Maggie Taylor owns Delight Flower Farm, a 5 acre commercial cut flower farm located just West of Champaign IL. In addition to supplying local florists, grocery stores, and farmers markets with fresh flowers the farm also hosts on-farm events, an artist-in-residence program, educational workshops, and tours throughout the year. 

The Farmacy Farmstand was lovingly cultivated by owner and operator Pearl Carpenter in 2017. With 2 charming acres of gardens, this hands-on farm offers a delightful array of agritourism experiences, including u-pick flowers, garden yoga, sound baths, tours and more! Pearl’s dedication to sustainable farming practices and community connection is at the heart of everything she does!

Fiona Munro is the Outreach and Education Manager for Sola Gratia Farm. She is an Urbana local who began as a volunteer on the farm and spent two years working as a field hand before moving into her present role in September of 2020. As Outreach and Education Manager, Fiona works to fulfill the farm’s mission of making healthy food accessible for all by nurturing productive land and cultivating diverse, inclusive communities by organizing educational events on the farm; supporting the Farm to School program in Urbana schools; and providing technical support for the Solidarity Gardens initiative, a community-gardening-for-good project in Champaign-Urbana. Most recently, she has overseen the redesign of Sola Gratia Farm’s original 4-acre field on the campus of St. Matthew Lutheran Church into an education and demonstration space, called the Community Classroom, that aims to provide a supportive space for people of all ages and backgrounds to develop food production skills and their own personal, positive connections with food and farming. Fiona received a B.A. in Environmental Studies and Creative Writing from Knox College, and is a member of the Environmental Education Association of Illinois.

Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery is a nationally recognized, award wining goat dairy and home of Caprae Restaurant. They raise nearly 100 goats in a rotational pasture system and make cheeses in their on-site creamery. They also grow organic fruits and vegetables on our 5 acre farmstead. PFF&C was founded in 2004 when Leslie Cooperband and Wes Jarrell purchased a small farm just north of Champaign-Urbana and transformed the row-crop landscape into a perennial paradise of goat pastures, organic fruit orchards and restored prairie. The farm’s current owners, Lauren and Jeffrey Brokish continue to build on the founders’ legacy of award-winning cheese and pasture-based goat dairying.  They’re transforming the farm into a true destination for local food lovers and those who want to connect with nature and animals on a working farm.

Terri Reifsteck is the Vice President of Destination Branding & Development for Experience Champaign-Urbana. She’s been with the tourism bureau for over 13 years and is responsible for promoting the greater Champaign-Urbana area as a Brilliant destination. She oversees the overall brand and marketing & communications strategy and is responsible for community outreach for collaboration opportunities and to ensure the story of our destination is consistent across all stakeholders.

Terri creates the award-winning annual Experience Guide, is responsible for the Champaign County Area Restaurant Week, and oversees all talent attraction efforts in collaboration with the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation. Terri, a former member of the Marching Illini, came to the University of Illinois for school and stayed in the area, where she’s raised two kids, who recently made her an empty nester. You can usually find Terri at the Champaign Public Library, kayaking or hiking in one of our preserves, at our local arts & culture events, or enjoying our local food in our award-winning culinary scene.   

Since graduating with a BS in Agribusiness, Farm & Financial Management from the University of Illinois in 2008, Sarah Hoerner has gained a wealth of experience in a variety of industries. Staring with a career in Boston before moving to Chicago in 2009, where she worked as a payroll accountant and supervisor. In 2017, she returned to her roots in Graymont, IL, to join her family’s farming operation and began working as an Agricultural Lender at a local bank. Simultaneously, she pursued her MBA at the University of Illinois Gies College of Business.

As the sixth generation on her family’s farm, she has a deep connection to agriculture. She currently cultivates conventional corn and soybeans alongside her dad and uncle. Besides, she have an active role in the Illinois Farm Bureau, serving on several committees and currently as the Treasurer/Secretary of the Livingston County Farm Bureau.

In her current role at Compeer Financial, Sarah assists non-traditional agricultural operations that sell their products directly to consumers. This includes urban agriculture, value-added production, and non-traditional ag operations like fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

Kat Trotter is the Zoning Administrator for the City of Champaign Planning and Development Department. Kat is a graduate from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Department of Urban and Regional Planning with a Bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies and Planning (2018) and a Master’s degree in Urban Planning (2020). Kat’s planning expertise is in land use policy and zoning. As the Zoning Administrator for the City of Champaign, she reviews building permit applications and plans, responds to zoning and development inquiries for properties within the City, and administers the Zoning Ordinance.  Kat is a member of the American Planning Association (APA), and she is a Regional Coordinator for the APA Illinois State Section. 

Scott Jensen is the Vice President of Farm & Ag Sales at Dimond Bros. Insurance, where he
brings extensive experience and leadership to the agricultural insurance sector. At Dimond
Bros., he is responsible for overseeing insurance solutions tailored to the unique needs of farmers and agribusinesses, ensuring that clients receive comprehensive coverage and expert guidance. He lives on a farm near Kankakee, IL, with his wife and five children.