Ellie (she/her) is an educator, native Bridgeporter, and deeply passionate about the intersections of urban food growing, collectively run food systems, and building a future where racial equity and food justice are commonplace tenets in Connecticut farming & land use work. She is proud to rep NCTFA on American Farmland Trust's Working Lands Alliance and sit on the Farmland Preservation Advisory Board for the CT Department of Agriculture. Ellie became Green Village Initiative's Executive Director in 2020 after six years of farming. Her main priority in her free time is being the "weird aunt" to four perfect nibblings.

Owner-operator at Lathrop Farmstead in Lebanon, CT

​Nicole (she/her) has previously worked on vegetable farms in MA and CT, and she’s currently part of the Vegetable IPM team at UConn Extension. In navigating all the questions that go along with starting a new farm, she’s realized she really can’t imagine anything without being in community with others.

Co-owner and operator of SEAmarron Farmstead in Danbury, CT, established in 2020. SEAmarron Farmstead is. 3.1acre hemp & vegetable farm.

Owner-operator of Beets and Blooms Farm, Brittany began farming in 2018 following a career in social services, including the housing coordinator for a refugee resettlement agency and case manager at the state of Hawai’I’s SNAP employment program. Eventual burnout led to a career-change and she hasn’t looked back since. Brittany’s experiences in the social service sector have helped to hone a meticulous attention to detail and a passion for providing healthy food to everyone. You can frequently find Brittany saying encouraging words to baby plants, cooking delicious food for family and friends, and listening to audiobooks while she plants and harvests. Brittany is our resident veggie expert and field manager. When she’s not on the farm Brittany is busy working with other beginner farmers in the state as a Project Coordinator at UConn Solid Ground.

Sarah Layton owns Wild Hill Farm in Deep River, a cut flower, veggie, and chicken egg micro-farm. She's also Agricultural Programs Coordinator for Connecticut Resource Conservation and Development Area (CT RC&D), and primarily works on the Climate Smart Agriculture Grant, CT Veteran Grown, and CT Soil Health initiatives. She is a Certified Compost Operator, steering committee member of the CT Compost Alliance, and co-president of the Deep River Garden Club. Sarah loves strong coffee, tacos, and any activity that allows her to be outside.

Manager of market garden at Trillium Brewing Company in Stonington, CT

John is the co-owner and co-farmer at Brown Farm in Scotland, CT, where he and his wife grow cut flowers, during the winter and spring, for wholesale outlets. During the summer and fall, they also run La Serre Builders, a general contracting business specializing in high tunnel construction and other farm infrastructure projects. John is also a firearms dealer focused on providing a politically safe space to learn about and purchase firearms.

John and their partner Jenna credit NCTFA as a 'massive resource' ever since they started farming in 2017.

Petros brings the experience and perspective of a farm worker to the Steering Committee. He works at Assawaga Farm in Putnam, CT

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"NCTFA has connected me with great people and helpful resources as a beginning farmer. I am excited to help others coming up get that same support."

Dave is the co-owner of CT Garlic Company and a graphic designer with over 15 years of branding and marketing experience. He is currently working in collaboration with UCONN Extension, DoAg, and CTNOFA to support Connecticut's organic farmers with marketing and branding assistance through the CT Grown Organic campaign. Having grown up in CT, Dave is deeply passionate about supporting the state’s producers. He looks forward to meeting farmers where they are to help grow their business through creative, strategic marketing.

Owner-operator of River Ridge Farm and Market in Portland, CT. Matt has been farming since 2012, and in Connecticut since 2020. He is looking to change the food culture and landscape of the state for the better.