Summit Details

Thursday Keynote: Angela Mahan 

Angela Mahan is the founder of Cultivated Living, a regenerative agriculture advocate, and co-owner of Rabbit Ridge Farms in Arkansas. Alongside her husband, she raises pasture-based livestock using regenerative practices that prioritize soil health, animal welfare, and transparency in the food system.

With a doctorate in adult education, Angela brings a unique perspective that bridges farming, education, and everyday life. Her work centers on helping others reconnect to food, land, and rhythm in practical, approachable ways.

Friday Keynote: Sunny Baker

Sunny Baker works to lead school food reform and create a new culture of regionally-based eating. She currently serves as the Senior Director of Programs and Policy for the National Farm to School Network. She works in partnership with communities to create more resilient and inclusive school food systems nationally, and is based in Little Rock, Arkansas. A graduate of Hendrix College and W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Fellow, Sunny got her start in school food with the Chef Ann Foundation and prior to joining NFSN, co-founded and led the Mississippi Farm to School Network.

Mishanna Lanes

Mishanna Lanes is a Regional Program Associate and Project Manager with the Health Team in the Cooperative Extension Service, Family and Consumer Sciences Department, where she has served for six years. Supported by the Arkansas CDC High Obesity Program (HOP) grant, she leads and manages community-based health initiatives that promote nutrition, physical activity, and sustainable environmental change. Her work focuses on building cross-sector partnerships, implementing policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) strategies, and increasing access to healthier opportunities in underserved communities.

Dr. Jessica Vincent

Dr. Jessica Vincent is an Assistant Professor of Health Programs and Community and Public Health Outreach Specialist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service. She has more than 15 years of experience leading community-based public health initiatives focused on health justice, food access, physical activity, and built environment strategies in rural communities. Dr. Vincent provides technical expertise in program planning and evaluation and collaborates with local and state partners to implement and evaluate systems-level change. Her work includes peer-reviewed research, Extension publications, and nationally recognized curricula.

Sean Pessarra, Mindful Farmer

Sean Pessarra is the founder of Mindful Farmer, an Arkansas-based company that designs and manufactures high tunnels, ergonomic tools, and organic farm inputs for small-scale growers. With a background in ecology and farm consulting, Sean started Mindful Farmer to equip growers with the tools and resources they actually need. The company focuses on practical, regionally sourced solutions such as organic fertilizers, potting soil, American-made multifunctional tools, and durable infrastructure to help farmers and gardeners grow smarter, not harder. By combining product innovation with hands-on education, Mindful Farmer helps growers build more resilient, efficient, and sustainable growing systems.

Dan Spatz, Founder, FRESH Network

After growing up in central Arkansas and graduating from Hendrix College, Dan pursued education in international relations and a career in the global food industry.  An epiphany in health and nutrition and his family’s farm in Conway are bringing him back home to embed supply chain, marketing and leadership expertise in the local food system.  Educating about food systems and nutrition, sharing with farmers what it takes to focus locally, and seeing people experience better taste, more informed choice and more resilient health outcomes motivate him every day.

Josh Hardin Farm and Food Hub Director

Josh is a fifth-generation farmer from the Southeast Arkansas Delta with over 25 years of agricultural experience. He has worked in seven U.S. states and in Popayán, Colombia growing food and fiber, while also consulting with mid-size farms on production, compliance and sustainability. Josh is passionate about improving the food system and advancing farm to school efforts in Arkansas.

Patrick Collins, Farm Manager

Patrick began working in agriculture in 2014 harvesting okra, summer squash and tomatoes on small farms in Central Arkansas. He has worked on several organic farms and served as Community Garden Director for the City of North Little Rock. He also studied sustainable agriculture at Meadowcreek in Fox, Arkansas. Patrick loves growing food for family and friends and is passionate about building healthy soil, nutrient-dense crops, and biodiverse landscapes.

Jessica Angel, Lead Associate for Kindergarten Readiness, Save the Children

Jessica Angel is the Lead Associate for Kindergarten Readiness with Save the Children in Arkansas and a proud fourth-generation farmer. Her passion for agriculture began at the age of five, sparking a lifelong commitment to nutrition education and gardening.

Jessica has worked to bring school gardens into early childhood settings so children can better understand where their food comes from and build healthy habits early. She successfully launched the first garden at Batesville Preschool and has secured over $30,000 in grant funding to enhance playground and garden learning environments.

Her work has been recognized with awards for Best Community Collaboration Garden and Best Education School Garden. Jessica is deeply committed to empowering families and educators to support children’s development through hands-on, meaningful learning experiences.

Debbie Mize

Bio and Pic soon

Karine Lewandowski

Bio and Pic soon

Megan & Bryce

Bio and Pic soon