Leadership
Andrew west | President
John Forrest | Vice pResident
Just a sun worshiping, moon following, soil goblin trying to get closer to this green world. A first generation and first year farmer, developing living soil based on regenerative practices and organic principles. Creating a home for diversified vegetables and lgbtqia+.
Laurel Smith | Treasurer
Michelle Hindman | Secretary & Fundraising Committee Chair
Michelle Hindman is a boots-on-the-ground, hands-in-the-soil, community food system collaborator. Michelle believes it is important to approach her work as an ally to the land and the people it supports and to do so as respectfully as possible.
As a co-lead for the Northern Colorado Permaculture Guild, a contract farm and garden hand, aerial mapper, and nonprofit consultant, much of what she does in the day to day is working directly to improve how we, as a community, engage with the land and people around us, helping to build resilient growing spaces and a supportive community culture. One of Michelle’s passions is to help lead fun, educational, service-oriented events, often done barn-raising style, with good food and companionship – because she believes that not only do many hands make light work, but it also builds and strengthens our networks.
Michelle holds an Associate of Applied Science in Holistic Health from Front Range Community College, a Bachelor of Dietetics with a Minor in Sociology from Colorado State University, along with numerous trainings and certificates including Nonviolent Communication, Servant Leadership, Human Centered Design, and Community Engagement from a Public Health perspective.
Michelle is excited to work with the Larimer County Farmers Alliance in continuing to develop a strong, supportive, and resilient agricultural community.
Dave Garner | Agritourism Committee Chair
David Garner is a husband, father, farmer and housing provider who primarily works with Back Gate Farm.
After retiring from a career in healthcare administration, supply chain, high tech and manufacturing, David decided to reconnect with small local agriculture. He believes that it reminds us of our heritage and inspires us to mold better relationships, build community and improve our stewardship of the land.
David holds a master’s degree in business administration from Colorado State University. His passion for continuous improvement led him to become a Certified Lean Master. He believes that growing real food with sustainable practices is what will ultimately push us all to leave the world a better place than we found it.
Sarah Cole Lewis | POlicy & Communications Committees Chair
Sarah is a Loveland native and backyard produce grower who recently returned home to Loveland after working in food equity and urban gardening in K-12 schools in Southern California and graduating law school in Chicago and working in public interest/public health law. Growing up, Sarah spent summers at her grandparents' peach orchard in Pennsylvania, watching them grow their own food and selling it at local farmers markets or preserving it in their cellar for the winter. Sarah is passionate about supporting family producers like her grandparents and is a strong believer in the power of food in bringing people and communities together.
Contact to get involved: info@larimercountyfarmers.org