KCCUA Staff and Directors

KCCUA STAFF

Katherine Kelly (Executive Director/Farmer) Katherine began farming by working on vegetable farms as a field worker in 1991 in the Boston area, then moved back to the Midwest in late 1996, where she started and ran Full Circle Farm for eight years. In 2005, she co-founded the Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture, a non profit organization promoting entrepreneurial agriculture in the metropolitan area. She has also worked professionally since the early 1980s with grass roots community organizations in the Twin Cities, Boston, and Kansas City, doing program management, fundraising, marketing, financial management, and organizational development consulting. She co-founded the Growing Growers Training Program and the Farmers Community Market at Brookside. Email Katherine at katherine[at]kccua.org.

Daniel Dermitzel (Associate Director/Farmer) is former co-owner of Trailside Farm in Calhoun, MO, a certified-organic vegetable farm. A native of Germany, Daniel immigrated to the US in 1988. Before becoming a farmer in Missouri he worked as a television news producer in Los Angeles where he also obtained a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from UCLA. Daniel has traveled extensively in North America, Europe and Asia. His interests lie in the interwoven processes of globalization, urbanization and social integration especially as they relate to small-scale urban agriculture around the country and the world. As a farmer, Daniel is primarily concerned with finding ways to increase farm productivity through the introduction of new, appropriate technology. Email Daniel at daniel[at]kccua.org.

Semie Rogers (Development Director) has worked with nonprofits in Kansas for more than 20 years, both professionally and as a volunteer. She has worked as an advocate, organizer and fundraiser, primarily for the arts and for social justice groups. She also wrote for newspapers as a freelance writer. A lifelong gardener, she has a strong personal interest in fresh, good food, and cooking. She holds a BA in History of Art and English from the University of Kansas. Email Semie at semie[at]kccua.org.

Daniel Heryer (Farm Manager) worked for two seasons on Reid's Orchard in Buchanan Valley, PA, where he picked fruit alongside immigrant laborers, and managed the production of wine and cider. Subsequently, he worked at KCCUA, apprenticing in organic vegetable production and helping to run their CSA and market operations. Prior to farming, Daniel worked extensively in community development while pursuing his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Urban Studies. He has traveled for both academic and personal interest in Cuba, China and Peru, and would like some day to journey overland by bicycle to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Email Dan at danheryer[at]kccua.org.

Lew Edmister (Incubator Farm Coordinator) started farming in Greenwood, MO, in the 1950s. Then followed a stint in the Army; school in California; some years as a professional actor; and exploring his creative and entrepreneurial urges during the sixties and seventies. Today, he's back in the dirt again on a reclaimed lot on KCMO's Westside. It and a few other square feet of city dirt comprise his organic garden, which serves a 15-member CSA. For KCCUA he's putting his many talents to use toward building an eight acre incubator farm in Kansas City, KS. Email Lew at lew[at]kccua.org.

KCCUA Board of Directors

Julie Xiong, Girls Scouts of America

Beverly Pender, Soil and Soul Rainbow Gardens

Lisa Markley, Nutritionist, Food Activist

Howard Lotven, Attorney

Kwang Kim, Farmer

Katherine Kelly, Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture

John Kaiahua, J & J Produce

Tina Hoover, Community Member, Food Activist

Sherri Harvel, Root-deep Urban Farm

Ted Carey, K-State Extension Service