Farm Connect Montana Staff | Farm Connect Montana Board

Bonnie Buckingham

Executive Director

Bonnie serves as executive director, and co-founded Farm Connect Montana (formerly the Community Food & Agriculture Coalition) in 2005, to provide a space for people to participate in food democracy – having a role in how their food is grown, processed, distributed and eaten – and to initiate policies and advocacy in support a vibrant local food system. She has led Farm Connect through its strategic growth and the creation of new programs and initiatives since its inception. When not engaged in local food and farm activities, Bonnie can be found outside enjoying the bounty that western Montana offers – boating, skiing, hiking and biking with her dog and friends.

Jennifer Zaso‑Hitchcock

Communications & Development Director

jenny@farmconnectmontana.org

Jenny comes from a background in leadership, development, communications, and strategic planning in both nonprofit and for-profit sectors. She has an M.B.A. in green business and nonprofit management from Antioch University of New England. Jenny grew up on a dairy farm in Western New York where her father leased conserved agricultural lands for his dairy operation. She worked at a community vegetable farm during graduate school, served on the board of a county food pantry and hot meals program, and worked to conserve farmland in the Northeast. She enjoys time outdoors with her husband, son, and their two dogs, and is known for her campsite huckleberry pancakes.

Mary Ellis

Beginning Farmer & Rancher Program Director

mary@farmconnectmontana.org

Mary oversees all aspects of the program, including project and program development, program evaluation, managing the Land Link program, and organizing classes and workshops across the state. She received her B.S. degree in biology in 2014, and spent several years serving with AmeriCorps and FoodCorps establishing high school farms in Oregon and working on a local organic farm. To deepen her knowledge of sustainable food systems Mary came to the University of Montana and graduated with her M.S. in environmental studies with a focus on sustainable food and farming systems in 2019. In her free time Mary enjoys backpacking, skiing, and spending time on Montana’s lakes and rivers.

Ian Finch

Food Access Program Director

ian@farmconnectmontana.org

Ian Finch leads the Food Access Program at Farm Connect Montana. Born and raised in Montana, Ian was shaped by our vast mountains and plains, and is committed to working toward a food system that is socially just, regenerative, and culturally sound. Ian has experience farming in Montana, Washington, and Oregon, and for the past four years has worked to bring food access programs like Double SNAP Dollars to communities across the state. Ian spends his time tending to his garden, exploring the backcountry with his partner and dog Moose, and cooking up local foods and local ideas in his kitchen with friends and family.

Claire Biddick

Operations & Finance Manager

claire@farmconnectmontana.org

Born and raised in western Washington, Claire grew up hiking through cedar forests, baking blackberry pies, and gaining an appreciation for her natural environment. She moved to Montana in 2013 for school and has called Missoula her home ever since! Claire has a B.S. in Natural Resource Conservation and a M.P.A. with a focus in nonprofit administration from the University of Montana. She has spent the majority of her career working for nonprofits in various roles and was thrilled to join the Farm Connect team where her passion for food and community service was a natural fit. Claire first started as the Membership & Events Manager where she built meaningful community engagement and fundraising opportunities for the organization. In 2024, Claire pursued her Bookkeeper Certification and was thrilled to become Farm Connect's Operations & Finance Manager where she can continue to grow her administrative skillset and support the organization in this new role. When she's not working you can find Claire enjoying outdoor activities with her husband, trying new recipes in the kitchen, or binging a crafting project with the assistance of her adorable cat, Twig Newton.

Andrea Buckingham

Double SNAP Dollars Program Manager

andrea@farmconnectmontana.org

Andrea is a registered dietitian nutritionist who works remotely in Kalispell, managing the statewide Double SNAP Dollars Program. She directly oversees program partners located in the Mission and Bitterroot Valleys, and works with network partners for sites throughout the state. Andrea is committed to the program, improving Montanan’s access to local produce, and integrating nutrition education resources. Outside of work, Andrea shares her passion for the outdoors with her 3-year-old, paddleboarding, canoeing, camping, hiking, snowboarding, cycling, and XC skiing. Her family visits Glacier National Park frequently.

Britta Janssen

Beginning Farmer & Rancher Program Manager

britta@farmconnectmontana.org

Britta oversees the Certified Farm Startup Program, developing events and workshops, and offering technical assistance for new producers. She is passionate about building equitable and local food systems. After six years of working on farms across the West, she pursued her M.S. in environmental studies at the University of Montana. Britta balances her work at Food Connect Montana with running an organic veggie operation with her partner, in Saint Ignatius where they lease five acres. In her free time, Britta enjoys playing music, cooking and eating what she grows, and getting in the river.

James Keys

Farmers Market Support Specialist

james@farmconnectmontana.org

James has been with Farm Connect Montana since 2021. He runs the state’s Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, supports Farmers Market vendors and managers across the state, and is getting Farm Connect’s Farmer Tool Library up and running. After a decade of working in, opening, and running various restaurants and bakeries, James is grateful to spend his days thinking about ‘food for all,’ not just food. He and his partner have a small farm west of Missoula where they grow and sell affordable heirloom grains, fruits, and vegetables for neighbors.

Gillian Thornton Andrews

Farmer Tool Library Coordinator

gillian@farmconnectmontana.org

Gillian is passionate about building thriving, community-based food systems in Montana. She also co-owns and operates Thunder Road Farm in the Jocko Valley, where she and her family produce grass-finished beef and operate a raspberry U-Pick. Gillian holds an M.S. in environmental studies from the University of Montana and a B.A. in anthropology from the University of Oregon, with over a decade as a sustainable food systems advocate in western Montana. Originally from Kalispell, she enjoys exploring the wilderness behind her farm, painting, and spending time with her husband and young daughter.

Meghan Daly

Events & Marketing Coordinator

meghan@farmconnectmontana.org

Raised between the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and the rural plains of Northeastern Colorado, Meghan is no stranger to Western landscapes. In 2022, she moved to Missoula to pursue her M.S. in Environmental Studies at the University of Montana and found a wonderful community during her time there. Throughout her studies, Meghan focused on preserving farmland in the U.S. and finding ways to provide affordable access to farmland for beginning farmers. She also served as a co-director for the UM Forum for Living with Appropriate Technology (UM FLAT) and co-editor of Camas Magazine. Her experience in various community outreach positions, both in and outside of school, has prepared her for the Events and Marketing Coordinator position at CFAC. She is excited to merge her passion for farming and food systems with her skills in event planning and community outreach. Outside of work, Meghan enjoys growing vegetables, caring for her houseplants, exploring new craft projects, and writing.

Farm Connect Montana Staff | Farm Connect Montana Board

Staff & Board

Staff

Bonnie Buckingham

Jennifer Zaso‑Hitchcock

Mary Ellis

Ian Finch

Claire Biddick

Andrea Buckingham

Britta Janssen

James Keys

Gillian Thornton Andrews

Meghan Daly

Board of Directors

Leigh Ratterman

Grace Brogan

John Craske

Jean Duncan

Andrew Kane

Rachel Ariaz

Stephanie Potts

Julie Peters

Phoebe Bean