Meet the Board of Directors:
PAM RIEKE
President
Although I live on the west side of Cincinnati, my family owns property in Sunman, Indiana. My goal is to move to Indiana in the near future. I discovered the Food and Growers Association at the Batesville Farmers Market and have been an active member, and now president, for several years. I have a passion for local healthy food access for everyone and began volunteer work at Our Harvest Cooperative. I am also a member of the board of Family Promise NKY and the Christian educator at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Thomas, KY.
KRIS REYNOLDS
Vice President
I am a resident of the Batesville area and grew up on a small farm in Batesville and enjoy gardening. I work for Batesville Casket as a Product Manager.
OLIVIA FLEDDERMAN
Secretary
I am graduating from the University of Cincinnati with a major in dietetics and will soon be starting a new position with Margaret Mary Health. I also am a contributing writer for Whitewater Publications. For four years I worked at the Sisters of St. Francis at Michaela Farm in Oldenburg as a seasonal gardener, chicken caretaker and later, lead gardener. I recognize the impact that the foods we consume have on our overall health and well being. Therefore, I dedicate a lot of my time to providing and promoting local foods.
RITA WILDER
Board Member
MELISSA WATKINS
Board Member/Past President
In my professional life, I work in procurement for Indirect Sourcing at Hill-Rom. My true passion is gardening, seed saving, and all things canning and food preserving. Each year my family and I try to learn new things and add experiences that provide healthy options for us, support our local farmers, and help the environment. A couple of years ago we ventured into beekeeping which has been an awesome experience. I’ve been a board member since 2015. I invite you to join the FGA and help us support our farmers and grow our local economy.
TRACY JAEGER
Board Member
Kenny and I reside in Union County. We have 4 grown children and 7 grandchildren. I work for the USDA/Farm Service Agency in Franklin County. I was introduced to FGA by Ted Cooley when he was in my office and mentioned a program to educate farmers about growing produce and marketing locally. His wife Kathy told me about the scholarship for the program and I found myself in the SIFTI program. What a great opportunity it was. I have utilized most all I learned through the program while starting our road side stand. I now find myself on the board and believe in the mission of this group.
CINDY WEISENBACH
Board Member
I am currently a third-grade teacher at Batesville Intermediate School, and have been teaching for 27 years. I would love to say that gardening has been a passion all my life, but when I decided to start a school garden with my students around 7 years ago, I had no understanding or knowledge of what to even plant, when and how. I just knew that a school garden was a valuable teaching tool connecting students with their natural world and the true source of their food. I am proud to say that our garden is growing bigger and stronger every eyar, as is my knowledge! I am excited to work with my fellow FGA board members to make a difference in our community.
Brad Silber
BOARD MEMBER
I live on the west side of Cincinnati but my family owns property between Sunman and Batesville. I discovered the FGA at the Batesville Farmers Market and have attended the potlucks for several years. I also volunteer at FGA events such as the winter Conference and Salsa competition. I see the value in local healthy food access and began volunteering with Our Harvest Cooperative and O2 Urban Farms.