The Miami County Conservation District's Urban and Non Traditional Agriculture project is focused on providing technical assistance related to Farm Bill Programs and other local resources to small scale and no traditional growers.
The Urban Ag Specialist will deliver technical support to a spectrum of high tunnel/low tunnel growers, from aspiring to experienced, small to medium-scale operations, in the diverse urban, suburban, and rural communities of our region.
The scope of our project includes the delivery of farmer to farmer educational workshop series, technical publications, one-on-one consultations, and strategic planning designed to identify markets that will support a consistent, year-round supply of locally grown food with avenues for equitable distribution.
Sharon Autry, began serving as the Urban Ag Specialist in 2022, although she has been on staff with the district since 2020. Sharon has six years of specialty crop production experience, including growing in high tunnels. She is a 2019 Growing Growers KC farmers apprenticeship graduate. She earned a Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture from Johnson County Community College in 2020 and established her own small-scale, organic, specialty crop operation, Herdsman House Farm LLC, near Hillsdale Lake in Miami County. Sharon has served as Farm Director at KC Farm School, an urban training farm in Wyandotte County, and has served in leadership roles with KC Young Farmers Coalition. She has gained experience with local food distribution through her involvement with KC Food Hub, Rolling Prairie CSA, and Louisburg’s Nomad Market KC.
Sharon brings with her a valuable network of friends and partners built of the many relationships she has cultivated among producers, distributors, educators, markets, organizations, and agencies within the Kansas City area local food system.
Contact Sharon to learn more about her programs at 913-294-3751 ext 3 or via email @ [email protected]
The Urban Ag Specialist will deliver technical support to a spectrum of high tunnel/low tunnel growers, from aspiring to experienced, small to medium-scale operations, in the diverse urban, suburban, and rural communities of our region.
The scope of our project includes the delivery of farmer to farmer educational workshop series, technical publications, one-on-one consultations, and strategic planning designed to identify markets that will support a consistent, year-round supply of locally grown food with avenues for equitable distribution.
Sharon Autry, began serving as the Urban Ag Specialist in 2022, although she has been on staff with the district since 2020. Sharon has six years of specialty crop production experience, including growing in high tunnels. She is a 2019 Growing Growers KC farmers apprenticeship graduate. She earned a Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture from Johnson County Community College in 2020 and established her own small-scale, organic, specialty crop operation, Herdsman House Farm LLC, near Hillsdale Lake in Miami County. Sharon has served as Farm Director at KC Farm School, an urban training farm in Wyandotte County, and has served in leadership roles with KC Young Farmers Coalition. She has gained experience with local food distribution through her involvement with KC Food Hub, Rolling Prairie CSA, and Louisburg’s Nomad Market KC.
Sharon brings with her a valuable network of friends and partners built of the many relationships she has cultivated among producers, distributors, educators, markets, organizations, and agencies within the Kansas City area local food system.
Contact Sharon to learn more about her programs at 913-294-3751 ext 3 or via email @ [email protected]
Urban and Small Farm General Resource Links
High Tunnel Resources
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