As I reflect on the past ten years, I couldn’t be more thankful for the vast opportunities KRC has provided me to help make a difference on our farm and food system in Kansas. From spending weekends at farmers markets to presenting KRC’s work at conferences, I’ve been able to meet and build relationships with incredible people and organizations that have made a lasting impact on my life and career. At the end of December, I will resign from KRC as a much stronger leader and advocate for the values we fight for within this organization and network.

Fresh out of college and a new resident in Kansas, I joined KRC in 2011 with ambitions and ideas to help shape local food systems. I took on a role coordinating the “Our Local Food – South Central” and a high tunnel project. Soon I would be pushing myself outside of my comfort zone taking on KRC’s Feeding Kansas and Integrated Voter Engagement projects. There will always be hard work to do, but looking back now, I can easily see the needle Kansan’s have moved to help strengthen support for local farms and food.

We are in the midst of a really significant moment in history and it will no doubt continue to present challenges and curve balls for the organization and those it serves. However, I have great confidence in the importance of KRC’s mission to help Kansans get through these trying times. I look forward to supporting all of the existing and new leadership that take KRC into the future.

As I turn the page to the next chapter of my career, I thank you for the ways you have helped educate and inspire me. But most importantly, a colossal thank you for the work that you do to support KRC, your community, and Kansas.

~Natalie