MILLBROOK — Stonewood Farm has announced the addition of three new staff members.
Samantha Kronyak and Jeremy LeClair have joined the organization as Farm Managers, where they will oversee production of organic vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruits, including planning, planting and harvesting. In addition, they will manage wholesale and retail sales, ensure soil health through organic and sustainable practices, and represent Stonewood Farm in the community.
Previously, Kronyak and LeClair served as Farm Managers for Eliot Coleman’s Four Season Farm in Harborside, Maine, where they oversaw daily business activities, planned and maintained crops, and managed personnel for this internationally known, year-round organic farm.
Earlier in her career, Kronyak was a member of the farm crew for the Casey Farm in Saunderstown, Rhode Island, and served as a Pesticide Researcher for the Audubon Society of Rhode Island and as a Park Ranger for the National Park Service in Medora, North Dakota. She earned her degree in Wildlife Conservation Biology from the University of Rhode Island.
In her spare time, Kronyak enjoys “slow hobbies” like reading, puzzles, crafting and crochet, as well as hiking and other outdoor activities.
LeClair previously worked for Talaria, a hydroponic grower in Providence, Rhode Island, and Farming Turtles, an organic microgreens farm in Exeter, Rhode Island. He was also Lead Mushroom Grower for the Rhode Island Mushroom Company in West Kingston. He earned his degree in Plant Sciences/Sustainable Crop Production from the University of Rhode Island.
In addition to farming, LeClair is passionate about music. He’s played guitar since middle school, and was a DJ for his college radio station.
Kronyak and LeClair look forward to being part of the community, and to making Stonewood Farm a place that’s “overflowing with gorgeous produce.”
Paul A. Stermer joined Stonewood as Advancement Director, a role in which he is responsible for securing private and public funding to support the organization; maintaining relationships with donors, volunteers, and supporters; acting as liaison with the Board of Trustees; and building awareness of Stonewood through print, digital, earned and social media.
Stermer grew up on a small livestock farm in Southwest Michigan, now a third-generation family farm. After earning a degree in creative writing from Western Michigan University, he worked as a journalist, author and editor. In his nonprofit career, Stermer has focused on food justice. He has led efforts to establish farmers markets in underserved neighborhoods, create a commercial kitchen/business incubator for low-income women, bring food security and affordable housing to thousands of New York families, improve school food and food policy nationwide, launch a citywide community garden program, provide business support to beginning farmers across the Northeast and develop several anti-racism initiatives.
Stermer is an occasional actor and teacher, long-time community volunteer and serious organic gardener.
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