Board & Chapter Delegates
Officers
Liz Morris Otto
President
At Large - Delano
Mark Anema
Vice President
At Large - Watkins
Caroline Hegstrom
Secretary
Lake Superior Chapter - Duluth
Yvonne Baller
Treasurer
Yvonne Baller and her partner own a 40-acre homestead in Ogilvie, MN where they apply sustainable farming principles to raising their own meat, fruit, and vegetables which they supplement through sustainable farmers in their area. She is a founding member of the East Central Chapter of SFA and is that chapter's delegate to the SFA board. Yvonne recently retired after 31 years in the health insurance industry and applies her business expertise to SFA as the state board treasurer.
Yvonne Baller
Treasurer
At Large - Ogilvie
Directors
Melissa Driscoll
Cannon River Chapter - Kenyon
Tyler Carlson
Central Chapter - Sauk Centre
Tyler has been studying and applying the principles of agroecology and silvopasture on his farm in central Minnesota since 2012. With his wife and daughter, he raises 100% grass-fed beef, pastured lamb, shrub fruit, and other perennials. Their farm's silvopasture systems include field-planted pine and oak trees as well as experimental restoration of oak woodlands. Tyler was first exposed to the principles of agroforestry while studying restoration ecology and sustainable agriculture at the University of Minnesota. After receiving his B.S., he completed the Agroforestry Academy through the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry. He has been leading the silvopasture programing at SFA since 2020. Tyler's favorite aspect of his work at SFA is doing on-farm consulting with producers to collaboratively design agroforestry and management systems that contribute to climate adaptation and mitigation and improved farm resilience.
Tyler Carlson
Central Chapter - Sauk Centre
Mary Fischer
Coteau Ridge Chapter - Interim Delegate
My name is Mary Fischer. My husband, two small children and I live on a farm by Hanska where we have a farm business and practice sustainable farming methods. Over the last few years, I have become passionate about regenerative farming and the need to more intentionally steward the land.
I am the outreach organizer for Southwest Minnesota and the coordinator for the Coteau Ridge Chapter as of June, 2022. I seek appropriate events to promote the Sustainable Farming Association and its mission across southwest MN and eastern SD. Another role of mine is to help recruit members and develop events for the Coteau Ridge Chapter.
Mary Fischer
Coteau Ridge Chapter - Hanska
Josh Borrell
Crow River Chapter - Waverly
Matt Hardy
East Central - Shafer
Kate Short
Greater Mille Lacs Chapter - McGregor
Scott Haase
Minnesota River Chapter - Blue Earth
Natalie Hoidal
At Large - Hastings
Natalie is an Extension Educator at the University of Minnesota, working with vegetable crops and local foods throughout the state. She supports growers with direct technical assistance, writes weekly vegetable updates throughout the growing season via the UMN Extension Fruit & Veg Newsletter, and conducts applied research. Her primary focus areas include general vegetable production support throughout the growing season, climate resilience, emerging crops, and soil health.
Natalie Hoidal
At Large - Hastings
Lillian Otieno
At Large - St. Paul
Scott Roser
Lake Agassiz Chapter - Fergus Falls
Peter Schwagerl
Western Chapter - Brown's Valley
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