Staci Brunner
New Farmer

Staci is an aspiring market farmer with an interest in native plants and restoring habitat. She studied Sustainable Agriculture at LCCC and is returning to the New Farmer Incubator Program for her second year. She and her husband have turned their backyard into a high intensity vegetable garden with a significant portion dedicated to native plants for habitat and permaculture. She documents her farm and garden ventures on Instagram @stacisgarden.

This year, she will be growing a variety of fruits and vegetables, including lettuce and greens, peas, radishes, sweet and hot peppers, cherry, grape, and slicing tomatoes, as well as corn, beans, squash, and pumpkins in a 3-Sisters plot. Her herb and cut flower selection consists of parsley, basil, sage, oregano, thyme, lavender, rosemary, spring tulips and daffodils, along with zinnias, marigolds, yarrow, snapdragons, and more. Her permaculture garden will feature blackberries, elderberries, paw paws, strawberries, nannyberries and more!

Antoinette Jackson
New Farmer

Antoinette is a mother of three and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Cleveland State University. She works as a licensed practical nurse for Cleveland Clinic in OB/GYN and in her spare time is a student in the LCCC SAGR program. Antoinette is deeply passionate about addressing food insecurity and promoting sustainable agriculture practices within under-served communities. She aspires to provide locally sourced fresh produce at affordable prices to communities lacking access. She actively promotes health advocacy and nutrition education and engages community to ensure the sustainability of regenerative agricultural practices. “I am grateful for being chosen for this wonderful opportunity.”

Tayna Kerpics
New Farmer

Tayna spent her childhood developing a deep love of nature, exploring in her backyard as well as the many beautiful parks all over NE Ohio. Now, she is committed to actively improving her community and the environment, through ecological and regenerative agricultural practices. She completed the Sustainable Agriculture Program at LCCC, and has led a number of educational workshops at schools and libraries. This will be her third year selling at the Oberlin Farmers Market, and she is expanding to the Farmers Market of Medina County. She is excited to improve upon her first New Farmer Incubator season in a number of ways, including an increased growing area, new varieties and methods, season extension, and the inclusion of many more flowers and herbs throughout the growing space.

Elijah Kocsis
New Farmer

Eli began LCCC’s Sustainable Agriculture Program in 2024 with plans to graduate this spring. He advocates for regenerative farming practices and protecting natural spaces. He strives to connect to the community and procure an educational platform about regenerative growing. You can follow his page @sunstone__farm on instagram for updates and more info.

Eli will be growing a variety of vegetables including: arugula, broccoli, bush beans, cauliflower, collards, escarole, husk cherries, kale, leeks, lettuce, mustard, pac choi, peppers, snap peas, spinach, Swiss chard, and tomatoes.

Abby Sherrill
New Farmer

Abby Sherrill is an artist and educator based in Oberlin, Ohio. She holds an MFA in Studio Art – Fibers from the University of North Texas. As an active member of the Rustbelt Fibershed network, she is dedicated to exploring local materials through sustainable textile practices. During this cohort growing season, she will focus on cultivating fiber plants such as flax and cotton, along with natural dye plants including madder, indigo, marigold, and native flowers.

Danielle Squire
New Farmer

Danielle began her journey in conservation in 2011 when she started studying and propagating native plants. She earned an Associate’s Degree in Sustainable Agriculture at Lorain County Community College, where she has worked as an Interpretative Naturalist for the past 12 years and was recently chosen as a cohort in the New Farmer Incubator Program collaboration with City Fresh. She is an environmental activist who is highly involved in local conservation efforts and has sat on the Board for both the Black River Audubon Society and Wild Ones Greater Cleveland Area for several years. Her goal is to enable the local community to create healthier ecosystems that support habitat for the wildlife who so desperately need our help and for the community who so deeply need a connection with indigenous foods and medicines.