research and projects across the nation. Primary curiosities and engagement include assessing the intersection of agriculture, food, health, and resilience for individuals, families and communities. To achieve this, areas of work include research and projects ranging from scenario planning for preparedness for future disasters, resilient food systems assessments and strategic planning, and place-making through food system development.

of Warriors’ Palate Catering and Consulting. My mission is to create a pathway to reconnecting to our Mother Earth while emphasising Traditional eating behaviors.

bringing over 20 years of experience in child nutrition and school food systems. She previously served as Food Service Director for Rapid City Area Schools for nine years and spent 7 years as a Training and Technical Assistance Program Specialist with Child and Adult Nutrition Services at the DOE. Janelle is passionate about supporting schools and producers in building strong, sustainable local food connections. Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with her family. Her guiding goal is to always set people up for success.

engagement with the Collaborative. The SDHNC results from a year and a half of planning and coordinated outreach to bring together perspectives from statewide program leaders, government, healthcare, business, faith , tribal, rural communities, and individuals with lived experience, who understand food and nutrition insecurity. The SDHNC is strategizing to improve healthy food access through three goal groups who coordinate state-wide research, assessments, outcomes and programs; elevate the voices of advocates, researchers, and individuals with lived experience; and advance policy to improve food and nutrition security.

This session will focus on the “forming, norming, storming, and performing” of the SDHNC and its work to rally across sectors to advocate together for healthy, adequate food. Members of the SDHNC Steering Committee will share their perspectives about the formative stages of the Collaborative, and their hopes for the group moving forward.

in business from Purdue University and her Master of Public Health, specializing in public health policy and systems of care, from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Before she founded Health + Nutrition First in 2023, Jennifer spent a decade in Washington, D.C. conducting qualitative research in state and federal policy and advocating for these policies to build effective public health systems.

Jennifer is also an adjunct faculty member at the University of South Dakota, where she teaches public health policy and health systems in the Master of Public Health program. Additionally, she is a doctoral candidate in the University of South Dakota Health Sciences Ph.D. program. Her research will focus on healthcare access and the economic and societal impacts on maternal and child health populations in rural areas.

collaborative, community-focused visionary bridge walker with expertise in organizational and community change management. As a Certified Change Management Practitioner (CCMPTM), he leads with the values of accountability and kindness by leaning into his certified strengths of strategic, belief, achiever, responsibility, and connectedness.

After serving almost 20 years in the fire service, including a 4-year appointment in Washington DC with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Burn Foundation leading over 300,000 members in the field of burn prevention, advocacy, and survivor support, he committed himself to non-profit work, and service to the community, through his strong desire and understanding change is good. After spending time in the disaster response and recovery sectors, (Public and Private) a complex health care startup, the food bank industry, he joined the American Heart Association in April 2022 with the focus to increase heart and brain health, and health equity, through collective community change efforts and trusted relationship building. He serves as Government Relations Director serving South & North Dakota and in September 2024 was promoted to Government Relations, Regional Team Lead which includes oversight for Nebraska.

difference. With a background shaped by hands-on experience and a love of learning, she brings energy and collaboration to her role as VP of Public Relations for Feeding South Dakota. Stacey believes in the power of communication to inspire action and enjoys helping others succeed while working toward stronger, more connected communities.

hometown of Aberdeen, Aaron worked for the State Department of Agriculture as the Urban Forestry Coordinator specializing in urban forestry and plant health care throughout South Dakota, and also as a Service Forester specializing in agroforestry.

Aaron has earned arborist certifications and qualifications from the International Society of Arboriculture, and is a graduate of South Dakota State University.

of Iroquois, where she grew up on home cooked real food, including fresh eggs, beef and all the garden produce imaginable. Karla has 24+ years in school food service and is proud to be part of the pioneering efforts in bringing Farm to School to all SD districts.

Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) Cabinet Secretary Hunter Roberts. In this capacity Timothy supports Departmental staff on federal and state policy and international trade issues, engages agricultural industry partners throughout the state, and administers grant programs investing in specialty crops and the South Dakota local food system.

University and has been with the agency ever since. She has over 30 years of experience working with farmers and ranchers to secure financing for their operations and served as a Senior Farm Loan Officer in the Brookings County FSA Office until last year when she transitioned to a full time SD FSA State Outreach and Communications Coordinator. She also enjoys working with young and beginning producers as the USDA Beginning Farmer Rancher State Coordinator. Gail operates a crop and livestock operation near Flandreau, SD, with her husband, Jason, and their two sons – Grady and Gage.

the Aberdeen area and has a passion for locally produced food and the importance of healthy soil and its impact on the food that we consume.

research and projects across the nation. Primary curiosities and engagement include assessing the intersection of agriculture, food, health, and resilience for individuals, families and communities. To achieve this, areas of work include research and projects ranging from scenario planning for preparedness for future disasters, resilient food systems assessments and strategic planning, and place-making through food system development.

Since then he has dedicated much of his time to producing good wholesome vegetables for all who come to Market. He enjoys sharing the knowledge he has picked up along the way.

provide hands-on educational opportunities for the elementary school students in their neighborhood while growing produce for the community. Apart from the farm, Dan teaches HVAC at Southeast Technical College and Megan organizes people around food and farm issues with Dakota Rural Action.

for the nonprofit Bread Break. She grew up on a family farm in northeastern ND where she developed a deep appreciation of food production. Pam and her husband Mike enjoy living in Sioux Falls. They have five adult children, and one border collie mix in their blended family.

after receiving an associate’s degree in general agriculture from South Dakota State University in 1996.
During his time in production agriculture, he has seen firsthand the positive impact of value-added agriculture to both the Ag industry and local communities. Taylor, along with his wife Cassandra, vertically integrated oats from their farm into their own brand, Anthem, selling oatmeal products nationwide.

limited income. Thankfully, her family was never hungry due to her dad’s hunting that supplemented nearly all their meals. Most recently, Michelle served as president of Sioux Falls Thrive, the community’s cradle to career workforce development initiative. Thrive supported organizations and volunteers in tackling barriers to student success.

Using a Collective Impact model, Thrive kickstarted solutions in food insecurity, out-of-school time and affordable housing. Among its wins were the Eat Well Sioux Falls Mobile Market and Food Rescue 605, both aimed at reducing food waste and increasing food access across Sioux Falls. As a local advocate, Michelle served eight years on the City Council, focusing on housing, workforce, and neighborhood improvement.

Michelle and her husband Steve have three grown children, and a rescued Old English Sheepdog named Molly.

in Estelline, South Dakota, and also keeps bees at her home apiary in Brookings, South Dakota. Bobbie read the book The Secret Life of Bees in 2000 and fell in love with honey bees, starting a passion for learning all she could about bees. Bobbie started her first apiary in 2005 in Connecticut. Bobbie completed the Master Beekeepers curriculum at Cornell University, as well as the New York Honey Producers Association “Train the Trainer” Program. Bobbie teaches workshops and presentations about honey bees at every opportunity and has a Brookings Farmers Market booth and brings an observation hive of bees each week during the summer season to the market to pass on the beauty of the honey bees and beekeeping education to her community.