Meet Your Young Farmers

Karina is the 4th generation to work the land on her farm in Sunderland, and she does it while working a full time IT job! Her passion lies in encouraging "non-traditional" farmers to join MA Farm Bureau, particularly those of younger demographics. She also serves as the Co-Vice President of the Franklin County Farm Bureau. 

She works at the University of Massachusetts Amherst as a Departmental Assistant, where she instructs in the Department of Veterinary &  Animal Science. Meg holds a Master’s Degree in Agriculture & Extension Education from North Carolina State University. She also serves as Director-at-Large of the 23-person Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF). 

Kyle is a dedicated farmer specializing in hay and poultry, and serves as the MA YF&R Secretary. A graduate of SUNY- Cobleskill, he is passionate about advocating for young farmers, focusing on promoting community engagement and sustainable practices within the agricultural sector. He will be attending law school this fall focusing on Agriculture Law. In all his vast free time as a farm, he enjoys hiking, riding horses, and skiing. 

Devon worked extensively on her family farm after college, focusing on bringing technology in as a useful tool throughout the season. She is also the founder of Eastern Shores Crop Insurance, providing crop insurance, farm plan & grant-writing, and contract farm labor services for MA, ME, and NH. She also serves as the President of the Essex County Farm Bureau. 

Taylor is the proud owner and operator of a small livestock farm and farm stand in Winchendon. When she's not shoveling poop, she is chasing around her three adorable young children, or working her part time job at the local feed store. 

Hope Healy is a life-long advocate for agriculture, getting her start with 4-H. She is also the co-founder of Lots to Plots, an initiative focused on pulling teens into container-based agriculture in urban areas, in a goal to combat food deserts and get youth populations more involved in agriculture in ways that fit their unique settings. 

Heather works on her family’s farm, Pleasant Valley Gardens in Methuen, MA, alongside her family. The Massachusetts Century Farm raises flowers and vegetables and sells wholesale and retail to consumers. She sits on the board of the Essex County Farm Bureau and serves on the statewide Promotion & Education Committee. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Food & Farming.

A recent transplant from Michigan, Gracelynn's first love lies with cattle, and learning how to be the best herd steward she can. She joined YF&R in 2022 with the goal of supporting and finding new ways to integrate strong community support with agriculture. When she's not on the farm, she's also a fantastic photographer, focusing on rodeos and livestock!