Apprentice Graduates
Since 2004, Growing Growers has trained 237 beginning farmers through our apprenticeship program. Many graduates have gone on to start their own farms, become host farmers themselves, or pursue careers in sustainable agriculture and food systems. Use the search box to find a specific graduate, or click any column header to sort.
Apprentice Graduates
| Year | Apprentice | Host Farm |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Claire Moddrell | Drumm Farm |
| 2025 | Grace Ford | Millsap Farm |
| 2025 | Haley Phillips | Common Grounds Producer and Growers Inc. |
| 2025 | Jack Antonio Seymour | Pearl Family Farm |
| 2025 | Jeff Nitsche | KC Farm School |
| 2025 | Jenson | Misty Morning Farm |
| 2025 | Jessica James | Young Family Farm |
| 2025 | Joseph Harrison | Anchor Farm |
| 2025 | Josie Reynolds | 2 Birds Farm |
| 2025 | Kori Butler | BoysGrow |
| 2025 | Madeline Medina | Juniper Gardens |
| 2025 | Rita Nyanzuh | — |
| 2025 | Sunny Williams | Global One |
| 2025 | Tevin Taylor | BoysGrow |
| 2024 | Alexandria G. Davis | Morningside Blooms |
| 2024 | Amy Gordon Ames | KC Farm School |
| 2024 | Ashley Bath | KC Farm School |
| 2024 | Avrey Bachmann Fetzer | Dirt Best |
| 2024 | Elizabeth Collier | Urbavore |
| 2024 | Emily Judd | Legacy Garden Works |
| 2024 | Felicity Mitchell | Misty Morning Farm |
| 2024 | James Forsyth | Open Petal Farm |
| 2024 | Jeff Box | KC Farm School |
| 2024 | Jessica James | Young Family Farm |
| 2024 | Madison Pilla | Spitlog Farm |
| 2024 | Maxine Baxter | Young Family Farm |
| 2024 | Micah Quinn | KC Farm School |
| 2024 | Rachael Lynch | Misty Morning Farm |
| 2024 | Sandra Manchin | KC Farm School |
| 2024 | Sookhee Fenimore | Two Birds Farm |
| 2024 | Spencer Rosenbaum | Adams ORAC |
| 2024 | Stacy Bennewitz | Pendleton’s |
| 2023 | Carolyn Tragasz | KC Farm School |
| 2023 | Chad Baker | Two Birds Farm KC |
| 2023 | Elizabeth Fitzner | Green Gates |
| 2023 | Lauren Sobchak | Urbavore |
| 2023 | Sarah Stafford | Victory Gardens |
| 2022 | Carter Oberheu | Young Family Farm |
| 2022 | Destinee Bush | Mellowfields Farm |
| 2022 | Elizabeth Grantham | KC Farm School |
| 2022 | Kenneth Palmer | Sacred Sun Farm |
| 2022 | Lee Quaife | Prairie Birthday Farm |
| 2022 | Tiffany Hollingsworth | KC Farm School |
| 2021 | Emily Ashley Meyer | Moon on the Meadow |
| 2021 | Emily Christman | Sacred Sun Cooperative |
| 2021 | Karley Kindberg | KC Farm School |
| 2021 | Kristin Selby | Fair Share Farm |
| 2021 | Mallory Millette | Fair Share Farm |
| 2021 | Mellanye Lackey | Prairie Birthday Farm |
| 2021 | Morgan Murphey | KC Farm School |
| 2021 | Paul Cesare | Powell Gardens |
| 2021 | Reno Strein | Young Family Farm / Urbavore Urban Farm |
| 2021 | Scott Lamb | Sandheron Farm |
| 2020 | Amanda Janes | Two Birds Farm |
| 2020 | Brooke Luebbering | Urbavore Urban Farm |
| 2020 | Elizabeth Barnet | Fair Share Farm |
| 2020 | Felix Ceradsky | Moon on the Meadow |
| 2020 | Jessica Fussell | Pinwheel Farm |
| 2020 | Kelsey Leimer | Woodland City KC |
| 2019 | Abbey Haines | Two Birds Farm |
| 2019 | Edgar Romero | — |
| 2018 | Sharon Autry | Moon on the Meadow |
| 2018 | Susan Welsh | Sacred Sun Cooperative Farm |
| 2018 | Todd Kissell | Prairie Birthday Farm LLC |
| 2017 | Brendan McCluskey | Fair Share Farm / Prairie Birthday |
| 2017 | Heather Cook | Moon on the Meadow |
| 2017 | Heather Wilson | Powell Gardens |
| 2016 | Jeramie Edmisten | Pendleton’s County Market |
| 2016 | Karen Steinlage | Fair Share Farm |
| 2016 | Kimberly Hunter | Fair Share Farm |
| 2016 | Larry Lehman | Blue Door Farm |
| 2015 | Anna Wiatr | Gibbs Road Farm |
| 2015 | Craig Marcklinger | Gibbs Road Farm |
| 2015 | Desiree Pinder | Gibbs Road Farm |
| 2015 | Devin Gerling | Spring Creek Farm |
| 2015 | Ellis Flint | — |
| 2015 | Kaitlyn McKissick | Common Harvest Farm |
| 2015 | Kara Kriegshauser | — |
| 2015 | Megan McQueen | Fair Share Farm |
| 2015 | Misty Ballew | — |
| 2015 | Nicole Deister | — |
| 2015 | Semra Fetahovic | Fair Share Farm |
| 2014 | Ami Freeberg | Blue Door Farm |
| 2014 | Ashley Lewis | Spring Creek Farm |
| 2014 | Betsy Thomas | Red Ridge Farm |
| 2014 | Bonnie Clay | Urban Soul and Soil |
| 2014 | Dustin Bergman | Fair Share Farm |
| 2014 | Emily Lundberg | Maggie’s Farm |
| 2014 | John Irle | Fair Share Farm |
| 2014 | Mac Diaz | Red Ridge Farm |
| 2014 | Tayler Blodgett | Maggie’s Farm |
| 2014 | Tonia Barksdale | Powell Gardens |
| 2014 | Wendy Groebe | Gibbs Road Farm |
| 2013 | Brady Karlin | KC Community Farm |
| 2013 | Marie Byleen | Moon on the Meadow |
| 2013 | Sarah Graham | KC Community Farm |
| 2012 | Benjamin Haring | Pinwheel Farm |
| 2012 | Cara Lawrence | Gibbs Road Farm |
| 2012 | Chris Wittrock | Moon on the Meadow |
| 2012 | Dani Hurst | Fair Share Farm |
| 2012 | Justin Mitchell | Kansas City Community Farm |
| 2012 | Kaitlin Emig | Moon on the Meadow |
| 2012 | Lydia Gibson | Pinwheel Farm |
| 2012 | Rion Glynn | Spring Creek Farm |
| 2011 | Alison Cain | Maggies Farm |
| 2011 | Chris Kramer | Moon on the Meadow |
| 2011 | Colby Fuller | Moon on the Meadow |
| 2011 | Dana Manda | Spring Creek Farm |
| 2011 | David Manda | Spring Creek Farm |
| 2011 | Debby Gupta | Prairie Birthday |
| 2011 | Jessie Wiard | KC Community Farm |
| 2011 | Kate Johnson | Spring Creek Farm |
| 2011 | Kelley Rushing | Mellowfields Farm |
| 2011 | Lucas Knutter | Fair Share Farm |
| 2011 | Mariah Friend | KC Community Farm |
| 2011 | Mark Ruzicka | Urbavore Urban Farm |
| 2011 | Melissa Armstrong | KC Community Farm |
| 2011 | Sarah Dehart | KC Community Farm |
| 2010 | Ben Storey | Pearly Gates Organic |
| 2010 | Blain Snipstal | Moon on the Meadow |
| 2010 | Bobby Wright | KCCUA |
| 2010 | Elise Blanc | Drumm Farm |
| 2010 | Eloise Daniel | KCCUA |
| 2010 | Emily Lecuyer | Fair Share Farm |
| 2010 | Jessie Duquette | Green Dirt / Maggies Farm |
| 2010 | Joanna Sabally | KCCUA |
| 2010 | Katherine Loeck | KCCUA |
| 2010 | Les Stitt | KCCUA |
| 2010 | Matt Maes | Fair Share Farm |
| 2010 | Neil Rudisill | KCCUA |
| 2010 | Nicholas Kotlinski | Moon on the Meadow |
| 2010 | Tracey Cheuvront | KCCUA |
| 2009 | Audrey Coleman | Spring Creek Farm |
| 2009 | Blake Wilson | KC Community Farm |
| 2009 | Brandon Baltzell | Spring Creek Farm |
| 2009 | Cindy Long | KC Community Farm |
| 2009 | Craig Comstock | Hoyland Farm |
| 2009 | Frances Freeman | Foxfire Farm |
| 2009 | Kara Jennings | Fair Share Farm |
| 2009 | Kevin Freeman | Foxfire Farm |
| 2009 | Kim Crowley | KC Community Farm |
| 2009 | Leslie Touzeau | KC Community Farm |
| 2009 | Liberty Hunter | KC Community Farm |
| 2009 | Melissa Forester | Sandheron Farm |
| 2009 | Sarah Arendale | Foxfire Farm |
| 2009 | Shari Wilson | KC Community Farm |
| 2009 | Tim Graham | Kurlbaums Farm |
| 2008 | Anna Weaverdyck | Spring Creek Farm |
| 2008 | Elesha Bettinger | Pinwheel Farm |
| 2008 | Heidi Holliday | Moon On the Meadow |
| 2008 | Jake Johannes | KCCF |
| 2008 | Jeff Hunter | Fair Share Farm |
| 2008 | Jenna Wilkins | KCCF |
| 2008 | Jennifer Baughman | Fair Share Farm |
| 2008 | Jessica Baker | Troostwood Farm |
| 2008 | Jessica Layton | Pinwheel Farm |
| 2008 | Kathi Whitman | Prairie Birthday Farm |
| 2008 | Lorne Carroll | Fair Share Farm |
| 2008 | Sarah Shmigelsky | KCCF |
| 2008 | Steven Maitland | Bear Creek Farm |
| 2008 | Wade Myslivy | Hoyland Farm |
| 2007 | Alex Wood | Wood Mood Farm |
| 2007 | Becki Weber | KC Community Farm |
| 2007 | Christine Richardson | Pickings and Pumpkins |
| 2007 | David Foster | Drumm Farm |
| 2007 | Jessica Pierson | Moon on the Meadow |
| 2007 | Libby Negus | Fair Share Farm |
| 2007 | Mae Rose Petrehn | Pinwheel Farm |
| 2007 | Margaret Gronniger | Pinwheel Farm |
| 2007 | Ralph Thomlinson | Spring Creek Farm |
| 2007 | Sandy Foster | Drumm Farm |
| 2006 | Brandi Minton | — |
| 2006 | Brenda Raygor | Fair Share Farm |
| 2006 | Brian Peterson | — |
| 2006 | Chad Bristow | Rainbow Soul and Soil |
| 2006 | Cheryl Mueller | Kansas City Community Farm |
| 2006 | Christine Germann | Pearly Gates Organic Gardens |
| 2006 | Emilie Mutert | — |
| 2006 | Erin Gonseth | — |
| 2006 | Jennifer Kerle | — |
| 2006 | Jessi Asmussen | Sandheron Farm |
| 2006 | Joseph Puglisi | Kansas City Community Farm |
| 2006 | Julie Coon | — |
| 2006 | Kevin Dunn | — |
| 2006 | Kylie Jo Neal | — |
| 2006 | Libby Negus | Fair Share Farm |
| 2006 | Mari McElyea | — |
| 2006 | Maria Whitaker | — |
| 2006 | Nicole DeJarnett | Bear Creek Farm |
| 2006 | Noel Jones | — |
| 2006 | Pam Saylor | — |
| 2006 | Crystal Pascacio | — |
| 2006 | Tim Ross | — |
| 2006 | Tom Buller | Wakarusa Farm |
| 2006 | Wayne Berry | — |
| 2005 | Aaron Marable | — |
| 2005 | Amy Inch | — |
| 2005 | Andrea Jones | — |
| 2005 | Anna Ramey | KC Community Farm |
| 2005 | April Sweeney | KC Community Farm |
| 2005 | Brooke Rieman | — |
| 2005 | Claudia Corson | — |
| 2005 | Diane Walker | Kaiahua Farm |
| 2005 | Elizabeth Kelderhouse | — |
| 2005 | Elizabeth Mueller | — |
| 2005 | Erica Wright | Kaiahua Farm |
| 2005 | Gaspar Raj | — |
| 2005 | Gilda Kneitz | KC Community Farm |
| 2005 | Julie Koppen | Prairie Birthday |
| 2005 | Justin Burrell | Kaiahua Farm |
| 2005 | Kathy Mesa | — |
| 2005 | Lani Meyer | — |
| 2005 | Laura Christensen | KC Community Farm |
| 2005 | Maiya Hensen | — |
| 2005 | Martha Gronniger | — |
| 2005 | Mary Bach-Jackson | Kaiahua Farm |
| 2005 | Mary Wright | — |
| 2005 | Megan Barnett | Drumm Farm |
| 2005 | Rachel Myers | Shiloh Gardens |
| 2005 | Regina Baker | Kaiahua Farm |
| 2005 | Sarah Prentice | — |
| 2005 | Scott Cumming | — |
| 2005 | Stephanie Thomas | Kaiahua Farm |
| 2004 | Anna Kern | Sandheron Farm |
| 2004 | Chris Thomas | KCCF |
| 2004 | Denise Canfield | Bear Creek Farm |
| 2004 | Eric Finney | Wakarusa Farm |
| 2004 | Erich Buer | Wakarusa Farm |
| 2004 | Hilary Brown | KCCF |
| 2004 | Jerry Botts | Wakarusa Farm |
| 2004 | Kim Bledsoe | Pickings n Pumpkins |
| 2004 | Michael Bates | Doolittle Farm |
| 2004 | Morgan Deramus | Pickings n Pumpkins |
| 2004 | Richard Glossip | Conway’s Produce |
| 2004 | Ryan Courtright | Full Moon Farm |
| 2004 | Sarah Hail | Bear Creek Farm |
| 2004 | Tara Bolles | Wakarusa Farm |
Where Are They Now?
Many graduates have gone on to start their own farms—and several have become host farmers themselves, training the next generation of growers.
Laura Christensen
Two Birds Farm
Former 2005 apprentice Laura Christensen started Two Birds Farm (formerly Blue Door Farm) in Kansas City, KS. She apprenticed at KC Community Farm and is now a host farmer, having trained several Growing Growers apprentices.
View Two Birds Farm →
Jessi Asmussen
Mellowfields Urban Farm
Former 2006 apprentice Jessi Asmussen started Mellowfields Urban Farm in Lawrence, KS. She apprenticed at Sandheron Farm and is now a host farmer who also co-runs the Common Harvest CSA.
View Mellowfields Farm →
Neil Rudisill
Woodland City KC
Former 2010 apprentice Neil Rudisill started Woodland City KC in Kansas City, MO in the Ivanhoe neighborhood. He apprenticed at KC Center for Urban Agriculture and is now a host farmer. His half-acre market garden focuses on organic techniques and small-scale urban agriculture.
Read Kansas City Magazine Profile →
Jake Johannes
Sacred Sun Cooperative Farm
Former 2008 apprentice Jake Johannes started Sacred Sun Cooperative Farm in Perry, KS, which has grown into a 100-acre organic farming community. He apprenticed at Kansas City Community Farm and is now a host farmer.
View Sacred Sun Farm →
Kate Johnson
Roots, Fruits & Greens Farm
Former 2011 apprentice Kate Johnson started Roots, Fruits & Greens Farm in Easton, KS, where she grows mainly for restaurants. She apprenticed at Spring Creek Farm in Baldwin City, KS.
Follow on Instagram: @rfgfarm
Katherine Loeck
Backbone Farm
Former 2010 apprentice Katherine (Loeck) Carestio started Backbone Farm in upstate New York in 2018 with her husband, Jamie. Kat apprenticed at KC Center for Urban Agriculture (now Gibbs Road Farm) and runs a 67-acre farm adjacent to the Finger Lakes National Forest, raising grass-fed beef.
Read the GreenStar Cooperative Profile →
Semra Fetahovic
K-State Olathe
Former 2015 apprentice Semra Fetahovic apprenticed at Fair Share Farm and now serves as the Urban Food Systems Program Coordinator at K-State Olathe, where she provides leadership in marketing and outreach.
Read About Semra →
What Our Apprentices Say
“The wealth of information that I have gleaned from the series is invaluable to my pursuit of becoming a first-class Urban Farmer. I have learned so many things related to this pursuit that are not readily available in other informational forums.”
Chris Dalton, Happy Rock Farm, Gladstone, MO
“I’ve learned SO much going through the Growing Growers program! Not only did I get great information and resources, the workshops helped me figure out what I DON’T want to do on my farm.”
Bobbi Walker, PlayHaven Farm LLC, Napoleon, MO
“Growing Growers gave me valuable first hand experience and put me in contact with helpful people and resources in the area that I couldn’t have gotten anywhere else.”
Jenna Wilkins, KC Community Farm, Kansas City, MO
Graduation Ceremony
Every year, Growing Growers holds a graduation ceremony at the K-State Olathe Horticulture Center during the Commercial Vegetable Field Day each August. At this event, apprentices are recognized for their hard work and accomplishments when they successfully finish the program.
Photos courtesy of K-State Olathe Horticulture Center