Specialists

Julie Kikkert
Team Leader, Extension Vegetable Specialist
Areas of Interest: Processing Crops
Crops: Snap Beans, Beets, Carrots, Peas, Sweet Corn

Elizabeth Buck
Extension Vegetable Specialist
Areas of Interest: Western-Region Fresh Market Vegetables, Weed Management, Soil Health
Crops: Cucumbers, Eggplant, Lettuce / Leafy Greens, Melons, Peppers, Squash - Summer, Squash- Winter, Tomatoes

Robert Hadad
Extension Vegetable Specialist
Areas of Interest: Food Safety, Fresh Market Vegetables, Marketing, Organic
Crops: Asparagus, Cucumbers, Ethnic Vegetables, Garlic, Horseradish, Lettuce / Leafy Greens, Melons, Parsnips, Pumpkins / Gourds, Radishes, Rutabaga, Squash - Summer, Squash- Winter, Sweet Corn, Turnips

Christy Hoepting
Extension Vegetable Specialist
Areas of Interest: On-farm Field Research and Pesticide Training
Crops: Broccoli, Cabbage, Garlic, Onions

Lori Koenick
Extension Support Specialist
Areas of Interest: Fresh Market Vegetables, Mushrooms, Urban Agriculture

Margie Lund
Extension Vegetable Specialist
Areas of Interest: Post-harvest Handling and Storage
Crops: Dry Beans, Potatoes

Judson Reid
Extension Vegetable Specialist
Areas of Interest: Greenhouse/High Tunnel Production, Small Farming Operations, Fresh Market Vegetables
Crops: Cucumbers, Eggplant, Lettuce / Leafy Greens, Peppers, Tomatoes

Upcoming Events
Fungi, Forage & Forest
June 12, 2026 : Friday Evening
Buckets, Beds & Totems
Explore mushroom cultivation techniques featuring oyster mushrooms, wine caps, and lion's mane mushrooms.
June 13, 2026 : Saturday Full-Day
Wild Edibles
Learn about edible plants and responsible foraging practices focused on plants only (no wild mushroom foraging).
Agroforestry Talk
Discover how agroforestry systems can support farm diversification and sustainable land management.
Shiitake Inoculation (hands-on workshop at Heartland Organics)
Participate in a hands-on shiitake inoculation workshop and learn the basics of log-grown mushroom production.