Ext. 810 | micah [at] vivafarms [dot] org

Micah has spent the past 15 years bridging and strengthening diverse communities through programs that foster a love for growing and sharing good food. Serving first in the United States Peace Corps and later in the nonprofit world nationally and internationally, Micah has supported farmers in Zambia, Papua New Guinea and rural Japan, in addition to designing and facilitating organic farm training programs in King County as Education Manager at Seattle Tilth Farm Works and adjunct faculty at Highline Community College. Micah joined the team at Viva Farms in 2019 and continues to encourage and empower new generations of farmers who aspire to enrich the soil and their local farming community. Micah holds an B.A. in Forestry with a minor in Agriculture from the University of Kentucky and an M.A. in Environment & Community from Antioch University Seattle. When not farming, he enjoys time with his family, football (the beautiful game), foraging, fermenting, and frailing on his ol’ banjo.   

Ext. 812 | elma [at] vivafarms [dot] org

Elma (she/her) joined Viva Farms as Communications Manager during the summer of 2023. Prior to joining the team, Elma balanced a varied career in food – from many commercial salmon seasons in Bristol Bay to selling Washington-grown wheat flour at Cairnspring Mills. In her current role, Elma leads the organization’s fundraising and public engagement strategy, connecting partners to Viva’s unique mission. She holds a B.A. in French from Middlebury College with additional focuses in Elementary Education and African-American Studies. Locally, she has DJ’d on KZAX 94.9 LPFM and currently serves as Secretary of the Mount Vernon Library Foundation Board of Directors. Elma is passionate about community organizing and feels most herself driving a boat, alone on a trail or lingering at a full dinner table long after dessert.

Ext. 803 | anna [at] vivafarms [dot] org

Anna (she/her) has been with Viva Farms since 2017 and has over 10 years of experience supporting beginning and immigrant farmers to build thriving farm businesses. Anna leads the organization’s land access, capital access and business management programs. She works closely with capital providers across the impact finance space to design innovative, accessible capital programs, collaborates with land access partners to solve land tenure barriers for next generation farmers, and leads the business management and financial literacy components of Viva’s Education Program. Prior to Viva Farms, she worked with refugee farmers at the International Rescue Committee’s Phoenix office. She holds a B.A. in History from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and is fluent in Spanish and French. After recently relocating to her rural Wisconsin hometown, she now continues to support farmers and advance land and capital initiatives from afar, while simultaneously exploring synergies between Viva’s mission and the midwestern context. Outside of the office and off the farm, Anna can be found up in the mountains, on the salsa dance floor, or around a big dinner table with friends.

Ext. 808 | nancy [at] vivafarms [dot] org

Nancy is a life-long Skagitonian. She has been surrounded by agriculture from a very young age. In high school, she would spend her summers working on farms. After taking the Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture in 2022, Nancy went back to school for her B.A. in Organic and Sustainable Agriculture at Washington State University. She is passionate about helping farmers in any way that she can. Before joining Viva Farms in the fall of 2026, Nancy did an internship with Organic Seed Alliance and briefly worked for Rodale Institute.

In her free time, she enjoys hiking, spending time with her husband, catching up on naps, and cycling through her many creative hobbies like crocheting, reading, painting, drawing, and sewing. She has started a small hiking group that is active during the summer! She is always looking for new friends to hike with!

Ext. 815 | bonnie [at] vivafarms [dot] org

Bonnie (she/they) is passionate about food systems and cultural and environmental sustainability, which began while gardening with her mom growing up and led her to study agroecology and sustainable food systems, as well as environmental justice, at UC Santa Cruz. She has spent her professional life working at local farmers markets, plant nurseries, and in organic certification at California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF). She initially got involved at Viva Farms as a student in the Practicum for Sustainable Agriculture and was hired as staff midway through the season. She uses her experience in the program to help ground her work as Farm and Education Manager , working to expand opportunities, resources, and community for our students and farmers. Outside of farming, Bonnie enjoys cooking, reading,  spending time with friends, and going dancing.

juan [at] vivafarms [dot] org

Juan joined Viva Farms in the spring of 2026. His background in business stems from a startup he launched in 2018 within the auto industry. They successfully navigated the market during COVID-19 as an essential business, repairing wrecked vehicles for insurance companies. Through that experience, Juan developed a passion for helping people navigate the unknowns of entrepreneurship.

Originally from Mexico, farming has also been in his family for generations. Juan deeply values the importance of putting quality food on our tables and is excited to contribute to the future of agriculture. “I am proud to support the movement for sustainable farming—especially practices that protect farmworkers from harmful chemicals and pesticides—and look forward to empowering the next generation of entrepreneur farmers.”

Ext. 820 | liz [at] vivafarms [dot] org

Liz’s development and communications experience comes from her native Colombia, where she worked as a Communication Strategist Analyst in service to vulnerable communities in Medellin. She is thrilled to be able to use her native language in the fulfillment of Viva’s bilingual programs since joining the team in 2023. From crafting visual marketing materials and engaging social media graphics, Liz’s graphic design has elevated Viva Farms’ brand presence and effectively communicated its mission. Eager to deepen her understanding of sustainable agriculture and immerse herself in the farming community, Liz made the bold decision to join the Practicum in Sustainable Agriculture (PSA) program in 2024. Through her participation in the PSA, Liz is gaining experience in organic farming techniques, crop management, and farm operations, enriching her perspective as a designer and enabling her to create even more impactful visual content tailored to the unique needs of Viva Farms and its community. In her free time, she loves to read, travel, enjoy time with her family and friends, enjoy good music, and savor delicious cuisine. She lived in Brooklyn, New York and Sacramento, California before moving to Washington last year, and now calls Lake Samish her home.

Ext. 807 | valeria [at] vivafarms [dot] org

Hailing from Lima, Peru, Valeria earned her bachelor’s degree in Global Marketing and Commercial Administration from Universidad Ricardo Palma. While pursuing her education, Valeria spent her summers in Montana through a work and travel exchange program. There, she fell in love with the landscape and her now husband. As Sales & CSA Coordinator since 2022, Valeria supports the wholesale program and manages the CSA program. Working alongside farmers is her favorite part of her work. Of all the crops grown on the farm, garlic is her favorite. Off farm, it is passion fruit which reminds her of home. In her off time, Valeria enjoys biking, traveling, trying new foods, and finding new drama shows to binge.

Ext. 802 | rob [at] vivafarms [dot] org

Rob has over 15 years of experience at the intersection of sustainable agriculture, farm business development, and social advocacy.

Previously as Viva Farms’ Director of Programs and Operations, Rob was integral to building up the programs, land, infrastructure, and people that have made Viva Farms into a leading farm incubator program nationally. As Executive Director, he now guides the organization’s overall strategy and growth — equally at home on a tractor as in the boardroom — working closely with staff, board, and partners to ensure both the success of incubating farm businesses and the fulfillment of Viva Farms’ mission. He is one of the few Spanish-speaking Certified Lead Trainers with the Produce Safety Alliance in the region and has taught courses both locally and internationally.

Prior to joining Viva Farms in 2014, Rob managed Happy Boy Farms, a 400-acre certified organic farm on California’s central coast. He holds a BA in Politics and Latin American Studies from UC Santa Cruz and serves on the Board of Trustees at the Skagit Valley Food Co-op. Off the farm, he enjoys biking, making music, sailing, skiing, and exploring the North Cascades with his family.