Partners

MCC’s SEA program has been established by financial support from ISU’s Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Martha-Ellen Tye Foundation, Carl D. Perkins Act and other supporters. 

The following individuals are members of the SEA Board of Advisors and provide general guidance for program development and implementation:

Penny Brown-Huber - Developer and Program Administrator of the “Grow Your Small Market Farm” business planning program with Drake University Agricultural Law Center and the John P. Papajohn Entrepreneurial Center • Chair of the Iowa  Network for Community Agriculture and the Advisory Council for the Cooperative Development Center at Iowa State University.

Brian Heithoff - General Manager for Consumer's Energy • Member of Chamber for Agriculture Business Task Force in Marshall County

Rich Pirog - Marketing and Food Systems Research Program Leader at the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture • Value Chain Partnerships for a Sustainable Agriculture Project Director

Carol R. Smith - National Catholic Rural Life • Member of Iowa Network for Community Agriculture (INCA)

Margaret Smith - Iowa State University Extension Sustainable/Value Added Agriculture • Farms in Hamilton County • Member Practical Farmers of Iowa

Mark Tjelmeland - On Board of Directors for Practical Farmers of Iowa • Experience in raising and marketing chickens • Raises prairie seed to sell

Mary Wiedenhoeft - Associate Professor at Iowa State University Department of Agronomy.  She works with undergraduate education and conducts research on forage crops and rotational grazing.  Mary also serves as an advisor to the graduate program in sustainable agriculture at ISU. 

Sally Wilson - Former Marshall County Extension Director • Farm owner • Offers horse riding lessons • Develops and implements Marshall County Conservation’s Uncle Ike Nature programs for children