Staff Members
Ben Goodrich, Executive Director
Sorrell Redford, Education Director
​From cooking to growing, to delivery and stocking shelves, Ben has vast experience in food production. He is passionate about all aspects of our food systems as well as soil conservation, drought resiliency, and supporting the next generation of food producers.
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Previously as Production Manager, Ben focused on improving efficiencies and quality of our school garden grown produce. In 2020 he helped transition the project to it's own 501(3)(c) and work closely with staff and community members to begin the next chapter of MSTFP.
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As Executive Director, Ben is looking forward to continually working closely with staff and community partners to maintain a high level of programs, distributing exceptional fruits and vegetables, teaching the importance of soil health, all while providing enjoyable hands-on opportunities to students, teachers, and community members.
Sorrell started at MSTFP in August 2021. Sorrell has over ten years of teaching experience in private schools, public schools, preschools, and environmental education centers.
Sorrell has always been passionate about nature and studied Natural Resources Management with a concentration in Environmental Communication at Colorado State University. She returned to graduate school and gained a Masters in Educational Psychology from the University of Colorado Denver. The combination of education and environmental stewardship is what first drew her to MSTFP.
She believes the school gardens are an asset to the school communities and she hopes to use her skills to inspire and educate the AmeriCorps service members and garden coordinators while strengthening relationships amongst all stakeholders in the community.
Sorrell was born and raised in Norwich, England. She moved to Colorado in 2007 and it has become home.
AmeriCorps Service Members
Hello! My name is Emily and I’m from a small town called Lowville in Northern New York. In May of 2023 I graduated from Cornell University as a Human Biology, Health, and Society major. I am excited about the Montezuma School to Farm Project because I think nutrition is vital for the health and well-being of an individual and a community. I also worked at a children’s summer camp in the Adirondacks for years, and love helping kids to explore the outdoors. In my free time I enjoy skiing, hiking, and reading. I am excited for this year of service and feel lucky to live in such a beautiful area!
Hi, my name is Oliver. I am originally from Minnesota, but grew up in Japan. Consequently, I have had the opportunity to travel and see much of the world and gain diverse perspectives. I am interested in working to combat climate change through sustainability and conservation in local communities. I have a hard time sitting still and enjoy being involved in sports, fundraisers, and art. My passion is wildlife photography and I want to pursue an interdisciplinary approach to conservation using visual media.
Hi my name is Donitza. I have over ten years of teaching experience within informal and formal education. I have a undergraduate degree in Environmental Biology from Fort Lewis College and a Masters in Geographic Information Technologies from the Northern Arizona University. I soon found my passion with education and children after working as a Mad Scientist and Education Director at the Powerhouse Science Center. I went on to get my Teachers Certification and have been teaching full and part-time within Montezuma and Mancos Schools for the past seven years. I most recently started as the Director of the Mancos Summer Hub Summer Program and am proud to be working with Montezuma School to farm the other 10 months of the year. I strongly believe in child-led, inquiry-based learning and believe the garden is a magical place for children to learn and explore their interests.
Board of Directors
Clara Martinez, Ph.D.
Board President
Cultural and Education Anthropologist, specializing in the revitalization of Indigenous language and culture and culturally relevant pedagogy.
Hispanic Yaqui Mestizo
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Gregory Felsen
Board Treasurer
Greg is currently in the position of serving the public as an Expanded Rural Engagement Specialist in the area of Accessible Education. Throughout his career he has focused on providing impactful community development projects for all members of our society, which is why he loves being part of MSTFP.
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Jim Patton
Vice President
Jim’s passion for making nutritious foods available to all continues through his work with MSTFP. Jim is retired and enjoys hiking, snow skiing, bike riding, swimming, and most of all, baseball with his grandson, Rowan.
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Kit Connally
Board Member
Kit runs a local motel in Mancos Colorado and has two grandsons who regularly participate in garden programming and summer programming with MSTFP. Kit feels it is essential that every child understands where their food comes from, which is why she is involved with MSTFP.
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