The Crew

about our crew

2023 - Current Apprentice turned Assistant Farm Manager: Jenna Thompson

Being a foodie from birth, Jenna was drawn towards small scale, organic farming in search of the highest quality vegetables she could find. Her pursuit began in Florida where she worked at an ability inclusive farm program. With plans of starting her own farm in the future, she is soaking up her time learning all the tips & tricks at Good Stead. In the meantime, you will find her experimenting in the kitchen & enjoying the sunshine.

2022 - Current Harvest Lead & Market Master: Krystle Baecker

Krystle has always had a passion for food, curiosity towards the earth, and compassion for all creatures. She received a degree in Nutrition, inspired by the impact food has on our overall wellbeing. She was led towards farming after starting her own garden, which helped her realize the influence she has on her environment and the power of giving back to the surrounding community of life. Working at Good Stead Farm has been the most joyful and rewarding job she’s had. She loves learning how to live sustainably and grow food with a mindfulness for the earth. In her free time she enjoys nature walks, reading way too many books at once, and dabbling in art and writing.

2022 Apprentice: Marguerite Duemler

Despite having lived a few nomadic years in places like New Jersey, New Mexico, Mexico, and Massachusetts, I'd like to have trees someday, and they just don't travel well. Down the road, I want a small farm or large garden of my own so that I can educate others through hands-on experiences and help grow a love of the land through growing food, but for the time being, I'm excited to be back in Michigan to soak up experiences and wisdom from Good Stead Farm. No matter where I find myself, I always find time to take walks, cook good food, write the occasional letter, and contemplate life.

2021 - Current Wash/Pack Manager & Microgreen Master: Jenn Sheffer

Jenn has always had a love for the food industry. From every Saturday as a child at the farmers market, to earning her culinary degree, from kitchen design/purchasing, to coming to work at Good Stead Farm. She finds working on the farm and with the community to be a rewarding experience. In her free time she enjoys listening to music, reading and exploring the ways different cultures use spices, flavors and cooking techniques.

2021 - 2023 Apprentice turned Assistant Farm Manager: Ryan Lanham

Ryan found his passion for growing plants while living in the verdant city of Portland, Oregon. He is drawn to small-scale farming for its philosophical, physical, community, and culinary benefits. He's excited to hone his growing and farm management skills at Good Stead Farm before starting his own in Northern Michigan. In his spare time, the self-proclaimed serial dabbler enjoys foraging for mushrooms, fermenting things, making crafts, and bike riding into the sunset.

2015 - Current: Ladybird

A friend to all! Since her recruitment in 2015 from the Midland County Humane Society, Ladybird (the dog, not the ram) has climbed her way tooth and claw up the corporate ladder here at Good Stead Farm. Starting her career as a pest control technician, she has since held positions in our security, product tasting, and livestock support divisions. She is now Vice President of Good Stead Farm’s Public Relations department. Although she’s very busy these days, Ladybird always makes time to greet visitors. She invites you stop in for a belly rub.

2021 Apprentice: Rebekah Foster

Rebekah has spent the last five years working as a garden educator in San Francisco where she grew food & community with kids, parents and teachers. She organizes for climate justice with the Sunrise Movement and sees sustainable, regenerative agriculture as one of our greatest hopes in solving the climate crisis. She's excited to spend a season at Good Stead learning how to grow food for a community and have her introduction to animal husbandry. In her free time she likes to spend time with friends, cook, go camping and has recently been learning to quilt.

2021 Summer Intern: Jacob May

Jacob is a Midland native studying Social Relations and Policy at Michigan State, and is joining us to learn more about food cultivation and community distribution. In the future, he hopes to work as a public servant as an advocate for food security and in non-profit agriculture. In his free time, Jacob enjoys spending time with his friends, listening to music and tossing around a frisbee.

2021 Staff: Anna Swartz

Anna has enjoyed working with her hands in the soil since she was young. She has a love for our beautiful earth and values organic practices. When she’s not at the farm, you can find Anna with her camera, working as a photographer.

2017-2020 Staff: Julia Kuhns

Julia spent four years with us running our Wednesday markets, taking care of the animals, managing our microgreens production, and generally helping to hold the farm together. She will be sorely missed, but we are excited for her as she begins a new adventure in northern Minnesota as a program director for a children's outdoor camp.

2020 Apprentice: Leeza Regensberger

Leeza joined us from North Carolina for the 2020 season, bringing a good attitude, creative mind, and critical eye. We are looking forward to seeing the farm she builds one day!

2018 Apprentice: Nick Eddy

Nick is from Missaukee county in Northern Lower Michigan and has been attracted to the subject of agriculture since a young age, despite not being from a farming background. Nick is specifically interested in sustainable, organic farming and in learning about ways to live off the land. While he does not know where it will take him, he plans to continue learning about sustainable farming and how it can benefit local communities. Nick is pleased to have the opportunity to spend the season with Good Stead Farm and is enjoying all that he is learning.

2016 Apprentice: Evan Istamboulian

Beginning in high school, Evan began spending much of his time learning about the world of small-scale agriculture. At his home in Rochester, Michigan, he self-studied through books and any information-rich media on the internet. While on a trip to visit his wife in British Columbia, Canada, he took the opportunity to shadow a small-scale vegetable farmer. This left him with a tangible taste of the physical aspects of farming that he'd only yet read and listened about. He left this experience with the desire to pursue hands-on work. Evan found Good Stead Farm while in search of an educational opportunity that would be guided by an experienced small-scale farmer. He looks forward to one day having a farm of his own with his wife, Cassie.