Food Systems Coordinator, Healthy Communities of the Capital Area

Alida returns to her home state of Maine after several years working in the Vermont food system in various capacities— from farming and cooking, to working as a Local Food Access Coordinator where she managed hunger relief programs and worked with charitable organizations to increase their local food offerings. Prior to this work, Alida served with AmeriCorps as a Farm-to-School Coordinator, educating elementary students through cooking and gardening, encouraging them to build a deeper understanding of where our food comes from and its impact on our bodies, communities, and ecosystems. In her free time, Alida enjoys crafting of all kinds (sewing, ceramics, stained glass, printmaking) and spending time in nature.

Email: a.farrell@hccame.org

Executive Director, Healthy Communities of the Capital Area

Renee Page is the Executive Director for Healthy Communities of the Capital Area, a local public health organization that serves southern Kennebec County, where she oversees nutrition, obesity prevention, and access to local foods projects. Renee coordinates the Maine Farm to Institution Network, and is a member of the Farm to Institution New England Network Advisory Council and the Northeast Farm to School Collaborative. Renee approaches farm to school work with a public health lens and sees it as a way to prevent chronic disease and improve health through increased access to fresh, local foods while helping local communities thrive. She holds a Masters degree in Public Health and did her undergraduate work in Food Science and Human Nutrition and Business Management and Accounting. Renee is a lifelong Mainer who loves being on, in, and near the ocean, the color purple, and has an affinity for hot sauce but not hot weather. She lives in Farmingdale with her spouse, two children, two cats, one dog, and aquarium full of fish.

Farm to School Area of Expertise: Procurement

Email: r.page@hccame.org

Food Systems & Youth Development Professional, University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Viña Lindley is a Food Systems Professional for the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and is based out of the Waldo County office. Her work is primarily focused on supporting school gardens, cooking and nutrition education. She holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Education from Antioch University New England and a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Viña was born and raised on Martha’s Vineyard where her father worked as a commercial fisherman and her mother in public education. She has happily transplanted roots to midcoast Maine where she lives with her husband, daughter and dog. If she’s not in her office the most likely place you can find her is in the garden where she enjoys growing food, especially garlic!

Farm to School Area of Expertise: School Gardens

Email: vina.lindley@maine.edu

Implementation Manager, Full Plates Full Potential

Robin was born in Freeport, Maine and grew up in a bed and breakfast run by her family. She spent her childhood digging up potatoes in the family garden, splashing around Casco Bay, and getting covered in as many scrapes and bug bites a childhood outside allowed. She graduated from The Culinary Institute of America with a degree in Baking and Pastry Arts, and later Drexel University with a degree in Culinary Arts Management. Between college years and time away from Maine, Robin worked at a variety of farms, non-profits, and restaurants. It was a work experience at Blue Hill at Stone Barns, the nation’s leading farm-to-table restaurant and educational farm, that introduced Robin to the growing side of food and she continued on this path in Maine, working at several farms including Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture, Turtle Rock Farm, and Misty Brook Farm. She is so excited to share her skills and learn from the diverse community of Maine farmers, schools, and good food advocates!

Email: rkerber@fullplates.org

Alternate: Child Nutrition Consultant, Maine Department of Education, Child Nutrition Programs

Stephanie is a Child Nutrition Consultant for the Maine Department of Education which administers the federal child nutrition programs including the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program. Stephanie carries a Master’s degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition from the University of Maine and is a Registered Dietitian. Her work involves conducting administrative reviews of school meals programs, managing the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program and providing trainings and resources to schools. She is also the Farm to School contact and coordinates the annual Farm to School Cook-off in Maine. Stephanie is passionate about finding “doable” ways for schools to incorporate more local foods into their menus and collaborating with community partners to support Farm to School work. She is a native of Maine and enjoys hiking and camping in our beautiful state and beyond!

Farm to School Area of Expertise: School Nutrition Programs

Email: stephanie.stambach@maine.gov

Program Director, FoodCorps Maine

After graduating from the University of Maine with a Bachelors of Music Performance, Ryan landed a job with the United States House of Representatives. He left the House to start his own commercial, micro-scale, diversified farm, which grew to become the largest year round CSA in Maine. While building his farm business, Ryan became interested and involved in food and agriculture policy, and has lobbied and written extensively about both. Prior to working with FoodCorps, Ryan worked with the Natural Resources Council of Maine to establish Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, and then wrote the book, literally, on school food waste reduction.

Farm to School Area of Expertise: Policy, School Gardens, School Food Waste Reduction

Email: ryan.parker@foodcorps.org

Executive Director, Maine Agriculture in the Classroom

Willie Sawyer Grenier has served on the Maine Farm to School Network since inception. Her background as a farmer, teacher, Ag Educator, and leader in Agriculture in the Classroom program across the country, brings educational strategies and resources to the group. In 2017-18 she served as the National AITC President and in June 2018 MAITC hosted the National Conference in Portland, welcoming 426 educators from across the country with more than 50 Maine tour hosts and volunteers. Annually MAITC holds a Summer Teachers Institute with classroom and onsite Ag Professional Development for PK – 12 classroom teachers. Willie truly supports both Farm to School and School to Farm! She has two grown children that are both involved in the movement, and lives with her husband, Mike, in Albion.

Farm to School Area of Expertise: Agriculture Education

Email: maitca@maine.gov

Program Coordinator, FoodCorps Maine

Malia is the Team Leader with FoodCorps Maine, coordinating the state's cohort of ten service members. She previously served with FoodCorps for two years in Belfast, Maine at the Captain Albert Stevens School.

Email: malia.demers@foodcorps.org

Program Assistant, Maine Agriculture in the Classroom

Kelsey is the program assistant for Maine Agriculture in the Classroom. Her work is focused on providing resources to schools and educators on how they can incorporate more agriculture into their curriculum. She has a degree in Community Health from the University of Maine at Farmington. Previously she worked at two different healthy community coalitions around the state and comes to the Maine Farm to School Network with a public health lens. Kelsey is passionate about educating students and the community on where their food comes from and increasing the knowledge and awareness around the importance of locally sourced foods and good nutrition. She and her husband currently reside in midcoast Maine and are happily expecting a baby girl later this year.

Farm to School Area of Expertise: Agriculture Education

Email: kelsey.maitc@gmail.com

Educational Programs Coordinator, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA)

Anna Libby works as the Educational Programs Coordinator at the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA). Her work at MOFGA focuses on programming for gardeners, homesteaders, and those who love to enjoy the food our farmers produce. Anna grew up on a small farm in Maine where she and her family raised sheep and chickens alongside their garden and orchard. She still gardens and raises chickens on the same property, where she now lives with her husband, dog, and cat. She appreciates the connections the Farm to School Network helps to build both within Maine's communities, as well as between growers and students.

Email: alibby@mofga.org

Ashley Edmondson is a Program Manager for the Let’s Go! Implementation Team who provides technical assistance to partners statewide while also coordinates program and resource development. After spending over a decade working in public health, Ashley has gained a tremendous amount of experience to effectively support communities in adopting environmental and policy level change, along with a deep understanding of the Let’s Go! program, an obesity prevention initiative. Ashley is a trained facilitator, presenter and holds a BA in sociology and minor in holistic health from the University of Southern Maine. She lives in Portland, Maine with her husband, daughter, and son.

Email: aedmondson@mmc.org

Program Director, Full Plates Full Potential

Anna was born and raised in rural Maine. She received her Masters in Public Policy at the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine where she focused her studies on poverty, food security, and education policy. She is passionate about supporting and strengthening School Nutrition programs across our state, and believes that they are critical to ensuring a bright future for Maine children. Prior to her work with Full Plates Full Potential, Anna worked as a server for 16 years. She lives in Portland with her partner Brian and 9 year old son Arlo, loves to be outside, and enjoys all things food related.

Email: akorsen@fullplates.org

Falmouth Schools Food Service Director; Falmouth Schools Farm-to-School Coordinator

Martha is the Food Service Director for the Falmouth School Department, overseeing three production kitchens providing healthy meal options to 2100 K-12 students. The nutrition program uses scratch cooking and local foods to the greatest extent possible. Martha is also the coordinator of Falmouth’s Farm-to-School program which roots the farm-to-school movement into Falmouth’s cafeterias, classrooms, and learning gardens. Martha fell in love with the Maine woods, lakes, and coast at the age of 16 and has made Maine her home ever since. She is a graduate of the University of Maine (BS in Botany) and Southern Maine Technical College (Assoc. Degree in Culinary Arts). Favorite foods are pie and barbecue.

Farm to School Area of Expertise: Local Procurement for School Nutrition Programs

Email: mpoliquin@falmouthschools.org

Coordinator, Maine School Garden Network

Email: rachel@msgn.org

Principal Etna Dixmont School in Etna, Maine

Email: jstork@rsu19.net

School Nutrition Director RSU 22 (Hampden, Winterport, Newburgh, Frankfort)

Kathy has been School Nutrition Director since 2014, with 19 years in food service administration at The University of Maine. She holds a B.S. degree in Nutrition. She is most passionate about providing excellent service and programming and implementating of healthy menu items including local foods.

Email: kkittridge@rsu22.us

School Nutrition Director, Sheepscot Valley Regional School District

Mike Flynn is a certified executive chef and school nutrition director for RSU #12. Mike has been involved in food services for the past 35 years, during his career he has worked in Maine. Texas, California and Japan purchasing regional/local foods as close to the farming source as possible. The past 15 years Mike's focus has been on child nutrition, exploring ways for students to consider asking questions about where their food comes, discussing how valuable local farmers are for a lifetime of good health and good food.

Email: mflynn@svrsu.org