Our Science-Led Team

Pat Rogers of Blenheim, South Carolina, farms with his family and grows cotton, peanuts, corn, soybeans, and wheat. He utilizes cover crops and reduced tillage in a systems-based approach to his farm for conservation and yield enhancement. Precision farming technology and conservation are the components he enjoys most about farming. A graduate of Clemson University, he enjoys cheering on their football team each fall.

If you have any questions regarding soil health and cotton systems for Pat, you can contact him through our Soil Health Educator Jared Conner at jconner@soilhealthinstitute.org.

Dr. Srabani Das is an Assistant Professor of Cooperative Extension and Assistant Specialist for Regenerative Agriculture at the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources and UC Merced. Her research centers on sustainable soil health practices and agricultural carbon management, with the goal of developing inexpensive tools to track soil carbon buildup from various regenerative agriculture methods. Dr. Das is passionate about integrating perennial and native vegetation, exploring alternative cropping systems, and building climate-resilient food systems in California. She advocates for making regenerative agriculture tools and resources equitable for all grower communities, including marginalized, women, and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) communities. Dr. Das received her master’s degree in Environmental Science and Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and her doctorate in Biological and Environmental Engineering from Cornell University.  

If you have any questions regarding soil health and cotton systems, you can contact her at srabanidas@ucmerced.edu or sradas@ucanr.edu. 

Barry Evans of Swisher County, Texas, is a fourth-generation farmer who is committed to making his land better for future generations. He grows cotton and grain sorghum in rotation on his 4,500 acres, using no-till practices to help capture rainfall in the arid Texas climate. Sometimes in place of grain sorghum, Barry has planted wheat and other cover crops to help build soil health. Barry utilizes low-energy precision application technology for irrigation, which efficiently delivers water directly between the furrows, achieving 95 percent efficiency rate. Each year his family reviews seed variety test results from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to ensure they select the best varieties suited to their growing environment. 

If you have any questions regarding soil health and cotton systems for Barry, you can contact him through our Soil Health Educator Emily Ball at eball@soilhealthinstitute.org. 

Ricky O. Dollison Sr. of Poulan, Georgia, is a fourth-generation farmer renowned for his indomitable spirit and unmatched expertise in agriculture. With over two decades of hands-on experience, Ricky has navigated from the fields to boardrooms, showcasing dedication, innovation, and leadership. Coming from a rich farming legacy, Ricky excels in livestock management and crop rotations, ensuring efficient farming operations. As the visionary behind AgFirst Community Cooperative, he pioneers collaborative farming and sustainable practices, ensuring the profitability of family farms.

Ricky’s impact extends through community education and advocacy, supporting local farming communities with his expertise in Farm Service Agency and U.S. Department of Agriculture loan products. His diverse background includes working as a technician for South Georgia Natural Gas, where he honed technical skills and gained valuable industry experience, as well as biomedical technology and service in the Georgia Army National Guard. A leader in agricultural advancement, Ricky bridges traditional farming with modern practices through roles with AgFirst and the Farm Journal Foundation. His commitment to knowledge and communication shines through initiatives like Natural Resource Conservation Service agent training and Toastmasters.

Ricky O. Dollison Sr. is not just a farmer; he’s an agricultural visionary and community leader whose transformative journey inspires innovation and collaboration in agriculture worldwide.

If you have any questions regarding soil health and cotton systems for Ricky, you can contact him through our Soil Health Educator Jared Conner at jconner@soilhealthinstitute.org. 

Shane Isbell of Cherokee, Alabama, is a fifth-generation farmer who defines soil health as fields with no erosion, that are high in organic matter, and have plenty of earthworms. No-till farming and crop rotation have made his soil very healthy. Working with his father, he’s learned to not just focus on this year’s crop, but to figure out ways to help his son and future generations.

If you have any questions regarding soil health and cotton systems for Shane, you can contact him through our Soil Health Educator Jessica Kelton at jkelton@soilhealthinstitute.org.

Donny Lassiter of Conway, North Carolina, is a third-generation farmer. On his family's farm they grow peanuts, corn, non-GMO soybeans, wheat, barley, and pumpkins—but what he’s most passionate about is producing cotton. For the past 20 years, cotton is what his family has been able to rely on. Donny plants cover crops, such as wheat, rye and oats, in the fall and winter, which have helped conserve soil nutrients, suppress weeds, and control erosion. He has transitioned from strip-till to no-till practices in his fields in an effort to reduce fuel and improve efficiency. Additionally, Donny uses a diverse crop mix to increase soil health.

If you have any questions regarding soil health and cotton systems for Donny, you can contact him through our Soil Health Educator Emily Ball at eball@soilhealthinstitute.org.

Wes Kirkpatrick of Dumas, Arkansas, uses no-till on his operation and cereal grains as his primary cover crop as part of his soil health management system (SHMS). While using SHMS, he has seen improved water infiltration and reduced weed pressure.

If you have any questions regarding soil health and cotton systems for Wes, you can contact him through our Soil Health Educator Emily Ball at eball@soilhealthinstitute.org.

Annie Dee is a part owner of Dee River Ranch, a 10,000 acre farm near Aliceville, Alabama. This family-operated farm in the Black Belt region consists of row crops and timber. Dee River Ranch utilizes precision agriculture and energy conservation. All row crops are planted on 30-inch beds or hips using no-till. Fields are hipped in the fall and then a single or a mixture of cover crop species are planted. Their systems are constantly being modified to improve soil quality and productivity by building soil organic matter. The farm also engages in collaborations with several universities in irrigation research projects, and crop variety and fungicide trials.

Annie earned her bachelor’s degree in Animal Industries from Clemson University. Annie has been involved with a large variety of organizations including the Alabama Soybean and Corn Association, Pickens County Farmers Federation, West Alabama Food Bank, Soybean Innovation Lab Advisory Board administered through University of Illinois, USDA Cover Crop Advisory Board, National Association of Conservation Districts, Farm Journal Foundation, United Soybean Board, and the Alabama Soybean Producers. She currently serves on the NRCS State Advisory Board, the Simplot Grower Solutions Grower Council, and the Agriculture Advisory Council of the Birmingham branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Annie has worked with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation on “Invest an Acre” and “Harvesting the Potential” programs.

Zeb Winslow of Scotland Neck, North Carolina, is a fifth-generation farmer. His venture into soil health started under the guidance of his father, particularly after he began to cultivate cotton using a strip till system, a technique he adopted after working with the Fishing Creek Soil and Water Conservation District in the late 1990s. This method involved the use of a cereal grain as a cover crop, which was terminated early to prevent excessive growth. On Zeb’s 900 acre farm, he employs a varied crop rotation strategy including corn, soybean (both full season and double crop), wheat, and cotton. He combines no-till planting methods with a variety of cover crops to enhance soil health.

If you have any questions regarding soil health and cotton systems for Zeb, you can contact him through our Soil Health Educator Emily Ball at eball@soilhealthinstitute.org.

We are fortunate to have three University of Georgia Extension Foundation Agents serving as SHI Technical Specialists. If you have any questions regarding soil health and cotton systems in Georgia, feel free to reach out to Peyton at psapp@uga.edu.

Peyton Sapp has been a Jefferson County Extension Coordinator for the University of Georgia (UGA) Extension since 2008 and began his Extension career in 1994. He graduated from the Animal and Dairy Science Department and obtained his master’s degree in Extension Education from the UGA. With 30 years of Extension work, Peyton’s had the opportunity to serve in various counties where he has developed an appreciation for helping growers improve their on-farm management to better their production systems. Peyton says that he has always worked extremely hard to develop a solid, one on one working relationship with growers. He enjoys attending conferences to network with other educators and growers to learn more about techniques that have made them successful. Through his local programming, Peyton developed a replicated cover crop study to evaluate the long-term impacts of cover crops in a corn, cotton, and peanut rotation. There are four treatments: rye, rye/clover, six species mix, and no cover. Peyton is attempting to monitor the changes over time in soil organic matter, moisture holding capacity of the soil, crop yields, nematodes, production input costs, etc. This study is in the third year and has already highlighted how dynamic cover crop systems can be.

Pamela Sapp is also a Jefferson County Extension Coordinator for the UGA Extension. She has been working with cover crop trials since 2013 both on-farm and at the Southeast Georgia Research and Education Center (SEREC). Pamela’s work in cover crops includes a series of demonstration trials comparing various types of cover crops as monoculture and in various mixes. She also co-hosts an annual cover crop field day each year at the SEREC highlighting these trials, planter setup, economics, soil health, and grower panels. Pamela currently works with the Soil Health Institute in conducting field days, grower education, and research efforts.

Jason Mallard is the Southeast District Area Water Agent for the UGA Extension where he promotes agricultural water irrigation management. Jason started his career in conservation in 2005 when he served in the position of Irrigation Specialist followed by Resource Specialist with the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission in Statesboro, Georgia. He is a certified irrigation designer through the Irrigation Association. In 2015, he began working for the UGA Extension as a County Extension Agent where he has developed programming on irrigation water management through soil moisture sensors and grazing lands pasture health. The impact of the projects Jason has led in water management has saved an estimated 376 million gallons of water. He and his family spend their extra time raising cattle on their family farm.

Doug Newton of Clio, South Carolina, is a Cover Crop Specialist at Scout Seed Co. and an advisor at Carolina Agronomy. Doug has 49 years of farming experience and describes himself as a long-time cover crop advocate. In 1976 he began farming full-time in partnership with his dad on their conventionally tilled farm, but Doug believed there was a more efficient way of farming. In 1993 he had the opportunity to test if no-till could be used on his farm. Doug travelled to Tennessee to participate in a two-day seminar on no-till, where he saw fields that had been in continuous no-till for 14 years. One of the most thought-provoking things he witnessed during the seminar was the side-by-side display of a conventional field and a no-till field. Seeing that, he decided to start with a five-acre test field. Doug’s initial experiment yielded positive results, prompting him to adopt no-till practices and incorporate cover crops into his farming operation.

If you have any questions regarding soil health and cotton systems, you can contact Doug at 843.992.3593, or read his blogs discussing cover crops.

Will Mann of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, has been an agronomist for several farming operations in Halifax County, North Carolina, for the past four years. His career began with a local agricultural retailer selling fertilizer, seed, and pesticides. Will then began working for the Fishing Creek Soil and Water Conservation District in Halifax County for 21 years. His whole career has been centered on regenerative practices including cover crops, conservation tillage, and high-density grazing practices. Will says that the success he has achieved in his career is due to his faith and having great farmers to work with.

If you have any questions regarding soil health and cotton systems, you can contact Will at wmann@hotmail.com.

Brandon Dillard of Hartford, Alabama, is with the Alabama Crop Improvement Association (ACIA). Brandon earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Auburn University in Agronomics and Weed Science. For over 10 years, Brandon served as the Regional Extension Agent in row crops with Alabama Cooperative Extension. During his time with Extension, he worked with cotton and peanut production while also developing an irrigation management research and outreach program. In his current role with ACIA, Brandon has been involved in seed increase efforts for several cover crop varieties including species such as sunn hemp, clovers, vetches, and lupins. Brandon farms with his wife, Nicole, and two children, Cora Lee and Judd.

If you have any questions regarding soil health and cotton systems for Brandon, you can contact him through our Soil Health Educator Jessica Kelton at jkelton@soilhealthinstitute.org.

Dr. Lindsey Slaughter of Lubbock, Texas, is an Associate Professor of Soil Microbial Ecology and Biochemistry in the Department of Plant & Soil Science at Texas Tech University. As a professor, she teaches an introductory soil science course for undergraduate students, and both graduate and undergraduate courses in soil microbial ecology. Dr. Slaughter received her bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of Tennessee-Martin, and her master’s degree in Plant and Soil Sciences is from the University of Kentucky. Her doctorate in Soil Science is from the University of Kentucky. A primary goal of Dr. Slaughter’s research is to inform management decisions in semi-arid systems that lead to greater soil health and ecosystem function.

If you have any questions regarding soil health and cotton systems, you can contact Lindsey at lindsey.slaughter@ttu.edu.

Tamara Daniel of Texas serves as the Executive Director for the Association of Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts (ATSWCD). Before her current position, she worked at both the ATSWCD and the National Association of Conservation Districts for more than 20 years. Before her time in conservation, Tamara worked for Congressman Henry Bonilla on agriculture and natural resource issues. She is a graduate of Texas Tech University, where she received a degree in Agriculture Communications. 

If you have any questions regarding soil health and cotton systems for Tamara, you can contact her through our Soil Health Educator Jessica Kelton at jkelton@soilhealthinstitute.org. 

Dr. Bill Robertson of Bradford, Arkansas, focused on sustainable cotton production that emphasized soil health which included cover crops, reduced tillage, and crop rotation over the course of his Extension appointment at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, before retiring in January 2023. Over his years in Extension, he paved the way for improved recommendations and sustainable fiber production in Arkansas. He possesses a great understanding of soil health and its connection to sustainability, which allowed his research to have positive impacts across the cotton industry. Upon retirement, Dr. Robertson is looking forward to spending time with his wife, Carey, and continuing to improve the soil health and overall productivity at his own farm. Dr. Robertson serves as a Technical Specialist for USRCF in Arkansas.

If you have any questions regarding soil health and cotton systems, you can contact Bill at 501.425.0549.

Parker Frew of Greenville, Mississippi, is a Program Manager/Field Conservationist at Delta F.A.R.M. and a Wildlife Biologist with Delta Wildlife. As Program Manager, he focuses on engaging farmers to increase adoption of practices that advance cover crops, soil health, water quality, and irrigation efficiency. Parker received a degree in Environmental Science from Delta State University. Before joining the Delta F.A.R.M. and Delta Wildlife, he worked for the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

If you have any questions regarding soil health and cotton systems, you can contact Parker at 662.931.0561 or parker@deltawildlife.org.

Jesse Flye of Jonesboro, Arkansas, is a fourth-generation farmer. Jesse farms with his father and brother on White Flye Farms where they grow cotton, row rice, soybeans, corn, and peanuts. They worked closely with Dr. Bill Robertson, former cotton agronomist with the University of Arkansas (UARK), to try various approaches to production practices that included adjusting plant populations and growing cover crops on about one-fourth of their cotton acres. Part of his acreage is located on the Judd Hill Foundation farm, where he works with the UARK Extension, Arkansas State University researchers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and others to evaluate production practices, new varieties, new technology, and soil health practices. He understands the value of preserving the soil, where healthy soil practices equate to healthy crops, and will lead to an increase in profitability through reduced inputs. Jesse enjoys trying new rotations and techniques every year to see what works best for their operation. He was recently named the “2024 Conservation Systems Cotton Farmer of the Year” at the 27th Annual National Conservation Systems Cotton & Rice Conference, Southern Soybean & Corn Conference, Delta States Irrigation Conference, and the Southern Precision Ag Conference.

If you have any questions regarding soil health and cotton systems for Jesse, you can contact him through our Soil Health Educator Emily Ball at eball@soilhealthinstitute.org.

Noah Goza of Oklahoma leads the FarmComp department at Heartland Soil Services. This department focuses on helping farmers with conservation practices such as precision nutrient management, cover crops, no-till, and conservation crop rotation. The department works closely with SHI, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and other partners in conservation to provide education and assist farmers implementing new practices. Before he was a FarmComp Account Manager, he worked as a precision agronomist at a cooperative and at a private ag retailer. He began focusing on conservation in 2019 when he became an NRCS Technical Service Provider. Noah received his B.S. in Soil and Crop Science from Colorado State University. He holds several Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) certificates and is on the Kansas CCA Board of Directors. 

If you have any questions regarding soil health and cotton systems for Noah, you can contact him through our Soil Health Educator Jessica Kelton at jkelton@soilhealthinstitute.org. 

Myron Johnson of Headland, Alabama, is a fourth-generation row crop farmer. Myron knows good soil health plays a vital role in a farmer’s economic bottom line. Myron grows cotton, wheat, rye, oats, and peanuts on 1,800 acres. He also manages hay ground and pasture for his cow/calf operation. By using rye as a cover crop, he’s noticed that more crop residue on the soil’s surface has helped him improve his yields during droughts, increased water infiltration and beneficial soil microorganisms, and lowered soil erosion, evaporation rates, and weed pressure. While learning to use cover crops and plant row crops in them, Myron invented a cover crop roller and secured a patent for it. He licensed Kelley Manufacturing Company to put it on their strip tills. He also designed his own machine called a coupling plow to manage cotton stalks without having to do heavy tillage.

If you have any questions regarding soil health and cotton systems for Myron, you can contact him through our Soil Health Educator Jessica Kelton at jkelton@soilhealthinstitute.org.

Lars Ely of Sunflower, Mississippi, manages Ely Properties, a 1,660-acre family farm that has maintained and created bird habitat for decades. Their property was once a cotton and cattle operation that was converted into a 100% no-till row crop farm and has remained this way for many years.

If you have any questions regarding soil health and cotton systems for Lars, you can contact him through our Soil Health Educator Jessica Kelton at jkelton@soilhealthinstitute.org.

Dr. Wayne Honeycutt leads the Institute’s programs to safeguard and enhance the vitality and productivity of soils. He previously served for 5 years as the Deputy Chief for Science and Technology with USDA-NRCS in Washington, DC, where he led programs in technology acquisition, development, and transfer to ensure NRCS conservation practices reflect the latest scientific advances for conserving the nation’s soil, water, air, plant, animal, and energy resources. He served as a Research Soil Scientist for 14 years and a Research Leader for 11 years with the USDA-ARS New England Plant, Soil, and Water Laboratory, where he led and conducted interdisciplinary research on carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling and sustainable cropping systems development. In those roles he led national research teams for predicting nutrient availability, developed procedures adopted by ARS for enhancing national research coordination, and received regional and national awards for technology transfer.

He is a graduate of the “Mastering the Art of Public Leadership” executive development program at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC and USDA’s “Performance Excellence and Knowledge” executive development program. He has served on assignments to the U.S. Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, USDA-ARS National Program Staff, and USDA-ARS Area Office Staff.

Dr. Honeycutt’s commitment to agriculture is rooted in his experiences with raising tobacco, corn, and other crops on his family’s 120-acre farm in Kentucky. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Forestry and Master's degree in Soil Science from the University of Kentucky, and a Ph.D. in Soil Genesis from Colorado State University. He was the 2018 recipient of the Hugh Hammond Bennett Award, the highest honor bestowed on an individual by the Soil and Water Conservation Society, and the 2023 recipient of the Soil Science Industry and Professional Leadership Award from the Soil Science Society of America.

Riley Davis of Parrott, Georgia, is a fourth-generation farmer who grows cotton, peanuts, corn, soybeans, pecans, and wheat. Riley utilizes innovative techniques, such as 72-inch row spacing on cotton, and heavy cover crops as part of his soil health management system, to improve yields and soil health. He understands the importance of keeping up with the latest research and developments to allow his operation to be more efficient and to ensure their soil will be able to grow many more years’ worth of crops. While raising three sons alongside his wife, Jessie, Riley makes sustainability, longevity of the farm, and planning for future generations a top priority. Riley says that if you don’t look after the soil, you can’t expect it to look after you.

If you have any questions regarding soil health and cotton systems for Riley, you can contact him through our Soil Health Educator Jessica Kelton at jkelton@soilhealthinstitute.org.

Dr. Cristine Morgan is responsible for establishing research priorities to advance soil health and developing the scientific direction, strategy and implementation for soil health research programs. Her duties include leading scientific research that advances soil health science and results in impactful outcomes.

Prior to joining the Institute, Dr. Morgan was a tenured professor of Soil Science at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, where she was recognized for outstanding collaboration, teaching, research, and mentoring. Her emphasis was in soil hydrology, pedometrics, and global soil security. Among her many accomplishments, Dr. Morgan conducted ground-breaking research on how management practices influence soil-plant-water relations. She also developed methods that were adopted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for easily measuring soil carbon. She has a history of applying her knowledge to address real-world problems experienced by farmers and ranchers and is passionate about educating others.

Dr. Morgan is a Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America, she served as a member of the Soil Science Society of America board of directors, and currently serves on the board of the North American Plant Phenotyping Network. Dr. Morgan is an editor-in-chief at the global soil science journal, Geoderma, and founding editor-in-chief of the journal Soil Security.

Dr. Morgan earned her M.S. and Ph.D. in Soil Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Soil Science Department (2000 and 2003, respectively). Her B.S. degree is in Plant and Environmental Soil Sciences from Texas A&M University, magna cum laude (1998).

Stacy Carson is the Soil Health Institute’s Chief Operating Officer. Stacy works closely with the leadership team, staff, contractors and partners in support of the SHI’s mission. Ms. Carson is responsible for financial management oversight, HR management, operational management, and participates in strategic planning. She has 27 years of progressive healthcare leadership experience including serving in a COO position and most recently, 4 years as a hospital CEO. Stacy has a BS in Liberal Studies from Excelsior College and an MHA from Colorado State University Global Campus.

Dr. Emily Bruner is the Chief of Staff on the SHI Leadership Team, where she works to transform ideas, needs, and opportunities into funded projects that advance SHI’s strategic areas addressing climate change, regenerative agriculture, water resources, farmer empowerment, and consumer education. Prior to coming to SHI, Dr. Bruner served as the Midwest Science Director for American Farmland Trust where she focused on identifying ways to accelerate adoption of soil health practices while simultaneously increasing the resiliency and productivity of Midwest farms. Dr. Bruner brings over a decade of experience in natural resource conservation and planning through her previous positions as the Director for the Vigo County Soil and Water Conservation District, a Hydrologist with the United States Forest Service, an adjunct faculty member at Saint Mary of the Woods College, and as an Extension Associate for Natural Resources at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Bruner’s work on nitrogen cycling in agricultural systems also led her to DC to investigate climate change mitigation policy as a Research Fellow with the Congressional Research Service. She earned her PhD in Soil Science from Washington State University and has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Conservation and Natural Resource Management with a minor in Sustainable Agriculture from the University of Kentucky.

Mr. Byron Rath is the Chief Impact Officer for the Soil Health Institute. Mr. Rath's duties include working with the Institute’s partners and stakeholders to help them achieve their goals through soil health. Prior to joining the Soil Health Institute, Mr. Rath taught Geography at the American Community School at Beirut in Lebanon, and worked for CCS, a global fundraising consulting and management firm that provides development services and strategic consulting to nonprofit organizations worldwide. Mr. Rath graduated from Middlebury College with a B.A. in English and Geography. He is proficient in written and spoken Arabic.

Alisson Clark leads the Soil Health Institute’s communications strategy and content development to ensure SHI’s research and education efforts reach those who can benefit from them. Prior to joining SHI, she was a writer and editor for newspapers and magazines, then served in a variety of roles at the University of Florida, including Strategic Communications Coordinator, National Media Strategist, and most recently Assistant Director of Research Communications. She has received the New York Times Chairman’s Award for investigative reporting; awards from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education for writing (2018), podcasting (2020), and storytelling (2023); and the Excellence in Institutional Writing Award from the National Association of Science Writers (2023). She received a B.S. in Journalism and M.A. in Mass Communication from the University of Florida, and in 2023 served as a Fulbright Specialist in Science Communication at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Nias White is the Soil Health Institute’s Controller working directly with the Leadership Team to support organizational accounting, budgeting, compliance, and financial reporting. Mr. White has over 15 years of nonprofit accounting experience that includes 4 years as Director of Accounting and Purchasing Services for the North Carolina Biotechnology Center and 7 years with the Thurgood Marshall College Fund in Washington, DC as Vice-President of Finance & Administration (2 years), Director of Finance (3 years), and Finance Manager (2 years). Nias has a B.S. in Marketing from Hampton University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Akash “Kash” Patel is the Soil Health Institute’s Staff Accountant. Prior to joining the Institute, Mr. Patel held various positions, including Senior Accountant, Tax Manager, and Financial Controller. Additionally, he has helped several start-up businesses get their footing in North Carolina and New York. Mr. Patel received his B.S. in Accounting and his M.S. in Forensic Accounting from the State University of New York at Albany, and is a CPA candidate. In 2021, Mr. Patel moved from Long Island, NY, to Raleigh, NC, where he currently lives with his three dogs and plenty of plants. In his free time, Mr. Patel enjoys planting, maintaining his aquarium, and cooking new foods.

Sedrick Rowe collaborates closely with executive leadership, staff, contractors, and partners to shape SHI’s outreach, grants, recruitment, and strategy to better serve BIPOC producers and communities. Prior to joining SHI, he was a Soil Conservationist with USDA-NRCS in Georgia. An organic farmer, he was also a Farmer Liaison for Freedmen Heirs Foundation. He received his B.S. in Plant Science with a concentration in Horticulture and Master’s in Public Health with a concentration in Environmental Health from Fort Valley State University. His research focused on a feasibility study on organic peanuts.

Dr. Jason Ackerson is a Research Soil Scientist and Program Director for several soil carbon measurement and technology discovery projects at the Soil Health Institute. Dr. Ackerson previously served as an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in the Department of Agronomy at Purdue University, where his research focused on developing proximal sensors to quantify soil properties and develop digital soil maps. He received his B.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Science from the University of Illinois and M.S. and Ph.D. in Soil Science from Texas A&M University. Dr. Ackerson is a member of the Soil Science Society of America and American Geophysical Union.

Dr. Dianna Bagnall is a Research Soil Scientist and Program Director, leading the U.S. Regenerative Cotton Fund and other projects at the Soil Health Institute. She is an applied soil physicist specializing in soil physical health and socioeconomic dynamics of soil management. Her research includes developing functions that show the effect of soil carbon on plant-available water, selection of the most effective soil health indicators for the North American continent, on-farm soil health assessments, qualitative analysis of farmer interviews, development of novel soil structure scanning methodology, and both measurement and modeling of preferential water flow in shrink-swell soils.

From 2014 to 2016, she served as a project manager for AgriLife Research’s Corporate Relations Office, developing proposals and managing projects. She managed sponsored research projects in soil and crop science, renewable energy, and agricultural engineering.

Dr. Bagnall received an M.S. and Ph.D. from Texas A&M University. She is an adjunct assistant professor at Texas A&M University, the 2024 recipient of the Agronomy Society of America’s Early Career Award, the Early Career Board Representative for the Soil Science Society of America, the 2024 Vice Chair of the Land Management and Conservation Section of the Agronomy Society of America, and an Associate Editor for both Vadose Zone Journal and Soil Security.

Emily Ball is a Soil Health Educator working with the U.S. Regenerative Cotton Fund. Prior to SHI, she was a Soil Conservationist with USDA-NRCS in Maryland. She received her B.S. in Environmental Science from Delaware Valley University and her M.S. in Soil Science with a minor in Biogeochemistry from Penn State. Her research focused on soil properties and management decisions and their effect on nitrous oxide emissions in dairy cropping systems.

Jenny Bower is a Research Soil Scientist working to establish soil health targets with farmers and agricultural stakeholders in Ontario, Canada. She leverages her background in pedology and spatial analysis to quantify, analyze, and predict soil health under agricultural management. Dr. Bower's past work sought to understand the influence of topography and hydrologic flow paths on soil formation in the Northeastern USA. Prior to joining SHI, she developed skills in data analysis and GIS with the Vermont Center for Geographic Information, investigated lead contamination in urban soils, and traced erosional sediment sources in the Midwest.

Dr. Bower received a Ph.D. in Soil Science and an M.S. in Geology from the University of Vermont, and a B.A. in Geology from Oberlin College. At the University of Vermont, she was a Gund Graduate Fellow and a Graduate Teaching Fellow. She is a member of the Soil Science Society of America, the American Geophysical Union, and Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math.

Ann Marie Calabro is a Soil Health Educator and Project Manager supporting SHI’s engagement with the Farmers for Soil Health Climate-Smart Commodity Partnership. Ann Marie has over a decade of experience serving as an Agronomist, Soil Health Specialist, and Agricultural Environmental Management Coordinator for the Suffolk County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) in New York. During her time with the Suffolk County SWCD, Ann Marie fostered cooperative partnerships to protect and enhance water quality, soil health, and the environment for the region and provided technical assistance and education to Long Island producers focused on soil health systems and natural resource management. In addition to her technical and administrative duties, she provided leadership for several state and regional organizations, serving as a board member for the New York State Conservation Districts Employees’ Association and the Peconic Land Trust Farms for the Future Initiative.

Ann Marie holds a B.A. in Biological Science and a B.A. in Education from the State University of NY at Old Westbury, and a Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Food and Farming from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at UMass.

Dr. Mara Cloutier is a Research Soil Scientist and Program Director for the Dairy Soil & Water Regeneration Project and projects related to regenerative potato rotations. Her prior research focused on assessing how conservation management practices that improve soil health also influence soil microbial nitrogen dynamics and nitrous oxide emissions. While pursuing her Ph.D., Dr. Cloutier was awarded a USDA pre-doctoral fellowship to study soil microbiomes in relation to soil health from dairy farms managing soils with organic tillage and conventional no-tillage practices.

Dr. Cloutier is a member of the Soil Science Society of America and American Society for Microbiology. She received an A.S. degree at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, a B.S. in Biology from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, M.S. in Biology from Appalachian State University, and Ph.D. in Soil Science and Biogeochemistry from Pennsylvania State University.

Bo Collins is a Soil Scientist with the Soil Health Institute’s U.S. Regenerative Cotton Fund. He is working to help quantify soil health across multiple states in the Southeastern United States. Prior to joining the Soil Health Institute he worked as a Soil Conservationist with the USDA-NRCS, helping farmers and landowners to conserve their natural resources. In the past, he has also worked for Colorado State University as a Research Assistant for the Agroecosystem Ecology & Soils lab and as a Field Technician for the Specialty Crops Program in the Department of Horticulture. Before beginning a career in science, he ran his own business as a vegetable farmer in South Carolina and acquired extensive experience in agronomy and crop production. He received a B.S. in Soil & Crop Science from Colorado State University and is a member of the Soil Science Society of America.

Dr. Michael Cope is a data architect at the Soil Health Institute, where he plays a key role in designing and implementing data systems to support the organization's mission of improving soil health. With a background in both informatics and soil science, Michael brings a unique skillset to the field of data management, using his technical expertise to develop innovative solutions for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data related to soil health. In addition to his work at the Soil Health Institute, Michael is also active in the broader data science community, sharing his knowledge and experience through publications, presentations, and industry events.

Dr. Cope received his B.S. in Environmental Studies from Brevard College and his Ph.D. in Forest Resources from Clemson University.

Dr. Katherine East is a Soil Health Educator and Modeling Specialist for the Climate-Smart Potatoes in the Pacific Northwest project. Prior to joining SHI, she was most recently a Research Associate with the USDA Viticulture Soils Lab in Prosser, Washington, where she conducted research examining the relationship between soil characteristics and nematode reproduction in vineyard soils. She also previously served as the Viticulture Extension Specialist for Michigan State University. Dr. East obtained a Ph.D. in Horticulture from Washington State University, where she studied the biology and management of nematode pests in vineyards, and a B.S. in Biology from the University of British Columbia.

Dr. Archie Flanders is the Soil Health Institute’s Agricultural Economist, working to evaluate the economics of soil health-promoting practices and land management systems, with a focus on field activities and inputs associated with adopting soil health management systems for agricultural production. His findings assess the potential for increasing farm profit while improving soil health and reducing environmental impacts. Dr. Flanders collaborates with producers and agricultural researchers to develop decision support tools for farmers and ranchers, facilitating informed decisions about production practices at the field level to enhance soil health and economic efficiency.

Previously, Dr. Flanders served as a faculty member at the University of Georgia and the University of Arkansas with research and extension responsibilities in production economics, farm management, and economic development. He developed interactive economic decision tools for crop and livestock commodities, agricultural policy programs, and whole-farm analysis, which helped producers customize enterprise budgets to represent unique production situations.

Dr. Flanders is a member of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association as well as the Southern Agricultural Economics Association, Western Agricultural Economics Association, Soil and Water Conservation Society, and the American Society of Agronomy. He received his B.S.A. in General Agriculture, and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from the University of Georgia.

Kade Flynn is a Soil Scientist at the Soil Health Institute. He assists in developing user-facing models and applications to quantify the effect of agricultural management on soil water dynamics. Kade received a B.S. in Geology with a minor in Environmental Soil Science at Texas A&M University where he researched and published on the use of novel sensing technologies including a phone application for measuring aggregate stability and a low-cost soil moisture sensor. Kade received an M.S. in Land and Atmospheric Science from the University of Minnesota. His thesis research focused on understanding the influence of field-scale management decisions and landscape features on watershed nutrient loss using a novel sampling platform deployed in headwater agricultural streams.

Sabra Freeman is a Soil Health Sampling Specialist with the Soil Health Institute’s U.S. Regenerative Cotton Fund (USRCF). In this role, Sabra contributes to the regional soil sampling, in-field metadata collection, and management data collection that help make USRCF’s soil health benchmarking efforts a success. They are a recent graduate from the University of North Carolina Asheville, where they received a B.S. in Environmental Studies and a concentration in Earth Science. While attaining their undergraduate degree, they conducted research on landslide risk along the Swannanoa Lineament under the guidance of Dr. Jackie Langille.

Erin Gundy is a Soil Health Educator working in corn and soybean systems across the Midwest in support of the Farmers for Soil Health Climate-Smart Commodities Partnership. Prior to SHI, she served as Resource Conservationist, then STAR Operations Manager, for the Champaign County Soil & Water Conservation District in Illinois where she provided technical assistance to farmers and educators, worked with partners to develop and execute programs through grant management and community engagement, and upheld the district’s mission: Clean Water, Healthy Soils. She received her B.S. in Agronomy with a minor in Natural Resource and Environmental Science and her M.S. in Agronomy from Kansas State University. Her research focused on developing a commodity crop productivity index for Kansas based on inherent soil properties.

Dr. Ayush Joshi Gyawali is a soil scientist specializing in quantifying and assessing soil health through proximal sensing and field-scale measurement. Dr. Gyawali has focused his research on answering questions ranging from field sampling design to developing novel, inexpensive devices to quantify soil health indicators. Specifically, Dr. Gyawali has had experience with developing novel soil health indices and methodology for faster quantification of soil aggregate stability and soil respiration. Prior to joining SHI, Dr. Gyawali was a postdoctoral researcher at Texas A&M University investigating of soil health metrics for the midsouthern United States. At SHI, Dr. Gyawali will be working with proximal sensing for in situ carbon stock measurement and quantifying soil health and economic outcomes associated with long term adoption of soil health systems.

Dr. Gyawali received a B.S. in Environmental Sciences from Kathmandu University in Nepal and a Ph.D. in Crop and Soil Environmental Science from Virginia Tech, Blacksburg. Dr. Gyawali is a member of the Agronomy Society of America and Soil Science Society of America.

Chloe Hart is a Soil Health Sampling Specialist with the Soil Health Institute’s U.S. Regenerative Cotton Fund (USRCF). In this role, Chloe contributes to the regional soil sampling, in-field metadata collection, and management data collection that help make USRCF’s soil health benchmarking efforts a success. She is a recent graduate from the University of North Carolina Asheville where she received her B.S. in Environmental Science concentrating in Earth Science. During her undergrad, she worked as an intern for the North Carolina Geological Survey.

Erin Hourihan, M.S., is a Soil Data Operations Specialist. Erin is a Rangeland Management Specialist and data analyst, who specializes in plant-soil interactions. Her focus is on standardizing and expanding the usability and quality of soil health data. Erin works with SHI’s data architect and project scientists to automate and scale data operations including collection, quality control, and analysis.

Prior to coming to SHI Erin worked for the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Soil and Plant Science Division in support of the National Cooperative Soil Survey. From 2011 to 2020, she worked as an ecological site specialist on six initial soil surveys across Nevada, California, and Oregon. Erin was responsible for ecological site development in six MLRAs in the Great Basin, served as the plant specialist for wetland determinations, peoples garden coordinator, and was a special emphasis program manager on the Nevada Interagency Civil Rights Committee. In 2020, she transferred to the South-Central Soil Survey Region where she worked as an ecological data quality specialist supporting soil survey activities in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. In this roll Erin worked to standardize vegetation data collection methods for dynamic soil property projects nationally, reviewed ecological groupings for spatial and tabular consistency throughout the Great Plains, and contributed to training and policy directing the ecological site program nationally.

Erin received a bachelor’s degree in Forestry and Rangeland Management and a master’s degree in Animal Science from the University of Nevada, Reno. Her graduate research focused on recruitment pulses in 4 species of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) across the Great Basin.

Dr. CheJen (Jerry) Hsiao is a research scientist at the Soil Health Institute. He collaborates on two projects aimed at finding ways that farmers can more sustainably grow feed for dairy cows (dairy soil & water regeneration project) and improve soil health in potatoes (climate-smart commodities for potatoes in the Pacific North West).

Jerry received his Ph.D. from Kansas State University and went on to work as a postdoctoral researcher at Texas A&M and University of Minnesota. His research identified and improved the effectiveness of a new soil amendment in reducing N2O emissions, providing insights into using biological denitrification inhibition technology in field applications. While at Texas A&M University, Jerry delved into the impacts of long-term woody plant encroachment, herbivory, fire, and their interactions on the biogeochemistry of soil C, N, P, and S in juniper-oak savannas in the southern Great Plains. During his Ph.D. program, Dr. Hsiao’s study focused on the interaction between management practices and pedogenesis on soil microbial structure and function throughout the soil profile. Prior to his Ph.D. he received his M.S. and B.S. in biochemistry from National Taiwan University. In his free time Jerry enjoys spending quality time with his two young sons, engaging in various activities and exploring the natural beauty of Minnesota.

Jessica Kelton is a Soil Health Educator working with the U.S. Regenerative Cotton Fund. Prior to this role, she served as a Farm and Agribusiness Agent with Auburn University’s Extension System, providing row crop producers with resources for economic sustainability and niche crops. She received her B.S. degree in Biology from Troy University and her M.S. in Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences from Auburn University, where she studied weed suppression with cover crops and herbicide resistance management in reduced tillage systems.

Jacob is a Science Technician with the Soil Health Institute's U.S. Regenerative Cotton Fund. He is working towards establishing relationships with cotton farmers and state officials to adopt regenerative agriculture practices and on conducting soil health sampling in the field. Prior to working with the Soil Health Institute Jacob worked as a farm apprentice on a small-scale organic vegetable farm in North Carolina. While working the land he not only absorbed the knowledge and skills of raising vegetables for production, but how important the personal connection and physical treatment of the living soil plays in the success of those crops and the surrounding environment. He hopes to combine a career in soil science, environmental education, and social work to make himself a resource to fight food insecurity in his local community. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a B.S. in Environmental Studies and is a member of WNC Craft, an organization of farmers to share ideas and improve agricultural sustainability in Western North Carolina.

Before retiring from SHI in June 2024, Mr. David Lamm conducted soil health education programs for farmers, their advisers, and other practitioners across the United States, building from his 40+ years of experience in working directly with farmers to improve the health of their soils and associated natural resources. He served in various positions within the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), rising to National Team Leader of the inaugural National Soil Health and Sustainability Team.

Prior to that national position he served as the Assistant State Conservationist for Programs for the state of Georgia and a District Conservationist in Indiana. He assisted with implementing the USDA-NRCS Organic Agriculture and Sustainable Agriculture program and the USDA-NRCS Conservation Security Program. Mr. Lamm earned his B.S. in Natural Resources from Ball State University.

Dr. Daniel Liptzin specializes in biogeochemistry and nutrient cycling as a Research Soil Scientist and Program Director for several projects at the Soil Health Institute. Previously, he was a Project Scientist focusing on the High Plains region for the North American Project to Evaluate Soil Health Measurements. His research interests currently focus on greenhouse gas emissions, soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics, and soil health methods. Dr. Liptzin is a member of the American Geophysical Union and the Soil Science Society of America. He received his B.S. from Yale University, MES from the University of Pennsylvania, and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Dr. Nate Looker is a Project Scientist working to establish Soil Health Targets for farmers and field conservationists. His work integrates data from soil profile to regional scales to understand how climate and soil properties influence the magnitude of potential soil health improvements. Dr. Looker was most recently a Department of Energy fellow at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where he quantified the effects of deforestation and forest succession on soil organic carbon dynamics using radiocarbon analysis. Previously, he studied hydraulic functioning of soils and trees in Montana, Mexico, and Guatemala to improve water resource modeling and management in mountainous watersheds.

Dr. Looker is a member of the Soil Science Society of America, the American Geophysical Union, and the European Geophysical Union. He received B.S. degrees in Agronomy and Global Resource Systems with a minor in Spanish from Iowa State University, an M.S. degree in Biological Sciences from Montana State University, and a Ph.D. in Land and Atmospheric Science from the University of Minnesota.

Dylana Luett is the Content Manager working with Farmers for Soil Health Climate-Smart Commodities Partnership and the U.S. Regenerative Cotton Fund. Through this role, she organizes, develops, and distributes content that raises awareness about the impact of those programs. Prior to working for SHI, Dylana was the Social Media and Communications Specialist for the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology. She received her B.S. in Agricultural Business with minors in Animal Science and Entrepreneurial Studies from Iowa State University.

Dr. Cara Mathers is a Research Soil Scientist working to improve the physical representation of soil health management in crop models. Prior to SHI, Dr. Mathers was a scientist on the Sustainability Sciences R&D team at Indigo Ag where she designed and analyzed field experiments to quantify the co-benefits of carbon farming. She previously studied soil water dynamics of cover cropped and reduced tillage systems, and the impacts on crop stress and yield, in the Southeastern U.S.

Dr. Mathers received a B.S. in Comprehensive Science from Villanova University, and a M.S. and Ph.D. in Soil Science from North Carolina State University (NCSU). At NCSU, she was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. She is a member of the Agronomy Society of America, the Crop Science Society of America, and the Soil Science Society of America.

Molly McIlquham is a Soil Health Educator with the McCain Regional Conservation Partnerships Program working to advance regenerative agriculture in potato cropping systems in Wisconsin and Maine. Before joining the Soil Health Institute, she served as an Extension Coordinator at Washington State University, spearheading outreach and education for the Washington Soil Health Initiative. Molly holds a B.S. in Crop and Soil Science from the University of Wisconsin–River Falls and an M.S. in Soil Science from Washington State University, where her research focused on conducting a soil health assessment in vineyard systems.

Misty Miles is a PMP certified Project Manager for the Soil Health Institute working on the U.S. Regenerative Cotton Fund. Prior to this role, Misty spent over 10 years within the Texas A&M System managing applied, multidisciplinary research projects. She received her B.S. and M.S. in Agricultural Communications and Journalism from Texas A&M University, where she studied the adoption of new technologies in agriculture. Misty is a member of the Project Management Institute and the Agronomy Society of America.

Shannon Moeller is a Soil Health Educator located in the Midwest. She received her Bachelor of Science degrees in Agronomy (Soils and Environmental Sciences option) and International Agriculture, and a minor in Agricultural Education from Iowa State University in 2013.

Prior to joining the Institute, Shannon worked on various conservation projects, most notably she served as Project Coordinator for the Iowa Seed Corn Cover Crop Initiative from 2016 to 2022. In this role, she promoted cover crops in seed corn production systems throughout Iowa. Under her guidance, the cover crop adoption rate increased from 5% to more than 40% coverage on Iowa’s vulnerable seed corn production acres.

Shannon is very passionate about soil health and regenerative agriculture. She is deeply committed to learning from farmers and keeping up with the latest developments in soil health knowledge and the implementation of soil health practices on farms.

Ms. Molling is a Modeling Specialist for the Dairy Soil and Water Regeneration project, where she evaluates and improves agroecosystem models to capture the effects of soil health practices on greenhouse gas emissions and water quality. Prior to this, Ms. Molling was a researcher at the University of Wisconsin Space Science and Engineering Center’s Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, where she created models and data sets to assist decision makers in agriculture, environmental resources, and renewable energy. She received her B.S. degree in Atmospheric Science and Math, and M.S. in Geosciences at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.

Cameron Ogilvie, M.S., is a Soil Health Educator for SHI, where he is leading a soil health education program for farmers and agronomists in Canada. He previously served as the Knowledge Mobilization Coordinator for Soils at Guelph, which is a University of Guelph initiative to mobilize the results of soil health research and bridge gaps among farmers, researchers, and the public. He received a B.S. in Agricultural Science and an M.S. in Cropping Systems & Agronomy from the University of Guelph, where he studied the on-farm impacts of cover crops (he prefers to call them “service crops”) on water and nutrient cycling.

Mireya Ortega is a Soil Health Sampling Specialist working across various projects within the Soil Health Institute, collecting soil samples and metadata out in the field. She is a recent graduate from Colorado State University where she received her B.S. in Soil and Crop Science (International Soil and Crop Science), alongside a certificate in Seed Science and Technology.

During her undergraduate studies, she carried out research with Colorado State Extension, focusing on both alternative rotational crops for lower water usage in potato fields, and affordable soil health amendments for pastureland in the San Luis Valley. Additionally, she carried out a research project under the University of New Hampshire focused on mercury accumulation in arctic vegetation throughout various levels of permafrost degradation in Sweden. Prior to joining SHI, Mireya worked as a laboratory assistant in both the Colorado State University Weed Lab and a soil lab working co-operatively under the Natural Resource Conservation Service.

Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Rieke specializes in microbiology and engineering as a Soil Microbiome Scientist and Program Director for several projects at the Soil Health Institute. Her work aims to understand how agricultural management decisions impact soils’ ability to degrade organic residues and transform nutrients via DNA sequence-based technologies. Dr. Rieke also serves as the Institute’s Measurement Standardization Lead, where she works to standardize soil health measurements across commercial laboratories and streamline measurement and management data quality assurance and quality control. Previously, she worked on the North American Project to Evaluate Soil Health Measurements to establish the most effective indicators for measuring soil health.

Dr. Rieke received her B.S. in Biological Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech and M.S. and Ph.D. in Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering from Iowa State University.

Shakita Holloway is an SHI intern who works with Dr. Jenny Bower and Dr. Cristine Morgan on a project investigating how land management influences the spatial structure of aggregate stability in paired catenas within the Piedmont. Shakita is also employed as a Horticultural Technician at the North Carolina Botanical Garden where she provides crucial support to the three Curators and the Director of the Horticultural Department in their respective areas of curation. Prior to her current roles, Shakita was the Assistant Farm Manager at Honey Bee Hills Farm in Prospect Hill, NC, and worked as a gardener with the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle at the Geer Street Learning Garden in Durham, NC. In addition to her extensive practical experience in farming and gardening, Shakita holds both a B.A. and M.A. in Anthropology, with the latter focused on Archaeology. She is currently pursuing a Certificate in Soil Science at NC State University.

Chera Howard (she/her) is attending Auburn University at Montgomery, planning to graduate in December 2023 with an interdisciplinary degree in Environmental Science. Her STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) interests involve water conservation, soil preservation, and creating fire-resistant structures and communities. As an entrepreneur, she engages in cosmetology, logistics, and fitness businesses. Chera is the founder and president of Forsee LLC, which seeks to spearhead economic development in BIPOC communities. The company's goal is to strategically create an infrastructure for selling and manufacturing Afro hair products from barbershops with its patented and patent pending innovation.

Ms. Howard aims to inspire BIPOC students in STEM. Chera is passionate about organic farming and committed to promoting sustainable agriculture and better farming techniques. Chera says, “I believe we must revolutionize farming methods and reverse soil erosion, undoing the harmful effects of global warming and climate change."

Kyron Parris, a biology major from Pine Bluff at the University of Arkansas, is deeply passionate about the intersection of science and medicine, stemming from his personal health experiences. Inspired by the role of science in healthcare, Kyron aims to become a perfusionist while continuing his service in the U.S. Army. His interest in science's multifaceted applications also led him to an agriculture internship, where he explored sustainable farming practices. Motivated by the impact of the pandemic, with campus closures and remote learning, Kyron became actively involved in his university community and built meaningful relationships with his peers. He has embraced various opportunities, from proudly commanding the color guard team at football games to performing with the school's Vesper Choir.

Kyron holds several leadership roles in various on-campus and off-campus organizations. He is an active member of the STEM Academy, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and the university's Reserve Officer Training Course (ROTC), where he has served as the First Sergeant and Public Affairs Officer. He also contributes to the Black Essence Modeling Team, Vesper choir, and volunteer organizations, including the Critical Purpose and Black Male Achiever clubs.

Morgan White is a sophomore at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, majoring in Regulatory Science/Agriculture. She is inspired by the phrase “no culture without agriculture.” realizing that most of our clothing, food, perfumes, and furniture come from crops, livestock, forestry, and floriculture. Additionally, every culture conducts agriculture differently based on its location and climate. She is passionate about crops, soil science, environmental regulations, and water quality research and intends to select a related career as she continues her education.

Morgan is a participant in the 1890 Scholarship program, Carolyn Blakely National Honor Society, Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS), Essence of Women, the UAPB Track & Field team, and a newly initiated member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. Her involvement in these programs aims to positively impact the African American community by representing success. She believes the sky is the limit and can do anything she puts her mind to. By joining these organizations, she is learning how to build confidence in her voice and herself as an individual by taking on leadership roles such as secretary and treasurer for MANRRS.

Ronnie Bernard is an undergraduate student attending Alcorn State University where he is majoring in Agriculture with a concentration in Environmental Science. Mr. Bernard is an upcoming 2022 intern working with Dr. Mara Cloutier gaining experience in sampling dairy soils and data analysis. He has received various scholarships from Alcorn State University and is also a member of the 1890 Scholars Program and Cargill Thrive Scholars. Mr. Bernard aspires to become an Environmental Scientist.

Ahmad S. Harden is an undergraduate student attending Fort Valley State University (FVSU). Majoring in Agricultural Economics, on a USDA scholarship. Mr. Harden is an aspiring Agriculture Economist, he is also a presidential student ambassador, also known as a Blue Coat Ambassador. Mr. Harden is a 2022 intern working with Dr. Dianna Bagnall assisting with sample collection, data processing and various projects in economics.

Jordan Kelly is an undergraduate student majoring in sustainable land management and food systems at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She is a member of MANNRS, Future Farmers of America, and a Norman E. Borlaug Scholar awardee. Ms. Kelly plans to become an environmental scientist.

Tiffany LaShae is a graduate student at the University Minnesota Twin Cities. She is conducting a multi-method study integrating soil health and soil stories of African American farmers in the Southeast U.S. Tiffany is a farmer, activist and educator with over 10 years’ experience working with farmers in the U.S. and abroad. She currently manages a small diverse vegetable/seed production farm that demonstrates soil health practice and provides hands-on education for beginning farmers. Tiffany's work also includes collaborative projects addressing inequities in farmer resource utilization and access with the Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service and 'Climate Smart Agriculture' strategy & soil regeneration efforts with USAID Farmer to Farmer organizations based in Africa.

Jhacolby Williams is an undergraduate student attending Alcorn State University where he is majoring in Agriculture with a concentration in Environmental Science. Mr. Williams has received a full scholarship from ASU and is a member of the ASU Honors Program and FFA. He has also interned with the USDA Extension in Stoneville, MS under the guidance of Eric Riddick, USDA Entomologist. Mr. Williams is a 2022 summer intern and will be working with many of our scientists here at SHI sampling soils, data collection, analysis, and other various projects.

Quanteria Randle is a sophomore undergraduate student at Prairie View A&M University where she is earning her B.S. in Biology. Ms. Randle is a 2021 Intern working with SHI’s Soil Microbiome Scientist, Dr. Elizabeth Rieke, in analyzing phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) data from soils sampled across North America. She is also gaining experience in sampling soils for establishing Soil Health Targets.

Brent Thomas is an undergraduate student at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff where he is earning a B.S. degree in Agricultural Engineering. Mr. Thomas is a 2021 Intern working with SHI scientists Drs. Nate Looker and Vance Almquist to collect and analyze soil samples for establishing Soil Health Targets and assess soil health status in conventional management systems. He is particularly interested in identifying and addressing challenges that growers face when adopting soil health systems.

Robert Thomas is an undergraduate student attending Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU). Majoring in Agriculture with a concentration in Plant and Soil Science, Mr. Thomas is an aspiring Environmental Research Scientist. He has received full ride scholarships from PVAMU and the United States Department of Agriculture and is a member of the PVAMU Honors Program and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS). He is also an Eagle Scout. While interning at the Soil Health Institute, Mr. Thomas is assisting with sample collection and data processing on various projects. He is working to develop his knowledge and skills of soils and research to prepare himself for future endeavors.

Dana Bourne is an M.S. candidate at Tufts Friedman School in the Agriculture, Food & Environment program. As an intern with the Soil Health Institute, Dana worked with Dr. Wayne Honeycutt and Dr. Timothy Griffin to research the relationships between soil health and food nutritional quality and quantity, identifying existing science on this topic and gaps to be addressed in future research. Dana has a B.S. in History from Bard College. Before starting at Tufts, Dana worked in New York City managing environmental education, urban farm and food access programs for Brooklyn Botanic Garden and GrowNYC, and worked on vegetable and fruit farms in New York's Hudson Valley.

Mrs. Katie Harrigan is a graduate student pursuing a Masters Degree in Nutrition Science and Policy through the Agriculture, Food and Environment program at Tufts University in Boston, MA. Her focus is on natural resource conservation in the U.S. food system. She is working with Dr. Wayne Honeycutt at the Soil Health Institute to research federal policies, assess their impact on soil health, and suggest ways to improve these policies. Mrs. Harrigan has a B.S. in Biology from Northeastern University. She worked in the biotechnology field in Boston for five years before seeking a degree to help secure the future of our food and environment.

Mrs. Janel Ohletz is a U.S. Department of Agriculture National Needs Ph.D. Fellow in the Crop and Soil Science Department at North Carolina State University. She is researching nutrient management in field corn using machine learning and remote sensing technology to gain a better understanding of dynamics in soil fertility. Mrs. Ohletz has B.S in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems and an M.S. in Agricultural Science from the University of New Hampshire. She is committed to working toward a more sustainable and equitable food system. Mrs. Ohletz is also a classically trained chef and, prior to returning to school, worked in the hospitality industry for 20 years. She believes in making an impact by being part of the conversation for changing our food and agricultural systems.

Ms. Janeva Williams is an undergraduate student attending North Carolina A&T State University. Majoring in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Sustainable Land Management, Ms. Williams aspires to work with soil conservationists and scientists on an international level to improve soil health. She joined two major organizations called MANRRS (Minorities in Agricultural, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences) and the Climate Justice League, each of them is about improving the environment and creating self-awareness. Ms. Williams is a student intern for the summer working at SHI in data collection and interpretation.

Dr. Francisco Arriaga is an Associate Professor and Extension State Specialist with the Department of Soil Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and UW-Extension. His research and outreach programs focus on soil management practices for enhanced crop productivity while remaining protective of the environment with an emphasis on soil health and water quality. Dr. Arriaga is the recipient of the Rothermel-Bascom Professorship in Soil Science and is a fellow of the Soil and Water Conservation Society.

Dr. Andrea Basche is an Assistant Professor in Cropping Systems at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Department of Agronomy and Horticulture Department. Her research focuses on developing and supporting cropping systems that address profitability, resource use efficiency and climate risks. This includes improving soil health, increasing use of cover crops and perennial crops, as well as understanding the social and policy dimensions required for change. In her role, she also teaches undergraduate courses in crop management. Dr. Basche holds a B.S. in biology from Fordham University, a M.A. in applied climate science from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in agronomy and sustainable agriculture from Iowa State University. Learn more about her teaching, research and outreach at: https://agronomy.unl.edu/basche/

Dr. Julie Howe is Associate Professor of Soil Chemistry and Fertility at Texas A&M University. Her focus is on cycling and fate of nutrients and carbon at various levels from fundamental reactions to field-scale processes. She divides her research focus into three areas: impact of agricultural management on nutrients and soil carbon, development and efficacy of fertilizers, and processes that improve soil health. Dr. Howe teaches a large enrollment introductory soil science course, a graduate level advanced soil chemistry and fertility course, and a brewing materials course. She is also serving as co-advisor for the department’s Agronomy Club. She holds a B.S. and M.S. from Texas A&M in Bioenvironmental Sciences and Soil Science, respectively, and a Ph.D. from University of Wisconsin-Madison in Soil Science with focus in soil chemistry. For more information, please visit her website at https://soilcrop.tamu.edu/people/howe-julie-a/.

Dr. Machado is a Professor of Crop Physiology/Agronomy at the Oregon State University (OSU) Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center (CBARC) located near Pendleton, east of the Cascades. He has a Diploma in Animal Science and B.S. in Agriculture from the University of Swaziland, M.S. in Crop Physiology from Reading University in England, Ph.D. in Crop Physiology/Agronomy from Kansas State University, and M.B.A. from Eastern Oregon University. Dr. Machado was Principal Research Officer at the Department of Research and Specialist Services in Harare, Zimbabwe, conducting research on wheat and barley, and the Principal Investigator of a Precision Agriculture Project involving 12 scientists at the Texas A&M University’s Experiment Station in Lubbock, Texas. Dr. Machado joined OSU in 2001 and is currently stationed at CBARC where he is responsible for conducting cropping systems research to develop economically and biologically sustainable agricultural practices for cereals, legumes, and new crops. His research work includes crop rotations, long-term experiments, alternative crops, drought tolerance, site-specific farming, and organic farming. Dr. Machado is also involved regionally, nationally, and internationally. He has served as an Associate Editor for the Agronomy Journal, the President of the Biometry Division of the Tri-Societies (American Society Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Science Society of America), and the President of the Western Crop Science Society of America. Dr. Machado is currently serving as an Associate Editor for the Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems Journal (Water-Smart Food Production). He is a co-founder of the Association of African Agricultural Professionals in the Diaspora (AAAPD), which is actively involved in capacity building and the development of African small holder agriculture.

Dr. Kate Scow is a Distinguished Professor of Soil Science and Microbial Ecology in the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources at University of California (UC) Davis since 1989. Dr. Scow received her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Soil Science from Cornell University. Dr. Scow’s research program investigates relationships between soil microbial diversity and critical soil functions: biogeochemical cycling, soil structure, organic matter and carbon sequestration, as well as connections between soil biology and soil health. Other work includes how indigenous microbial communities can help restore polluted ecosystems and design of low-cost treatment systems to promote bioremediation. Learn more about the Scow Research Program at: http://scowlab.lawr.ucdavis.edu/.

Dr. C. Wesley (Wes) Wood is Professor of Soil and Water Science and Center Director of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences West Florida Research and Education Center located on two campuses (Milton and Jay). Dr. Wood provides administrative leadership and support for teaching, research and extension programs essential to the agricultural, natural resource conservation, environmental and consumer interests of the Florida Panhandle. Prior to joining the University of Florida in 2014, Dr. Wood was a Professor of Soil Science at Auburn University where he taught and conducted research on carbon and nutrient cycling in managed and natural ecosystems. He has published more than 140 refereed journal articles on those topics. Dr. Wood has conducted research in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Tanzania, Ecuador, India, Brazil, South Africa, Kenya, Peru, Thailand, Honduras, Mexico, The Philippines, Haiti, and New Zealand. He served as Associate Editor and later as the Soil Science Technical Editor for the Agronomy Journal. He has received awards for his research, is a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy, and is a Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America. Information on the West Florida Research and Education Center is at: https://wfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/.

Dr. Diana Jerkins has worked in the area of sustainable agriculture - teaching, conducting research, and managing research funding at land grant universities and with the federal government. She has consulted with and conducted Natural Agriculture research for Shumei International Foundation. Dr. Jerkins wrote in collaboration with Shumei staff “Spirit of the Land”, Shumei Natural Agriculture Philosophy and Practice. She was the Research Director for the Organic Farming Research Foundation in California leading their efforts to provide direct funding to researchers, farmers, and ranchers to conduct scientific research and educational advancements for organic producers. Prior to joining OFRF, Dr. Jerkins was a National Program Leader and Division Director for Integrated Programs with the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Her areas of expertise include food production systems, natural resource use, ecosystem services, and small to medium sized farming systems. She is the board chair for the Soil Health Institute. She holds degrees from Emory University and the University of Georgia in psychology, agronomy, and entomology. She consults nationally and internationally on sustainable agriculture issues, including organic and Natural Agriculture practices. Dr. Jerkins also owns a farm in Virginia producing organic vegetable crops.

L Catterton

Devon Leahy is Head of Sustainability at L Catterton where her focus is partnering with portfolio companies to elevate and enhance their sustainability and impact strategies. Previously, she was Global Head of Sustainability at Ralph Lauren, where she led product and environmental sustainability strategy, including setting and driving progress against public commitments to design, source and operate more sustainably. Leahy has worked inside major corporations including Walmart, where she led product and supply chain initiatives and consumer facing marketing campaigns, and Etsy, where she built the company’s first sustainability team and was responsible for setting Etsy’s first public commitments to 100% renewable electricity and running a carbon neutral marketplace. Leahy has also worked in the sustainability field with leading NGOs such as the Environmental Defense Fund and the Environmental Law Institute and in government posts at the Environmental Protection Agency and on Capitol Hill. Leahy holds an MBA in Strategy and Marketing and an MS in Environmental Policy from the University of Michigan’s Erb Institute, as well as a BA in Environmental Policy, Government and Art History from Colby College.

In Her Shoes

Born and reared in Charleston, Mississippi, Ms. Mangham is a third generation farmer and U.S. Army veteran. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master’s degree in Public Administration. After pursuing her Juris Doctorate at Phoenix School of Law, Ms. Mangham continued her 20-year professional career in the public sector as a Community Planner. Upon inheriting her family farmland in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi, in 2016, Ms. Mangham began producing row crops, including soybeans and wheat, on her 180-acre farm. In 2017, Ms. Mangham founded and currently manages In Her Shoes, Inc. (IHS), a nonprofit organization that provides resources and support to socially disadvantaged and underserved farmers in Georgia and the Mississippi Delta through its Farm Business Enhancement Program (FBEP). FBEP’s goal is to increase long term sustainability among socially disadvantaged farm businesses through income diversification and is funded through the US Department of Agriculture. In 2023, IHS received national attention for efforts to increase fresh food access and support small farm businesses in rural communities by opening one of only two grocery stores in Tallahatchie County. The only fresh food retailer within more than a 15-mile radius, it is supported by local farmers.

Martin Farm

Larkin Martin is a seventh-generation farmer. She manages Martin Farm, a family farm in Courtland, Alabama, growing corn, cotton, soybeans and wheat. She is also Chair of the Board of Servico, a cotton ginning and agricultural services business located in Courtland. In addition to her farming responsibilities, Ms. Martin holds and has held several positions off the farm. She is a currently a Director of Rayonier Inc., (RYN) a publicly traded timberland REIT based in Jacksonville, Florida, and The American Farmland Trust based in Washington, D.C., and serves on the Agricultural Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.

A partial list of past responsibilities includes serving as a Director and past Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, a Director and past Chair of The Public Affairs Council of Alabama, a Trustee and Past Chairman of the Farm Foundation, a Director and past Chairman of The Cotton Board (the national check-off program for cotton); a Director of Africa Harvest (an NGO based in Kenya that helps to bring innovative agricultural technologies to smallholder farmers in Africa); Director of The Alabama Chapter of The Nature Conservancy; and a Director of Leadership Alabama. Ms. Martin was named an Eisenhower Agricultural Fellow in 2012, traveling in Turkey and Kenya.

After graduating from Vanderbilt and prior to returning to the farm Ms. Martin lived in Washington, D.C., and held jobs in at the U.S. Treasury Department and with Arthur Andersen. She is married to John Thornton and they have four children.

University of Missouri Center for Regenerative Agriculture

Dr. Rob Myers is Director of the MU Center for Regenerative Agriculture and an Extension Professor in the Plant Science and Technology Division. Since 2010, he has also served as Regional Director of Extension Programs for the USDA North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE) program.

In his leadership role with the Center for Regenerative Agriculture, he administers a $25 million USDA climate-smart grant called the Missouri CRCL Project and also the $10 million National Cover Crop Variety Development Project. He also oversees several other grants with the Center supporting research, education, and extension programs. The Center focuses on farming practices contributing to improved soil health, including use of cover crops, no-till, regenerative grazing, and other conservation approaches.

On behalf of SARE, he administers competitive grants and state funding for sustainable agriculture projects in 12 North Central states. He also serves as the national liaison for the SARE program on cover crop and soil health.

His professional expertise encompasses sustainable and regenerative agriculture, soil health, conservation and cropping system diversification. He has conducted research, education and extension programs with many cover crops and alternative crops. He has also led or served with several national councils and task forces addressing federal conservation programs and agriculture research and education programs.

Dr. Myers grew up on a family grain farm in Illinois that he still helps manage. He obtained his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in agronomy from the University of Minnesota. He is a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy, was named Missouri Conservationist of the Year in 2018, and honored with the national Agronomic Education and Extension Award from the American Society of Agronomy in 2022.

Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research

Dr. LaKisha Odom joined the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research in September 2016 as a Scientific Program Director to pursue her commitment to promoting the use of innovative science and interdisciplinary thinking to tackle today’s complex challenges in food and agriculture. She is also committed to cultivating increased diversity in a new generation of food and agriculture scientists.

Dr. Odom developed her passion for the intersectional space of research and policy while working at the U.S. EPA in the Office of Research and Development and the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response’s Brownfields Redevelopment Program. In her academic career at Tuskegee University, she continued to seek out opportunities to work in interdisciplinary and collaborative science, as a CREATE-IGERT fellow and as a researcher at Teagasc Research facility in Carlow, Ireland. She then had the opportunity to combine her passion for interdisciplinary, innovative research and policy when selected to serve as an early career intern for the Public Policy Board of the American Phytopathological Society. In 2013, Dr. Odom became an American Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Biotechnology Regulatory Service, where she managed a diverse portfolio which included working with the OECD Working Group for the Harmonization of Regulatory Oversight in Biotechnology.

Dr. Odom received her bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Tuskegee University, her master’s degree in environmental resource policy from The George Washington University, and her doctorate in integrative biosciences from Tuskegee University.

CHS

Megan Rock is Vice President of Sustainability and Chief Sustainability Officer at CHS, the nation’s leading farmer-owned cooperative and an agronomy, global energy, grains, and food company. In 2022, Rock joined CHS as the company’s first Chief Sustainability Officer. Prior to CHS, she served as VP of corporate responsibility and sustainability and global lead of sustainability solutions at Bunge, Inc., and held sustainability and environmental management positions in government and banking. In her current role, Rock is leading CHS efforts to develop and execute sustainability and innovation strategies across its $45 billion enterprise. Rock holds a Bachelor of Science degree in soil, environmental and atmospheric science from the University of Missouri and a graduate certificate in advanced studies in environmental policy and management from the University of Denver. Rock serves on the board of directors for Field to Market and the Freedmen Heirs Foundation. In 2015, she received the Changemaker of Tomorrow award from Keep Akron (Ohio) Beautiful, and she is a member of the St. Louis Business Journal’s 40 under 40 class of 2020. She lives in St. Louis with her three children and two French bulldogs.

Dairy Management Inc. and Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy

Karen Scanlon serves as an Executive Vice President for Environmental Stewardship, where she leads industry-wide sustainability impact programs as well as environmental modeling, measurement and reporting efforts for Dairy Management Inc. and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy. Scanlon is responsible for the Innovation Center’s Environmental Stewardship Committee and the U.S. Dairy Net Zero Initiative, a multi-organizational effort to accelerate progress at field, farm and manufacturing levels toward the industry’s collective environmental stewardship goals.

Scanlon brings extensive leadership experience in agriculture conservation initiatives, partnership cultivation, and strategy development and execution after serving as executive director of the Conservation Technology Information Center (CTIC) for 11 years. In this role, she worked with strategic partners in the public and private sectors to build innovative and effective programs to achieve sustainability goals and success in a variety of conservation efforts across the United States. Scanlon holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from the University of Florida and a Master of Science in Natural Resources Management from The Ohio State University.

Cargill

Ryan Sirolli is the Global Environmental Markets Insets Lead for Cargill. In this role, he is responsible for leading strategy development and implementation of environmental outcomes markets to create new opportunities for farmers – while enabling Cargill and its customers to meet their science-based environmental commitments. The foundation of environmental outcomes programs has been based on advancing the soil health principles, optimizing nutrient management in row crop production along with an increased focus on ruminant livestock production including grazing management and feed optimization both for economic and environmental impacts. The opportunity for Sirolli to learn from farmers and ranchers has reached from North America to South America to Europe. Sirolli has spent his entire career working along the food and agriculture value chain, from managing a row crop and beef operation in Maryland early in his career to leading development of Cargill’s regenerative agriculture and soil health management initiatives in more recent years. Prior to returning to Cargill in 2019, he led similar efforts to advance soil health management systems in the dairy industry for Danone North America. Sirolli holds a B.S. in Animal Science from Virginia Tech and a M.S. in Food and Resource Economics from the University of Delaware. He resides on a small farm in Minnesota with his wife and two daughters.

Rodale Institute

Dr. Andrew (“Drew”) Smith is the Chief Scientific Officer at Rodale Institute, where he oversees the research program and facilitates integration of research with the Institute’s farm operations, education, and consulting departments. He previously served as Chief Scientist and Chief Operating Officer and oversees major grant funded projects operating at Rodale. This includes work at the ~400-acre main campus in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, but also Regional Resource Centers in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia; Marion, Iowa; Camarillo, California; Rockport, Washington; Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania; and Parma, Italy. Dr. Smith has over 20 years of experience working in the organic industry and on sustainable agriculture as an agronomist, researcher, and farmer. He spent two years in the Peace Corps in Guatemala helping small vegetable farms reduce pesticide use and adopt integrated pest management. He received his Master’s in Entomology at the University of Maryland working on corn pest management and a Ph.D. in Molecular Ecology from Drexel University. He has managed his own organic farm with his wife for over 20 years, with 10 of those years managing the farm full time. While trained as an entomologist and agronomist, all projects at Rodale Institute include comprehensive measurements of soil health indicators. This includes the long-term Farming Systems Trial, part of the Soil Health Institute’s North American Project to Evaluate Soil Health Measurements. He started Rodale’s Vegetable Systems Trial in 2016 that is intentionally designed to link soil health to human health by measuring soil health indicators and how they relate to changes in crop nutritional profiles. As an organic farmer and applied agroecologist, he understands the challenges farmers face in adopting conservation practices that lead to improved soil health. He has served on several non-profit and agricultural related boards and advisory committees.

JBS

Jason Weller is the Global Chief Sustainability Officer for JBS. He previously served for two years as President of Truterra, a farmer-led and farmer-driven sustainability initiative launched by Land O’Lakes, and for three years as Director of Sustainability for Land O’Lakes SUSTAIN to establish clear metrics and a common language for sustainability that is meaningful for farmers and their core customers.

Weller served for four years as Chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the nation’s largest working lands conservation organization, where he led a staff of 10,500 employees across the country that works one-on-one with farmers and ranchers to deliver assistance to protect and improve the quality of their operations’ natural resources. While at NRCS, Weller led the effort to significantly expand the agency’s new partnerships with public and private organizations — including agricultural retailers, agricultural supply chain companies, and food companies — to provide innovative and effective services for agricultural producers. Weller also provided the strategic leadership for NRCS’s expanded focus on and investment into soil health, including providing significant financial and technical assistance for public-private partnerships to launch on-the-ground soil health demonstration and education projects, as well leading the creation of NRCS’s new Soil Health Division that is helping to advance the agricultural and conservation communities’ understanding of soil health management.

Prior to serving as Chief, Weller held various agriculture and natural resource conservation leadership positions, including on the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture where he provided oversight and crafted legislation to fund USDA programs and activities; on the U.S. House Budget Committee where he helped construct the annual congressional budget for agriculture, environment and energy programs; and in the White House Office of Management and Budget where he assisted with the development and implementation of the president’s budget for USDA conservation programs.

Weller earned a bachelor’s degree from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and a master's in public policy from the University of Michigan.