Connecticut

Rachel coordinates the tri-state SARE program for CT-MA-RI, focusing on providing educational training to both agricultural service providers and farmers in the area of sustainable livestock production practices. Before joining the tri-state team in 2017, Rachel worked in the animal nutrition field at a Connecticut feed mill as well as a local feed retailer. Rachel grew up on a small family farm in Northeast Connecticut, raising beef cattle. She graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2009 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science and, in 2011, earned a Master of Science degree in Animal Science with a focus in animal nutrition. Rachel and her husband currently raise beef cattle, poultry and swine for local meat sales on his family's farm in southern Connecticut.

Joe is an Associate Extension Educator at the University of Connecticut with both teaching and extension responsibilities. He teaches about the fundamentals of agribusiness management. His Extension outreach program has focused on financial and farm business succession planning for agricultural businesses in Connecticut. A portion of his outreach program includes developing and conducting workshops for agricultural producers on risk management topics and working with agricultural producers on a one-on-one basis dealing with financial planning. Before coming to the University, he spent more than twenty years working as a farm business consultant with First Pioneer Farm Credit.