Hannah Hemmelgarn

U Missouri, Center for Agroforestry, AFTA

I entered the agroforestry field through a combination of serendipitous experiences: studying anthropology-sociology focused on Midwestern women-farmer ethnographies, working on diversified perennial farms, and a farm accident that landed me back in my hometown, which happens to be the home-base of the longest running agroforestry research center, at the University of Missouri. After a period of work as an educator, I completed an agroforestry MS as a GRA here, and the support for what was then my thesis research continued through increasing need for agroforestry education and training. Over the past 8 years that I’ve been with the Center for Agroforestry, I’ve seen tremendous transformation that’s animating me to act collaboratively to address major needs, including: for Indigenous presence and leadership in these spaces; for horticultural advancements of Native perennial crops; for comprehensive, contextual training within existing technical and financial assistance programs; for supporting on-the-ground peer networking and culture shift.