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Interns & Alumni

2012 MFAI Interns and Their Stories

by Shannah Schmitt on April 25, 2012

The 2012 Stella Gardens interns are hard at work at MFAI and learning about their new environment. Read their stories…

Sarah Buzogany

by Shannah Schmitt on June 24, 2011

Sarah Buzogany Photo

Sustainable Agriculture Policy Intern
2011, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute

“Five months of working with MFAI exposed me to state and federal agricultural policy, the power of coalition building, the importance of advocacy, and how to organize grassroots and grasstops campaigns.”

Erika Jones

by Shannah Schmitt on June 24, 2011

Erika Jones

Sustainable Agriculture Policy Intern
2011, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute

“”I developed a greater understanding of issues facing sustainable agriculture and of food and farm policies that will help me as I work to build capacity for conservation policies in the Mississippi River basin, connecting with community leaders across Southwest Wisconsin.”

Sara Laimon

by Wendy Solum on January 12, 2011

Photo of Sara Laimon

Environmental Charter High School and Founder, Green Ambassador
Alumna, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute

“To create real change, I needed to build something larger than myself.”

Amy Kremen

by Wendy Solum on January 12, 2011

Photo of Amy Kremen

Freelance Sustainable Agriculture Writer and Researcher
Alumna, 1999 Garden Student Education
(New Farmer Foundation Year)
Alumna, 2000 Garden Student Intern

“Seeing farmers at our local farmers market at an early age, my first ‘dream’ job was to become one of them…”

Mike Noltnerwyss

by Wendy Solum on January 12, 2011

Photo of Mike Nolterwyss

Primrose Community Farm
Alumnus, 2002 Garden Student Education
(New Farmer Foundation Yr)
Alumnus, 2003 Garden Student Intern

“One of the best tools I learned at Michael Fields was how to manage a profitable farmer’s market stand.”

Hugo Gonzales Dupuy

by Wendy Solum on January 12, 2011

Photo of Hugo Gonzales Dupuy

Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources
Alumni, 2008
Crop and Soil Research Assistant

“Taking advantage of the vast biodiversity that exists in my country.”

Gini Knight

by Wendy Solum on January 12, 2011

Photo of Gini Knight

Graphic Arts and Illustration, Conservation and Sustainable Development
Alumni, 2009
Public Policy Internship Program

“…engage environmental and social justice initiatives through sustainable agriculture policy change.”

Nikki Check

by Wendy Solum on January 12, 2011

Photo of Nikki Check

Vineyard and Orchard Manager
Alumni
Public Policy Internship Program

“I feel very fortunate to be apart of this movement…”

Bill McKelvey

by Wendy Solum on January 12, 2011

Photo of Bill McKelvey

Extension Associate,
University of Missouri

Alumni, 2006
Public Policy Internship Program

“…it gave me the confidence to play a more active role in the food system.”

Bridget Holcomb

by Wendy Solum on January 12, 2011

Photo of Bridget Holcomb

Associate Director – Public Policy,
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute

Public Policy Internship Program

“I could not have asked for a better way to begin a career in sustainable agriculture policy.”

Katie Peterman

by Wendy Solum on January 12, 2011

Photo of Katie Peterman (Wied)

Cooperative Affairs, Organic Valley
Alumni, 2008
Public Policy Internship Program

“…policy is not only directly linked with many of the successes throughout the sustainable agriculture movement, but also many of the barriers.”