Introducing the Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund Inaugural 2022 Class
Starting July 5th, these young adults will travel to sustainable farms for one month apprenticeships. We are so excited for them to share their experiences and incredible voices with the world! And we are proud to see Anne’s energy live on through these adventures.
Thank you for making ASLF possible with your donations and support.
Aji Fatou Nije (she/her)
Emma’s Torch
Consider Bardwell Farm
I am a pre-nursing student from the Bronx, currently studying at Bronx Community College. As a culinary student at Emma’s Torch, one of my short-term goals is to become a chef and open my own restaurant. I will want to make my own products for my restaurant like homemade cheese. I will want to build a relationship with farmers to gain more knowledge and opportunities to run a restaurant business. I believe becoming an apprentice in one of the Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund farms will help me achieve my goals and enhance my career.
Alexander Sethi (he/him)
The Fatted Calf
Paradise Locker Meats
A team player, I am a naturalist at heart. Always drawn to cooking from a young age, I’m constantly interested in the provenance of everyday produce. Landing in California, in 2021, I worked my first wine harvest, bringing me to enjoy the Napa landscape, reminiscent of the northern Mediterranean coast. Finding myself at a real crossroads of food and wine I started with the Fatted Calf Butcher/Charcuterie in early 2022. Completely new to the world of meat production and butchery, I hit the ground running, and was drawn in further to learn more about an age-old art and processes for preservation as diverse as the languages used to describe them. Away from work, I’m usually still in the kitchen, fermenting ginger beer or experimenting with miso pickled egg, or just enjoying making pizza.
Anvita Sharma (she/her)
UCLA
Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute
Anvita Sharma is a current junior at the University of California, Los Angeles. In her freshman year, she learned about the intersection between agriculture and sustainability. She thought it was particularly amazing that, although currently responsible for much of the environmental degradation and greenhouse gas emissions, agriculture could be the key to re-greening our planet and a carbon-neutral future. Since then, she has desired to learn more about sustainable agriculture from the inside out and educate others using her love of film and the arts. Thanks to the Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund, she’s now getting her chance to do so and couldn’t be more excited! When she has free time to herself, Anvita also loves to talk about mental health and politics with friends and about skincare - whose sustainability future she also hopes to learn one day.
August Grice (he/him)
Newburgh Urban Farm and Food
Our Core
My career goals are to help communities environmentally and to have an active role in making a difference in the environment. With the skills that I'll be able to learn along with my interests, I know that I'll be able to accomplish great things. It deeply interests me how the environment is influencing people's lives and way of living; besides that, it's amazing to know how a lot of seemingly small activities are affecting people on a larger scale. I want to learn the skills that are necessary so that I can help to make a difference in the community and so that I can help make this world a better place to live in. Basically, the approach of knowing the different components of nature and the way they interact with each other is fascinating, and I'd love to be able to help the community with the information I will learn.
Bliss Battle (she/her)
Hawthorne Valley Farm
Brooklyn Grange
Hello! I am beyond excited that I have been chosen to be a part of the Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund this year. I am passionate about regenerative agriculture and creating food security for people in need. I am planning on starting my own farm in the near future, and am currently educating myself by immersing myself in different farm environments to learn about the benefits and setbacks of different agricultural systems.
Braden Hufstedler (he/him)
Arkansas State University
Newman Farm
My name is Braden Hufstedler. I am 21 years old and from Thayer, Missouri. Having grown up in an agricultural community, I have always had a love for farming and agriculture. I am currently pursuing an Agricultural Education degree at Arkansas State University, and I plan to graduate in the fall of 2022. I look forward to sharing my love of agriculture with future generations of farmers. I want to participate in the Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund apprenticeship with Newman Farm so that I can learn more about heritage breed pigs and how to properly manage them. This unique operation and opportunity will better prepare me for a life in agriculture.
Caterra Cornejo (they/she)
Community Herbalist
Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute
Caterra is a 23-year-old queer mixed person living on Kumeyaay land in so called San Diego, California. They are an artist and herbalist, motivated by their love of plants and people to connect with and support their community. Caterra is passionate about food justice and traditional medicine, hoping to buy land to grow accessible food and medicine for folks, in addition to teaching and preserving traditional foodways.
Dianna Georges (she/her)
Bates College
Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute
Hello! I'm Dianna from Clifton, NJ. In May, I graduated from Bates College with a degree in Environmental Studies. Over the last four years, I've worked to understand social inequality, climate change, and what a better world looks like. I've done community organizing on my campus for various issues such as sustainability, racial justice, education access, and worker unionization. Overall, my approach to life is that all issues and people are connected — and we should laugh at least as much as we cry! I'm attracted to food and farming because it's the intersection of sustainability, justice, and culture. I am so excited to work with, learn from, and be in community with the Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute this summer!
Eli Champoux (he/him)
University of Vermont
Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute
My name is Eli Champoux. I am an 18-year-old who lives in Melrose, Massachusetts. I graduated from Melrose High School in 2021 and I am currently attending the University of Vermont. I live at home with my parents Tom and Linda, my sister Abby, and my dog Cooper. I have worked as a camp counselor, a lifeguard, at an ice cream store, and as a teaching assistant at a daycare facility. I value learning through experience, utilizing peer collaboration, and creating a connection with those around me. I love to hike in the woods, ride my bike around, and spend time with my dog.
Emma Hamilton (she/her)
LSU
Jasper Hill Farm
My name is Emma Hamilton and I am a recent graduate of Louisiana State University’s Renewable Natural Resources program. I was born and raised in Charleston, West Virginia and grew up loving to cook with my mom and enjoying the outdoors with my dad. I attended a remote summer camp for nine summers, which gave me a deeper appreciation for the natural world. I have two older sisters, Sara and Reilly, who are my biggest role models, and a golden retriever, Gus, who is my best friend. I love camping, hiking and biking, and traveling. I currently work as a bartender at Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux and am a big LSU Tigers fan. I have worked in stables and livestock farms in the past and love being around all animals. I am so excited to learn how to craft artisan cheese and farm sustainably, work outside and with animals, and meet new people. I can’t wait for this new chapter of my life and to continue Anne’s inspiring legacy!
Evie Fabricant (she/her)
Oberlin College
Jasper Hill Farm
My name is Evie, I grew up in Brooklyn, NY, and I am currently finishing my second year at Oberlin College. I am a studio art major with a passion for farming and sustainability. I love to draw and paint from nature, but I hope to find ways to better connect my life to the environment. Especially growing up in a big city, working outdoors has been meaningful and a major outlet for me, so I can't wait to continue my learning with this apprenticeship.
Gabriela Sanchez (she/her)
University of Illinois Springfield
Spring Brook Farm
My name is Gabriela Sanchez I am currently going into my junior year of college at the University of Illinois Springfield. I am majoring in Environmental Studies. I have always enjoyed being outdoors and in the future, I hope to integrate these two passions to create an opportunity where I can be hands on with the environment.
Gabriella Perez (she/her)
Food Education Fund
Mad River Valley
Hi my name is Gabriella Perez, and I am born and raised in Manhattan NYC. I attended Monroe College where I obtained my associates degree in culinary arts and my bachelors degree in Hospitality Management. I love composting and being sustainable. Just knowing you can make a big difference in the world with tiny changes is amazing. I want to be able to make an impact on the community and be able to grow and learn so much about farming and sustainability. As a chef I've experienced storing, cooking, washing, cleaning, eating and serving the food. But I've never grown the food, so here I am now!
Hattie Hill (she/her)
NYC College of Technology
Stony Pond Farm
Hattie has been a translator, educator, career advisor and non-profit director, and is now embarking on a new career adventure in the world of food and agriculture. She is passionate and curious about baking and cooking as well as the intersection between the culinary world and its ability to provide sustainable and meaningful opportunities for low income and immigrant New Yorkers. Hattie feels honored to have been selected for the first annual Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund apprenticeship and cannot wait to spend summer 2022 hanging out with the cows of Vermont.
Isabel Mosley (she/her)
University of Oregon
Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute
I am a recent graduate of the University of Oregon with a degree in Environmental Studies and a minor in Climate Studies. I spent the last few months conducting research on wildfire fuel in the Environmental Leadership Program at UO. I really enjoy being outside and going on walks to look at trees. I also love reading, hiking, and traveling so I am very excited to venture to a state I’ve never visited!
Ivan Hernandez Salinas (he/him)
College Bound Opportunities
Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute
My name is Ivan Hernandez Salinas, I am the youngest of three boys all raised by my mother. Growing up, we moved almost every year due to not being able to afford rent and even faced food insecurity to the point where I would mainly get my meals from the school. Although I have faced many hardships in my life I would not change any aspect of my past. It is my past that has led me to find my passions of art and nature. My mother would always show me pictures of my grandmother’s garden in Mexico and when we finally had space for our own, she is the one that taught me how to care for it. Tending to our flowers is what made me fall in love with gardening and pushed me to explore ways in which I could use this passion to try and help others who grew up like me and ensure that no family has to spend a day without eating due to lack of financial resources.
Jacob Burnett (he/him)
Germantown Friends
Jasper Hill Farm
Jacob Burnett is a rising senior at Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia, PA. He sings in the school choir and is an avid soccer player. He enjoys making breakfast, gossiping with his grandma, and biking in the spring. He is super excited to work at Jasper Hill this summer and is eager to work hard.
Jordy Cazales (he/him)
City-As-School
Thanksgiving Farm
I was born and raised in south Brooklyn to a working-class Mexican immigrant family. I come from a family of Mexican farmers, and I wish to carry on the trade. I wish to be able to practice urban farming in low-income communities like my own to address food apartheid.
Jubal Bernstein (he/him)
Oregon State University
Uplands Cheese
My name is Jubal Bernstein and I am a student at Oregon State University studying fermentation science. For most of my life, I did not know what I wanted to do. After I found food science, I was hooked. I spend my days making cheese and fermenting wine from fruit that my family grows. I love everything to do with fermentation, and I love sharing the things I make with my community.
Julian Ramon Giusti-Smith (he/him)
The Fatted Calf
Paradise Locker Meats
My name is Julian Ramon Giusti-Smith, and I was born and raised in Napa, California. Graduated from Credo High School in 2017, I am 24 years old with experience in basic farming, cooking, butchering, scuba diving, and outdoor education, with certifications in both scuba diving and wilderness first aid. I've been at The Fatted Calf for around 3 years and recently took on the Front of House Assistant Manager position. In my free time I love backpacking, rock climbing, scuba diving, cooking, and traveling.
Julie Gonzalez (they/she/he)
UCLA
Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute
Julie studied at San Francisco State University and earned a degree in Latinx Studies with minors in Race and Resistance and Education. After graduating, they worked with non-profits within the city that focused on youth empowerment and wellness services and programs; Julie developed a youth toolkit around food systems, created curriculum and facilitated programming. In addition to youth work, Julie worked closely with urban farms to learn the importance of local and autonomous food production using agroecological practices. Most recently, he worked to research lead contaminated soil across the U.S and Los Angeles and researched community led and initiated soil testing models and efforts for soil remediation. In her free time Julie enjoys cooking, reading, and trying to freestyle.
Kristie Cabrera (she/they)
Occupational Therapist
Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute
Kristie Cabrera is a queer, neurodivergent, Latinx occupational therapist, urban farmer, and beginner herbalist. She is passionate about creating accessible and inclusive nature spaces for disabled and neurodiverse folx. Kristie enjoys learning about accessibility, identifying and building relationships with plants, and crafting.
Leilani Barnes (she/her)
UCLA
Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute
My name is Leilani Barnes and I was born and raised in the state of Hawaii. I am twenty years old and a third-year student at University of California, Los Angeles. I am pursuing a degree in environmental studies and geography while minoring in food studies. Some of my passions include food justice, sustainability, eating, outdoor adventures, surfing, backpacking, traveling, and dancing for fun. I am grateful for this experience and look forward to learning more about mindful food cultivation and preparation while working with the Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute.
Lucas Friedman-Spring (he/him)
Germantown Friends
Jasper Hill Farm
Lucas Friedman-Spring is a junior at Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia. Originally from New York City, he moved to Philly when he was 10 years old. His work experience ranges from caring for goats in suburban Philadelphia, working at a soccer camp for children in Kensington, and interning at a laundry workers’ union in Newark. He plays goalkeeper for his school’s soccer team and enjoys eating fruit and spending time with his dogs.
Madison Wilson (she/her)
University of New Hampshire
Anishinaabe Agriculture Institute
Madison Wilson is a freshman at University of New Hampshire studying life sciences. She plans to be a part of mutual aid and sustainability programs at UNH. She has a passion for social justice and climate justice, and the overlap between them. She has experience in photography, filmmaking, and art, as well as writing. She works as a freelance editor and in a family-owned restaurant. She is a strong believer that the secret to happiness is to cultivate your own garden.
Margo Miller (she/her)
Macalester College
Talbott & Arding
I’m so excited to be an ASLF apprentice! I grew up in Hillsboro, Oregon, surrounded by family farms, produce, and a vibrant community that flourished around food. I’ve had opportunities to work at businesses concerned with food and sustainability, including a Native Plant Nursery, a U-Pick Berry Farm, and a Minneapolis start up that is revolutionizing takeout containers. I studied abroad in Rabat, Morocco last fall to round out my International Studies major and French minor. There, I discovered that my community’s connection to food, which seems so unique in America, is the status quo in countries like France and Morocco. With this apprenticeship I’m hoping to learn how farms balance ecological and economic sustainability so that everyone can have the opportunity to strengthen their community and themselves through access to delicious, farm-grown, local food.
Molly Pfeffer (she/her)
American Farmland Trust
Meadow Creek Dairy
Born in NYC and raised in New Jersey, Molly considers herself a nature lover, people person and idealist. Based in Washington, DC, Molly has been working for environment-centered organizations for the past few years, most recently with a sustainable agriculture nonprofit. For nearly a decade she's also been working for a local baker, selling bread at farmers markets and helping out in the bakery. She attributes her passion for honest food systems to the second family she's been welcomed into through the markets. In her free time, Molly enjoys biking and walking around the city, collecting wildflowers, researching family history, and enjoying local food and drinks with her partner. She’s looking forward to spending a month with Meadow Creek Dairy and adding cheesemaking to her unique collection of experiences, such as photographing snail shells for the Smithsonian and music programing during her college radio days. While she's never milked a cow or had a four-legged pet, she does own too many houseplants and enjoys learning about plant species. Fun fact! Molly has never liked peanut-butter, but she does consume an excessive amount of Brussels sprouts.
Oliver Prince (he/him)
Butcher
Uplands Cheese
Hi, my name is Oliver Prince. I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. I recently moved to New York City where I am currently working as a butcher at a whole animal butcher shop. I have been able to see how our mission of sustainability and regenerative agriculture overlaps with Anne’s life mission. I am interested in all things food and I am super excited to be learning all about cheese.
Sadie Hammarhead (she/her)
Germantown Friends
Spring Brook Farm
Sadie is an 18-year-old from Philadelphia who has always wanted to work on a farm. She recently graduated high school and will be heading to Vassar College in the fall! She’s a Boggle, bodysurfing, and black tea enthusiast, and her dream job would be creating trend spreads for a fashion magazine. Sadie is a twin, taurus, and ENFP. In her free time, she trail runs, writes poetry, and knits. She’s beyond excited for her apprenticeship!
Sage Taylor (she/her)
Oregon State University
Jasper Hill Farm
Hi! My name is Sage Taylor and I'm a third year Food Science student also minoring in Sustainability for Oregon State University. I am passionate about environmental justice and sustainability and hope to make the world a more equitable and beautiful place! I am currently working in undergraduate research in our Sustainable Processing and Packaging Lab working on how edible films can replace single use plastic in the food industry. I love to cook and garden, and I hope to blend my technical science skills with experimental knowledge while working at Jasper Hill this summer to bring a greater understanding of small hand food processors to my future career path in the food industry!
Sage Thomason (she/her)
UCLA
Big Picture Farm
Sage is a third-year environmental science major at UCLA with a minor in environmental systems and society. She has been excited about regenerative agriculture and sustainable food systems since completing a permaculture design course in 2020. Sage is part of the student garden coalition and community garden on campus and enjoys connecting with students, staff, and faculty while gardening. Outside of the gardens she can be found reading, hiking, and surfing. In the future, she hopes to use regenerative agriculture practices to start a farm of community garden of her own.
Elaine Suarez (she/her)
NYC College of Technology
ASLF Office
Elaine is studying Hospitality Management at the New York City College of Technology. She has a passion for working with food and people, particularly in event settings. Elaine has sparked an interest in farm work and the importance of holding high standards for where our food comes from. She is currently supporting ASLF with back end administrative work. She's excited to see the growth of ASLF and hear about all the farm experiences of the other ASLF apprentices.
Photos From The Field
Follow us on Instagram for more updates!
![apprentices_on_the_farm1.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/f5bb2749-3c63-4b04-835d-31b6786bf961/apprentices_on_the_farm1.jpg)
![apprentices_on_the_farm2.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/4b631b51-6353-4176-b84b-1ba5dbcb016b/apprentices_on_the_farm2.jpg)
![apprentices_on_the_farm4.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/85faeeca-d76f-43fe-bfdd-862e3f08bb43/apprentices_on_the_farm4.jpg)
![apprentices_on_the_farm5.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/97b73662-8777-4f88-af39-dd0778dfeaa6/apprentices_on_the_farm5.jpg)
![apprentices_on_the_farm6.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/c2a4d103-24f7-4e31-89a8-ca06ed616c63/apprentices_on_the_farm6.jpg)
![apprentices_on_the_farm7.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/58977f46-f9a7-4625-8d5d-191eac1cf482/apprentices_on_the_farm7.jpg)
![apprentices_on_the_farm8.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/965c3c78-3359-4326-90b1-fc8e81bd05fd/apprentices_on_the_farm8.jpg)
![apprentices_on_the_farm9.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/7b263d3a-48aa-4aab-b158-943eb54bc47d/apprentices_on_the_farm9.jpg)
![apprentices_on_the_farm10.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/5e04dba7-a368-484b-b1c2-c46514b1e076/apprentices_on_the_farm10.jpg)
![apprentices_on_the_farm3.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/f89ffc16-dca1-4088-a6ec-32e22a31eb9b/apprentices_on_the_farm3.jpg)
![apprentices_on_the_farm11.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/f416b13d-ceb6-48eb-b7b8-476768c5cd53/apprentices_on_the_farm11.jpg)
![apprentices_on_the_farm12.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/452a3ac7-6e91-43e5-a142-89daf5351b5d/apprentices_on_the_farm12.jpg)
![apprentices_on_the_farm13.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/3c6adfb4-d951-4ca3-a972-a68ab1206d0a/apprentices_on_the_farm13.jpg)
![apprentices_on_the_farm14.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/fc91984d-3fcb-4ddd-97f4-cef4343c9e2e/apprentices_on_the_farm14.jpg)
![apprentices_on_the_farm15.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/655494e4-fbe7-44f8-995c-91ba2d55680f/apprentices_on_the_farm15.jpg)
![apprentices_on_the_farm16.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/0e1b1258-55b9-4125-88ea-06b212685f38/apprentices_on_the_farm16.jpg)
![apprentices_on_the_farm17.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/8c96b38b-e254-40c6-84b3-e039bcc820b7/apprentices_on_the_farm17.jpg)
![apprentices_on_the_farm18.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/64f2b465-edce-43b7-8c4d-652dd087a653/apprentices_on_the_farm18.jpg)
![apprentices_on_the_farm19.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/43e7e4c4-bfa4-4bf6-ae49-a71a0e723fe9/apprentices_on_the_farm19.jpg)
![apprentices_on_the_farm20.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/9f57f461-84dc-4672-9d3e-de3fd84b0d90/apprentices_on_the_farm20.jpg)
![apprentices_on_the_farm21.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/f00fabe5-918b-4549-8136-0068dc890970/apprentices_on_the_farm21.jpg)
![apprentices_on_the_farm22.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/6ff87a6a-f4d7-408a-b81a-b23e501e2f3c/apprentices_on_the_farm22.jpg)
![apprentices_on_the_farm23.jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/618d30d410fc2e008e14dfd4/89b6bceb-07b9-4672-8edc-b52084eb0bf3/apprentices_on_the_farm23.jpg)