Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Timeline
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Kenneth Lindsey

Summary

Agricultural professional with 15 years of experience , including classroom and on-farm training, starting multiple agriculture projects from small gardens to 20 acres, and managing every task on a vegetable farm. Passionate about growing high quality produce and teaching others how to farm successfully. Proficient in many farming techniques including Certified Organic Production, regenerative no-till, CEA with hoop houses and indoor vertical, aquaculture, hydroponics, and permaculture.




Overview

16
16
years of professional experience

Work History

Farm Owner/Manager of Operations

Ken's Farm LLC
12.2009 - Current
  • Managed all aspects of the farm from site preparation and design to sales of produce. This includes crop selection, soil testing and amending, planting, irrigating, harvesting, washing, packing and delivery.
  • Managed all WWOOFERs, volunteers, and employees to complete weekly tasks on the farm. Recruitment and training of people with all levels of farming experience domestically and internationally.
  • Marketed and sold crops to area restaurants, grocery stores, and farmers markets. Maintained quality control and used GAP to ensure food safety.
  • Maintained and operated farm equipment such as tractors, tillers, mowers, small power equipment and hand tools. Changed implements on tractor and performed and kept maintenance schedules.
  • Inventory and purchasing of all farm inputs such as fertilizer, seeds, soiless media, irrigation parts, and packing materials. Accounting of all sales and expenses and creating a budget and sales projections.
  • Record keeping for NRCS grants, Organic Certification, and GAP
  • Construction of all farm infrastructure including hoop houses, packing sheds, worker housing, and equipment and material storage.

Sustainable Farming Program Instructor

Kauai Community College
01.2010 - 06.2012
  • Created syllabus material and gave lectures for 12-week Sustainable Farming and Training Program. Each week covered a different farming topic in chronological order of starting a farm. Each class had a lecture followed by hands-on activity in the field.
  • Managed teaching garden on campus used in hands-on training portion of class. Prepared daily training activities based on days lecture. Coordinated activities of up to 30 students to maintain teaching gardens.
  • Responsible for sales of produce from the teaching garden at the on-campus farmers market. Worked with students to harvest, wash, pack and sell produce.
  • Helped create videos, appeared in promotional material and radio programs for recruitment and promotion of class.
  • Co- instructor of Aquaponics program which taught students how to design, build, and maintain and aquaponics system

Research Associate

Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc
10.2007 - 08.2009
  • Grew corn plants in 4 30' x 100' hoop houses for seed research.
  • Led and trained 4 person crew to manage operations consisting of filling pots, transplanting, irrigating, controlled pollination, harvesting, and shelling.
  • Collected and compiled all seed data for departmental use and shared results with other departments to further total company research goals.
  • Hired all positions for the department, led all staff meetings, gave department updates, and conducted employee performance reviews.


Education

Bachelor of Arts - Plant Biology

Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Carbondale, IL
05.2007

Skills

  • Farm Operations Management
  • Classroom and on-farm training
  • Creation of syllabus material
  • GAP certification
  • Operating and maintaining farm equiptment
  • Irrigation design and installation
  • Hoop house production
  • Soil nutrient management
  • Integrated Pest Management
  • Sales and marketing of agricultural products

Accomplishments

  • Permaculture Design Certificate
  • Aquaculture/Aquaponics course certificate
  • Received grants from NRCS, USDA, and the Kohala Foundation
  • Farm incubator program graduate
  • Michigan Farm Co-op member/owner

Timeline

Sustainable Farming Program Instructor

Kauai Community College
01.2010 - 06.2012

Farm Owner/Manager of Operations

Ken's Farm LLC
12.2009 - Current

Research Associate

Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc
10.2007 - 08.2009

Bachelor of Arts - Plant Biology

Southern Illinois University Carbondale

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Kenneth Lindsey