Growing Appalachia presenter bios

We would like to thank our many members and allies who have invested their time in making this conference a success.  Below are bios of our many workshop presenters for the weekend.

The Cowan Community Canners, Nell Fields and Valerie Horn, will be sharing their wealth of experience in growing and preserving food for their families. Nell is the president of the Cowan Community Action Group and Valerie directs their Grow Appalachia gardening program.

Chad Conway is the Ag & Natural Resources Extension agent for Knott County. He lives on a family farm in Knott County.

Rebecka Fugate is an AmeriCorps VISTA Member working with the Knott County Farmer’s Market through a collaboration between Hindman Settlement School and the market organizers. Rebecka is a Knott county native and mother of three. She has developed a strong desire to follow traditions of Appalachia culture with cooking, canning, growing, and sharing with her family and community.

Ashton Huxtable is an AmeriCorps VISTA Member working with Hindman Settlement School’s Grow Appalachia Program. Ashton has a background in nutrition, but her love of food and the stories it can tell grew into an interest in working with local foods and gardening. Although she hails from the flatlands of Memphis, TN, Appalachia, its mountains, its people, and its food hold a special place in her heart.

Hanna Madden is an AmeriCorps VISTA Member working with the Perry County Farm to School Program.

Cody Montgomery is an activist, farmer, potter and cook from Maggofin County. He now makes his home in Morgan County where he raises pigs, and with his wife Lisa, two baby boys, Ezra and Pen.

Rachel Norton is a residential energy specialist with the Mountain Association for Community and Economic Development (MACED). She is a certified Building Performance Analyst and is building her own energy auditing business while working full time MACED. A native of Lexington, she enjoys spending her time out in the community eating good local food and chatting with good local people. 

Suzanne Stumbo works with the UK Cooperative Extension Service as the Ag and Natural Resources Agent for Pike County. After growing up in Floyd County, she attended the University of Kentucky where she received a B. S. in Horticulture and Masters in Agricultural Education. Suzanne has taught Agriculture-Science and Technology for 28+ years, farmed organic vegetables, and trained show & trail riding horses.