Rich Adeyemi is an immigrant farmer from Nigeria and has been farming organically for 10 years before relocating to the United States. He is passionate about quality nutrition for families, ecosystem conservation, sustainability, urban farming and community development. Through his work, he pioneered a seed saving initiative which led to the creation of a seed bank to save and share indigenous seed varieties from going into extinction.

Back in his home country, Rich’s strong desire for making food available, affordable and accessible led him to designing training curricula such as Farm to School Africa, Small Space Gardening, Rural Women Entrepreneurship Development Program, and Farming as a Business, which he relentlessly used in training families, schools, rural and urban communities to pursue and attain food security sustainably.

Rich is certified in Level 2 Food Safety in Catering from Chartered Institute of
Environmental Health UK, Food Security and Sustainability in Crop Production from Wageningen University & Research Netherlands and also a Master Composter with Bernalillo County Extension Master Composter Program.

Kat Wright’s passion for local food systems, regenerative agriculture and wildlife have dovetailed nicely with her background in design and branding in service to the Rio Grande Community Farm. Before moving to New Mexico, Kat spent several years on a mid-sized farm in Tucson, Arizona where she managed their farmers markets, CSA pickups and produce deliveries. Since moving to Albuquerque in 2016, she has pivoted back to her educational background in design. She now works doing surface pattern, graphic design and branding. She joined the Rio Grande Community Farm Board of Directors to engage her love for agriculture and wildlife in 2017 and as President from 2018-2022. Now, she is using her skills to bolster communications and community engagement as a Member-at-Large of the Communications Committee.

John Heck is  Professional Engineer (PE) who has worked in facilities engineering for 35 years. He recently retired from his position of Principal and shareholder of Bridgers and Patxon Consulting Engineers, a mechanical and electrical consulting engineering firm. His most recent engineering accomplishments  included Principal in Charge of major Hospital Projects, including the major expansion of the Albuquerque Presbyterian Health Center.

John holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Electrical Engineering Science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly). He is also LEED (Leadership in Environmental and energy design) Certified. The LEED program is designed to promote sustainable building practices and reduce the environmental impact of buildings and construction projects. John has always looked for ways to reduce energy consumption and impact climate change.

John is an avid cyclist, and loves exploring and traveling the great outdoors. He has participated in many cycling races and tours. John is a member of Rotary International and enjoys participating in ways to give back to his community.

Nathan is currently pursuing his degrees in social work at New Mexico Highlands University. Rio Grande Community Farm was a great fit for his internship as it allows him to link his loves of food, farming, and social work. Discovering how these three subjects are related and the many ways Rio Grande Community Farm works to connect people to the earth has been very exciting. A native Albuquerque resident, Nathan has loved gardening and communing with nature for as long as he can remember.  Nathan also worked for more than 20 years as a professional chef and baker before working towards a new career as a clinical social worker.

Ebenezer is a first-generation immigrant, who has a passion for life. Being born in Accra, Ghana and relocating to Alberta, Canada before settling in New Mexico, gives Ebenezer a unique appreciation of the world and how we are similar but also unique. His distinctive view of the world, and the people who make it up, is further strengthened by years in the healthcare industry, where Ebenezer is advancing his career by entering nursing with his eyes set on becoming a Physicians Assistant.

Ebenezer is also a grower of green things. Whether it be a variety of Orchids or a small backyard garden, if it’s green he can grow it. When he’s not toiling away in the backyard, or taking care of patients in the emergency room, Ebenezer has a variety of hobbies and interests, most recently completing a flower arrangement class at the Albuquerque Garden Center. Ebenezer looks forward to bringing his diverse background, his connection to people and plants and his positive energy to the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Stefany Olivas grew up in the small agricultural Town of Bernalillo, just North of Albuquerque New Mexico. She has always had the biggest interests in nature and in making food. Not until majoring in Biology at the local community college and beginning to work in community gardens did she realize a way to combine her passions. With Project Feed the Hood she hopes to gain an understanding of how we grow and process and consume food, and what the presence of a growing space can have on the local environment and community health.

Kristina Hughes currently lives in Rio Rancho with her husband, three pups, and about fifty houseplants. Professionally, Kristina works for the American Forest Foundation as Senior Manager of Product Refinement. This team supports the Family Forest Carbon Program, which enables family forest owners to access climate finance from carbon markets, by ensuring this program creates a real climate and forest benefit that is feasible to implement, using the best available science and information. Before moving to New Mexico in 2023, Kristina served as Sustainability Coordinator at Omaha’s largest university, University of Nebraska at Omaha, leading programs and initiatives related to climate change and sustainability. Through this work, she supported and expanded the campus community garden, which supports the campus food pantry, and partnered with Hillside Solutions to develop the campus compost program. The bulk of her career was in Colorado, working with communities and the forest product industry while at Colorado State Forest Service, and serving as a teaching and research assistant in the forestry department at Colorado State University (CSU). Kristina holds two bachelor degrees from CSU in forestry and natural resource management. Outside of work, Kristina seeks out every opportunity to get outside and loves to travel to the mountains any chance she gets, especially with her husband and dogs in their Scamp camper. She is passionate about food access and supporting folks getting better connected with the land and nature, which drew her to the wonderful mission and work of Rio Grande Community Farm. Kristina is thrilled to join the volunteer team and, as a new resident to the area, meet community members doing important work to ensure equitable food access, biodiversity, and climate resilient urban farming.

Jeremy is currently living in Mississippi, and is collaborating with the Programs Committee on Instructional Design and development to integrate open access electronic courses and helping to revamp training systems for volunteers.

As a Member-at-Large on the Ecological Planning Committee of the Rio Grande Community Farm, Brian  is working towards a larger vision of a fossil-fuel free farm operation that incorporates solar energy, electric tractors, and other ideas that he calls “The Electric Farm.” The projects involve students, other volunteers, and organizations interested in implementing this vision. His major projects include:
1. Mobile solar power trailer
2. Solar power pump for compost area at the well house
3. Permaculture green wall on the west side of greenhouse
4. Aquaponics system in greenhouse (mentoring UNM Engineers Without Borders student team)
5. “Barley to Beer” project, 100% solar powered, 100% locally sourced ingredients to produce a beer
6. Agrivoltaics experimental field.

Experienced Attorney At Law with a demonstrated history of working in service to her community, through legal work and volunteerism. Professional with a JD from the University of New Mexico School of Law, an international background and a B.A. from Syracuse University in International Relations, and a commitment to making a difference.

Nathan is currently pursuing his degrees in social work at New Mexico Highlands University. Rio Grande Community Farm was a great fit for his internship as it allows him to link his loves of food, farming, and social work. Discovering how these three subjects are related and the many ways Rio Grande Community Farm works to connect people to the earth has been very exciting. A native Albuquerque resident, Nathan has loved gardening and communing with nature for as long as he can remember.  Nathan also worked for more than 20 years as a professional chef and baker before working towards a new career as a clinical social worker.

John first began working in New Mexico Agriculture over 30 years ago when he moved to New Mexico to go to graduate school and spent a summer working on a farm in Velarde, New Mexico. John was on a farm crew that planted a large garden, an acre of chile and tended a small orchard and took care of several horses. When he moved to Albuquerque, he worked with a small community
garden in the South Valley that was operated by several families called the Leaf Farm. After 10 years in the South Valley, he moved to the North Valley but continued working at Rio Grande High School and started the school’s garden and later worked with other teachers in operating an agricultural internship program.

John has worked on several non-profits, mostly in the environmental areas. His last experience was with the North Valley Coalition of Neighborhoods where he was a board member for 2 years prior to the COVID19 epidemic.

John also worked with several other organizations such as the Sierra Club and Keep New Mexico Beautiful. He was the Executive Director of the New Mexico Wilderness Study Committee and NM2050 which is a youth agriculture internship program. John would like to continue working to involve youth in agriculture with the Rio Grande Community Farm. This could include working to attract grants and involve schools. His experience with school gardens and environmental education would help in this area.

John was inspired to apply for the Treasurer position at Rio Grande Community Farm because of several efforts he saw on the website. He has family connections to Native American Pueblos and supports the Community Farm’s efforts to attract Native Americans to participate. John appreciates the focus on the land acknowledgement on the website. John has also been working with students at the Los Ranchos Market, selling items on some Saturdays and would like to expand that work.

Paul Wright is a computer scientist at Sandia National Laboratories, a father, a musician, and former educator. Paul became interested in agriculture when he was teaching physics, biology, art, math, and robotics classes at a small high school in Tucson, Arizona. As part of preparing his curriculum, he discovered a passion for understanding agriculture as a foundation of our society that has shaped and reshaped our planet over human history. Around this time, he attended a Permaculture Conference, which inspired a profound curiosity in alternative agricultural methods, particularly those which focus on designing and managing ecosystems.

These days, Paul is a computer programmer and user experience designer. His career has included freelance and agency work as a web designer and developer, and he volunteers these skills to Rio Grande Community Farm to assist with the technical management of the organization’s website.

Paul is a guitarist, and these days he uses his experience in the music industry to help organize the RGCF events, with a particular focus on booking bands, and running sound on the stages.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A passion for the organization’s purpose and values.
• Secretarial skills.
• Clear communication in English.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of regulatory compliance.
• Experience in non-profit governance preferred.
• Two hours per week available for board business.
• Regular access to email.
• Competence with digital communication technologies including Google Workspace.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Keep a record of all proceedings of the Board.
• Send out the minutes no later than 10 days before the next board meeting.
• Archive the minutes in the Shared Drive
• Ensure that thank you notes, including year end IRS donor letters, are sent out.
• Know the organization’s purpose, policies, programs, and needs.
• Engage in collaborative policy development and strategic organizational governance.
• Uphold bylaws.
• Uphold ethical standards.
• Exercise your vote in good faith.
• File annual conflict of interest paperwork.
• Attend monthly Board meetings every third Thursday of the month from 6:00 to 7:30 pm.
• Faithfully read and understand the organization’s financial statements.
• Volunteer at annual events.
• Serve as active advocates and ambassadors for the organization.
• Fully engage in identifying and securing the financial resources and partnerships necessary for the organization to achieve its purpose.
• Leverage connections, networks, and resources to develop collective action to fully achieve the organization’s purpose.
• Give a meaningful personal financial donation.
• Help identify personal connections that can benefit the organization’s fundraising and reputational standing, and can influence public policy.
• Prepare for, attend, and conscientiously participate in Board meetings.
• Participate fully in one or more committees.

Women, BIPOC, and members of the LGBTQIA+, immigrant, access challenged, and disabled communities are encouraged to apply.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested individuals are invited to email board@riograndefarm.org. Place “Board Secretary” in the subject line. Include your resume or bio, two references, and a Statement of Interest based on the following questions:

• What is your relationship to agriculture in New Mexico?
• Do you have experience with non-profits or being on a Board of Directors?
• What do you want to bring to Rio Grande Community Farm?
• What about Rio Grande Community Farm inspires you to want to join the Board of Directors?

QUALIFICATIONS

• A passion for the organization’s purpose and values.
• Experience in non-profit governance preferred but will train a promising candidate.
• Strong communication skills in English.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a diverse inclusive environment.
• Previous experience in n on-profit governance is helpful.
• Availability of at least two hours per week for Board business.
• Regular access to email.
• Competence with digital communication technologies including Google Workspace.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Know the organization’s purpose, policies, programs, and needs.
• Engage in collaborative policy development and strategic organizational governance.
• Uphold bylaws.
• Uphold ethical standards.
• Exercise your vote in good faith.
• File annual conflict of interest paperwork.
• Attend monthly Board meetings every third Thursday of the month from 6:00 to 7:30 pm.
• Faithfully read and understand the organization’s financial statements.
• Volunteer at annual events.
• Serve as active advocates and ambassadors for the organization.
• Fully engage in identifying and securing the financial resources and partnerships necessary for the organization to achieve its purpose.
• Leverage connections, networks, and resources to develop collective action to fully achieve the organization’s purpose.
• Give a meaningful personal financial donation.
• Help identify personal connections that can benefit the organization’s fundraising and reputational standing, and can influence public policy.
• Prepare for, attend, and conscientiously participate in Board meetings.
• Participate fully in one or more committees.

Women, BIPOC, and members of the LGBTQIA+, immigrant, access challenged, and disabled communities are encouraged to apply.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested individuals are invited to email board@riograndefarm.org. Place “Board Director” in the subject line. Include your resume or bio, two references, and a Statement of Interest based on the following questions:

• • What is your relationship to agriculture in New Mexico?
  • Do you have experience with non-profits or being on a Board of Directors?
  • What do you want to bring to Rio Grande Community Farm?
  • What about Rio Grande Community Farm inspires you to want to join the Board of Directors?