Food Connects is excited to introduce Sadie Hunter as the newest member of the Farm to School (FTS) team. Sadie joins the team as the new Farm to School Program Manager. Sadie brings with her valuable experience in curriculum development, grant management, and fresh energy.
Sadie took time to answer some questions so you can get to know her better!
What sparked your interest in Food Connects and why are you excited to be here?
I am super passionate about farm-based education and Farm to School work, so when I saw that Food Connects was hiring I was really excited. I am so grateful to join the thriving Farm to School community here in Vermont and to be a part of Food Connects in general because what this organization is doing is so well aligned with my own passions and goals. In my experience, learning about food systems is very intuitive for children, and I think that this kind of learning really empowers kids to continue asking questions and learning about the world around them.
Why is the local food movement important to you?
It is becoming more and more important for us to get serious about consuming locally grown, ideally in season, foods as we continue to see the impacts of climate change. It is not only better for the environment for us to eat local, but it also creates stronger local economies and allows people to be more invested in the places in which they live. Additionally, it is so important to acknowledge the fact that often there are many people and communities that are left out of this narrative. I believe that making local food movements more financially, physically, and culturally accessible for everyone is a crucial step in addressing inequity in our food system, and in our country overall.
What do you see for the future of Food Connects and what you will do here? What are your hopes/dreams for this position?
I would love to see our Farm to School program continue to expand—specifically I see opportunities for us to provide support in Bennington and in the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire. The more kids who get the opportunity to play in the dirt (and learn about/grow food in the process) at school the better! I am also passionate about supporting BIPOC farmers and educators in this field and I am really looking forward to seeing what new ways we can continue to incorporate considerations of equity and food justice into our daily work.
How will your previous Farm to School and education experience impact your work at Food Connects?
I think that my work experience lends itself really well to the work I will be doing here at Food Connects. I have spent time as an educator in both afterschool and more traditional classroom settings, which gives me a good understanding of the struggles that teachers and youth-serving organizations face—and also a good understanding of the massive joy that is working with children. In some of these roles, I created STEM curriculum that was centered around garden-based learning and incorporated different levels of discussion around food justice and nutrition. I have also worked on vegetable farms and in food and beverage services which I find gives me a unique perspective when looking at how we can strengthen community relationships and support many different stakeholders in our communities.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
I love to hike, garden and play board games! I am also really interested in learning more about herbs as medicine and enjoy making herbal tinctures in my free time.
What is your favorite or least favorite food?
I love anything stir-fry-related—it’s so versatile!
If you could pick up a new skill in an instant what would it be?
I think I would choose to become instantly fluent in Spanish - I took many years of Spanish classes, but I have always struggled to keep my proficiency.
What’s your favorite place of all the places you’ve traveled?
That’s really tricky, but I would say Antigua, Guatemala! I was surrounded by super great people—and of course volcanoes, which was amazing for a geology nerd like me. I also loved the lakes, mountains, and architecture—beautiful colors everywhere you look.