Graduate Testimonials "The skills I've gained created a strong base while starting my own farm business. The experience really solidified my desire to take on farming as my life's work." ~Carolyn Leadley '08, Owner & Manager of Rising Pheasant Farm in Detroit, MI.
"The time I spent at the OFCP as a student and assistant instructor has been integral to my confidence and success as a farmer. My training at the SOF has also been cited by a number of employers as a major reason I was hired to work on their farms, manage their programs, or develop new ways to integrate farms and schools. The network of farmers, friends and mentors I gained through participation in the program and involvement in the greater Michigan farming community is an additional resource I often call upon and dedicate a lot of my success to, and my two years at the SOF were some of the most fun, supported, community based and magical years of my life. Seeing the work of fellow graduates is an inspiration and gives me hope for the future of food." ~Nora Lindsey, Manager, The Learning Garden at Portland Community College Alumni Farm Businesses and Employment Rachel Beyer, Farm Manager, Purdue University Student Farm Emily Griswold, Owner/Operator, Family Circle Centennial Farms, Stockbridge, MI Leah Rutherford, Farm Manager, Queens County Farm Museum, Floral Park, NY Kate Whitacre, Owner/Operator, Beets and Beat Farm, Sycamore, IL Joannee Debruhl, Owner/Operator, Stone Coop Farm, Brighton, MI Dynelle Mackey, Owner/Operator, Sweet D Farm at Tilian Farm Development Center, Ann Arbor, MI Hannah Weber, Owner/Operator, The Land Loom at Tilian Farm Development Center, Ann Arbor, MI Susan Rising, Owner/Operator, Rising Vitality Farm, Howell, MI Wendy Pangle, Owner/Operator, Wendy's Farm Fresh Vegetables, Three Rivers, MI Denae Friedheim, Farm Manager, MSU SOF, East Lansing, MI Kate Heflick, Propagation Manager & OFTP Program Coordinator, MSU SOF, East Lansing, MI Ellen Moje, CSA Manager & OFTP Recruitment Coordinator, MSU SOF, East Lansing, MI Val Jorgensen, Owner/Operator, Jorgensen Farms, Westerville, MI Jacob Farley, Owner/Operator, Circle F Ranch, Fowler, MI Kelly Wilson, Farm Stand Manager & Assistant Instructor, MSU SOF, East Lansing, MI Russell Honderd, Farm Manager, King of Crops, Winston, GA Katie Brownell, Home Farm Manager, Wyck Garden, Philadelphia, PA Alan Kissinger, Incubator Farmer, MSU North Farm, Chatham, MI Casey Van Nest, Owner/Operator, Restless Roots Farm, Ypsilanti, MI Megan DeLeeuw, Owner/Operator, Hand Sown Farm, Manchester, MI Jason Skonieczny, Farmer, Two Hounds Farm, Highland, MI Chelsea Juengling, Farmer, Two Hounds Farm, Highland, MI Noel Deehr- Farm Supervisor, Seminary Hill Farm, Delaware, OH Tadd Peterson, Manager of Farm and Food, Seminary Hill Farm, Delaware, OH Erica Aube, Owner/Operator, Songbird Farm at Tilian Farm Development Center, Ann Arbor, MI Jessica Ratzow, Owner/Operator, Root Revival Acres, West Bloomfield Twp, MI Katherine Wilbur, Marketing Coordinator, Lansing Roots, Lansing, MI
