Staff Directory - Land Stewardship Project

Alex Kiminski

Soil Health/Land Access Organizer, Programs Department
Amy Bacigalupo

Program Director, Programs Department — Farm Beginnings, Soil Health, Land Access & Food Systems
Heather Benson

Communications Specialist, Membership & Communications Department
James Kanne

Policy Organizer, Community Organizing, Policy Department
Kathryn Rowe

Policy Organizer, Soil Health & Climate, Policy Department
Madeline Reid

Grants Specialist, Development Department
Melody Arteaga

Summer Events Organizer, Membership & Communications Department
Olivia Blanchflower

Deputy Executive Director
Pam Hartwell

Policy Organizer, Farmland Access, Policy Department
Sarah Wescott

Soil Health Organizer, Programs Department
Scott Elkins

Executive Director
Seth Kuhl-Stennes

Operations Specialist, Operations Department
Shea-Lynn Ramthun

Soil Health Organizer, Programs Department
Sean Carroll

Policy & Organizing Director
Scott DeMuth

Regional Food Systems Organizer, Programs Department
Brian DeVore

Managing Editor & Media Coordinator, Membership & Communications Department
Natalia Espina Talamilla

Human Resources & Operations Director
Timothy Kenney

Finance Director
Annelie Livingston-Anderson

Farm Beginnings Organizer, Programs Department
Elizabeth Makarewicz

Membership Support Specialist, Membership & Communications Department
Emily Minge

Political Organizer, Policy Department
Robin Moore

Land Access/Land Legacy Manager, Programs Department
Nick Olson

Farm Beginnings Organizer, Programs Department
Alex Romano

Soil Health Team Manager, Programs Department
Clara Sanders

Membership Organizer, Membership & Communications Department
Laura Schreiber

Government Relations Director, Policy Department
Matthew Sheets

Policy Organizer, Factory Farming, Policy Department
Megan Smith

Membership & Communications Director
Karen Stettler

Land Access & Farm Beginnings Organizer, Programs Department

Upcoming Events

August 2025

Tuesday August 5 – Thursday August 7

Farmfest 2025

Tuesday August 5 – Thursday August 7

Farmfest 2025

28366 County Hwy 13, Morgan, MN 56266, USA

Details are here.

Thursday August 7

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Unlocking Conservation Resources for Communities & Farms

Thursday August 7

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Unlocking Conservation Resources for Communities & Farms

Red Rock Center for the Arts, 222 E Blue Earth Ave, Fairmont, MN 56031, USA

Join Renewing the Countryside and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) this summer at one of their eight conservation events in a town near you, where you will:

Learn how conservation benefits Minnesota’s rural communities.
Hear from a panel of local speakers.
Discover available NRCS Farm Bill programs and the economics of on-farm practices.
Enjoy a complimentary lunch, plus a chance to win door prizes.
Network with local farmers, neighbors, and conservation professionals.
Receive helpful materials and personalized support on next steps after the event.

For more information, click here.

Locations & Dates:
Each event is free, open to all, and runs from noon to 2 p.m. at the venues listed. Space is limited, please register in advance.

Hallock (Kittson County) – Tues, July 22 @ Far North Spirits
Elbow Lake (Grant County) – Wed, July 23 @ Elbow Lake Community Building
Sleepy Eye (Brown County) – Thur, July 24 @ Sleepy Eye Brewing Company
Milaca (Mille Lacs County) – Tues, July 29 @ Gorecki Community Center
Mora (Kanabec County) – Thur, July 31 @ Sapsucker Farms Yellow Belly Cidery
Owatonna (Steele County) – Tues, August 5 @ Owatonna Public Utilities Building
Jordan (Scott County) – Wed, August 6 @ Ridges at Sand Creek
Fairmont (Martin County) – Thur, August 7 @ Red Rock Center for the Arts

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

CFFE Tariffs & Ag Webinar

Thursday August 7

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

CFFE Tariffs & Ag Webinar

Online Webinar

Join the Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment online on Thursday, August 7, for an update on where things stand with tariffs and what that means for food and farm policy and the factory farm system. We’ll cover the basics of how trade policy impacts agriculture, what recent changes mean for the U.S. food system, and ways to get involved in the fight for fair trade and fair markets.

The Land Stewardship Project is a longtime coalition member of the Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment. I hope you can join this informative session!

Speakers for this webinar include Patty Lovera from the Campaign for Family Farms and the Environnment and Ben Lilliston from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.

When: Thursday, Aug 7, 2 p.m. Central/3 p.m. Eastern
Register in advance at this link

After registering, you will receive a confirmation e-mail containing information about joining the webinar. For more information, contact LSP policy director Sean Carroll at scarroll@landstewardshipproject.org.

Friday August 8

4:00 pm – 8:00 pm: Roots & Rotation Grazing Field Day
Friday August 8
4:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Roots & Rotation Grazing Field Day
10470 190th St, Park Rapids, MN 56470, USA
Roots and Rotation is a summer field day series happening across Minnesota. These field days will discuss the use of livestock for soil health goals in different agricultural systems.

Learn about the benefits of integrating livestock onto cropland and how to make it work on your operation. Hear from experienced farmers and Extension educators specializing in crops, livestock, and soil health. These events are for producers looking to elevate their cropland soil health and increase their forage resources.

For more information and to register, see the Minnesota Grazing Lands Conservation Association website.
4:30 pm – 7:30 pm: Sunflower Social Farmer Gathering
Friday August 8
4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Sunflower Social Farmer Gathering
22955 570th Ave, Austin, MN 55912, USA
Members of the Land Stewardship Project’s Austin Area Soil Health Hub are hosting a sunflower social on Tom and Kim Finnegan’s farm Friday, Aug. 8, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This event will be open to all area farmers. Meet members of this peer-to-peer farmer group, see the beautiful sunflower fields, and learn about diversification.

Farming should include a trusted network that ensures we are all successful. How could having a network of farmers that provide support, resources, and comradery impact your farm?

On Aug. 8, gather with area farmers who are invested in soil health and sustainable practices, and are committed to learning from each other. Join us for an evening on the Finnegan farm for a hay ride around the sunflower fields and to learn more about their diversified farm. There will be a supper and lots of time to connect with farmers in the area.

RSVP here.

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