Jessie Kanter has brought experience and passion to her role as the Agriculture and Rangeland Program Manager at the Sierra Resource Conservation District since 2024. With a background deeply rooted in agriculture and soil science, Jessie’s journey reflects her dedication to supporting farmers and fostering resilient food systems.
Jessie’s path to Sierra RCD began at University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she pursued her interest in agriculture. After college, she gained experience working on farms in Minnesota before traveling abroad to East Africa, where she worked at a non-profit called Gardens for Health. She then earned a master’s degree in International Agricultural Development and Soil Science from UC Davis. She later worked with the UC Cooperative Extension’s Small Farms Program in Fresno before joining Sierra RCD seven months ago.
Her inspiration comes from the relationships she builds with local farmers, the people who work tirelessly to feed their communities while facing growing challenges. With major concerns such as water shortages and an aging farming population, she recognizes the urgency of supporting sustainable practices and encouraging younger generations to enter the field.
One impactful project she recalls during her time at Sierra RCD has been the progress of hedgerow plantings in the southwest region of Fresno, particularly efforts led for farmers Al Mys and Al Smith. Seeing these initiatives take root and thrive has reinforced her commitment to conservation and sustainable agriculture.
A valuable piece of advice that has stayed with her is that if you love your soil, you’ll barely see it, which emphasizes the importance of keeping soil covered and keeping roots in the ground. As an advocate for soil health, she focuses on relationship building, securing resources for farmers, and ensuring they have access to the tools they need.
She is excited about ongoing projects that aim to enhance wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, and native plant initiatives, including efforts at China Creek Park with the California Native Plant Society. Her work also involves conducting soil health assessments, survey site visits, and fostering peer-to-peer learning networks to support education on sustainable farming.
As Sierra RCD continues its mission, Jessie hopes to bring more awareness to funding opportunities, such as the California Department of Food and Agriculture CUSP (California Underserved and Small Producers) program, which provides drought relief and climate emergency funding to historically underserved farmers. The next round of funding through SRCD is set to open in the fall. She believes in creating just and equitable ecosystems, thinking beyond land and people, and reimagining what the future of food systems can look like.
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