toward her goal of managing her own farm someday. Degen enjoys farm activities that allow her to interact with the larger SOF community, such as CSA distribution and potlucks, and her favorite veggie is Hakerei (salad) turnips. Although she will soon be leaving MSU, she will always value the respectful and supportive community that the staff at the SOF nurture and will take these experiences with her to help her build such a farm community on her own farm.
Abigail Kuplicki
Abby is a second-year student studying Arts and Humanities (RCAH) and Food Science. She loves cooking and sharing her recipes and food pictures online as well as doing yoga, reading, and spending time outside, especially when it's warm and raining. The SOF is special to Abby because she gets to work outside and help grow the most incredibly delicious organic vegetables and fruits. She especially loves making deliveries or being around during CSA because seeing how happy people are to receive SOF produce brings her a lot of joy. Abby's favorite farm activities are harvesting asparagus, prepping beds, and pulling up any root vegetable!
Abby is a second-year student studying Arts and Humanities (RCAH) and Food Science. She loves cooking and sharing her recipes and food pictures online as well as doing yoga, reading, and spending time outside, especially when it's warm and raining. The SOF is special to Abby because she gets to work outside and help grow the most incredibly delicious organic vegetables and fruits. She especially loves making deliveries or being around during CSA because seeing how happy people are to receive SOF produce brings her a lot of joy. Abby's favorite farm activities are harvesting asparagus, prepping beds, and pulling up any root vegetable!
Lindsay Mensch
Lindsay Mensch is in her third year at Michigan State University studying English/Creative Writing, with two minors - Environmental & Sustainability Studies and Horticulture. By studying a diversity of subjects, she is able to combine her passions for environmentalism and equity, as well as her general love for food and soil. Her previous work at the Bailey GREENhouse & Urban Farm helped her develop a love for farming that she never thought possible.
She came to the Student Organic Farm because she has a lot to learn about running a farming business and growing healthy plants, and the knowledge and support of the staff here will help her to understand those facets better. While she sees multiple paths before her for a future career, she has found farming to be something that she's constantly inspired and challenged by. Lindsay is also extremely passionate about social justice and activism, reading and writing poetry, and cooking.
Lindsay Mensch is in her third year at Michigan State University studying English/Creative Writing, with two minors - Environmental & Sustainability Studies and Horticulture. By studying a diversity of subjects, she is able to combine her passions for environmentalism and equity, as well as her general love for food and soil. Her previous work at the Bailey GREENhouse & Urban Farm helped her develop a love for farming that she never thought possible.
She came to the Student Organic Farm because she has a lot to learn about running a farming business and growing healthy plants, and the knowledge and support of the staff here will help her to understand those facets better. While she sees multiple paths before her for a future career, she has found farming to be something that she's constantly inspired and challenged by. Lindsay is also extremely passionate about social justice and activism, reading and writing poetry, and cooking.
Carmen Vandercook
Carmen Vandercook is a senior majoring in Sustainable and Organic Horticulture. The Student Organic Farm has become a huge part in Carmen’s life at Michigan State University. The SOF has opened many windows for her. She not only gained an interest in cut flowers, but also in raising pigs. She is inspired to own a cut flower farm where she can share the beauty of flowers with her community along with raising pigs!
Carmen Vandercook is a senior majoring in Sustainable and Organic Horticulture. The Student Organic Farm has become a huge part in Carmen’s life at Michigan State University. The SOF has opened many windows for her. She not only gained an interest in cut flowers, but also in raising pigs. She is inspired to own a cut flower farm where she can share the beauty of flowers with her community along with raising pigs!
Nicholas Wilson
Nich is a senior in Horticulture. He began volunteering at the SOF during his freshman year and then the following year he began working there. Nicholas appreciates the hands-on learning experience that he is receiving and hopes to implement many of these wisdoms to his own future farm and green house. When Nich isn't at the farm, he is still enjoying the outdoors by actively hunting and fishing. Also, in school he is active in the Student Horticulture Association.
Nich is a senior in Horticulture. He began volunteering at the SOF during his freshman year and then the following year he began working there. Nicholas appreciates the hands-on learning experience that he is receiving and hopes to implement many of these wisdoms to his own future farm and green house. When Nich isn't at the farm, he is still enjoying the outdoors by actively hunting and fishing. Also, in school he is active in the Student Horticulture Association.
