EYE ON RYE
Participants, Venues, & Supporters
Laura Valli received her PhD in Crop Science from Washington State University in May 2024. Originally from Estonia, she spent the last five and a half years at WSU Breadlab under the mentorship of Dr Stephen Jones researching rye and the people working with it in the US and beyond. Her anthropological perspective on agricultural issues is supported by her BA in Social Anthropology from the University of Cambridge. Laura is currently a postdoctoral fellow supervised by Dr Kelly Wilson at the Center for Regenerative Agriculture at the University of Missouri where she is assessing the impact of digital technologies on the transition to more sustainable farming practices.
Roy Desrochers has over 37 years of experience providing sensory support to large and small food and beverage com panies and their suppliers. He leads the UVM Extension Northwest Crops and Soils Program Sensory Practice to assist farmers, manufacturers, and retailers generate and maintain success in the marketplace.
Heather Darby is an agronomic and soils specialist for the University of Vermont Extension. She received her MS from the University of Wisconsin in Agronomy and her Ph.D. in Crops and Soils at Oregon State University. Heather is involved with implementing many research and outreach programs in the areas of fuel, forage and grain production systems in New England. Outreach programs have focused on delivering on-farm education in the areas of soil health, nutrient management, organic grain and forage production, and oilseed production. Research has focused on traditional and niche crop variety trials, weed management strategies and cropping systems development.
Stuart Farr was brought up on the family farm in England in the 1970’s where they grew wheat, barley, potatoes, fava beans and oilseeds and raised beef cattle. Stuart studied Agriculture at University and went on to advise farmers for five years. After moving to the U.S. in 2001, Stuart started farming again in New York’s Hudson Valley in 2014. At Hudson Valley Hops and Grains he grows wheat, rye, einkorn, oats, sunflowers, canola, flax, dry beans, buckwheat, and hops in a certified organic system on 380 acres.
Josh Pitts is the Quality Assurance Engineer and Research & Development lead for Caledonia Spirits in Montpelier, VT where he has worked for the last 7 years focusing his research on on honey in spirits and developing new products for the company. He lives in Plainfield,VT with his two cats, Monty and Murray, and his gray parrot Charlie.
Heather Darby is an agronomic and soils specialist for the University of Vermont Extension. She received her MS from the University of Wisconsin in Agronomy and her Ph.D. in Crops and Soils at Oregon State University. Heather is involved with implementing many research and outreach programs in the areas of fuel, forage and grain production systems in New England. Outreach programs have focused on delivering on-farm education in the areas of soil health, nutrient management, organic grain and forage production, and oilseed production. Research has focused on traditional and niche crop variety trials, weed management strategies and cropping systems development.
Stuart Farr was brought up on the family farm in England in the 1970’s where they grew wheat, barley, potatoes, fava beans and oilseeds and raised beef cattle. Stuart studied Agriculture at University and went on to advise farmers for five years. After moving to the U.S. in 2001, Stuart started farming again in New York’s Hudson Valley in 2014. At Hudson Valley Hops and Grains he grows wheat, rye, einkorn, oats, sunflowers, canola, flax, dry beans, buckwheat, and hops in a certified organic system on 380 acres.
Josh Pitts is the Quality Assurance Engineer and Research & Development lead for Caledonia Spirits in Montpelier, VT where he has worked for the last 7 years focusing his research on on honey in spirits and developing new products for the company. He lives in Plainfield,VT with his two cats, Monty and Murray, and his gray parrot Charlie.