Bonnie Buckingham

Executive Director

bonnie@farmconnectmontana.org

Bonnie serves as executive director, and co-founded Farm Connect Montana (formerly Community Food and 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 of 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.

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.

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 Daily

Events and Marketing Coordinator

meghan@farmconnectmontana.org

Raised between the foothills of the Rockies and the rural plains of Northeastern Colorado, Meghan is no stranger to Western landscapes. She moved to Missoula in 2022 to get her M.S. in Environmental Studies at the University of Montana. While in school, Meghan focused on methods to preserve farmland in the U.S. and finding ways to provide affordable access to farmland for beginning farmers. Her experience in various community outreach positions, both in and outside of school, has prepared her for the Events and Marketing Coordinator position at Farm Connect. 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!

Lilian Kennedy

Food Access Masters Practicum Student

lilian.kennedy@umconnect.umt.edu

Lilian Kennedy supports Farm Connect's Food Access Program by providing critical on-the-ground outreach to eligible participants, farmers, and the community at large. During the school year you can find Lilian at farmers markets in Missoula educating the public about our mission, programs, and especially Double SNAP Dollars.