A Person You Should Know
This week's "Person You Should Know" is Holly Hooper, the new MSU Ext-ension consumer horticulture educator for Southwest Michigan. Her office is based in Van Buren County.
My home town: I've been living in Kalamazoo, Mich. for the last seven years, although I'm originally from Virginia.
Family: My husband, Logan Rowe, and I have two dogs, Iris and Aldo, and a cat, Louie.
My job and what I enjoy most about it: I'm the new MSU Extension consumer horticulture educator for Southwest Michigan, based in the Van Buren County Extension office. As an active gardener and entomologist, I enjoy helping people and communities plant native species and support a variety of wildlife in their yards and local areas. These individual actions create a big impact by protecting water quality, supporting pollinators, and improving soil health to help create a more sustainable future.
My mentor: The first farmer I worked for, Steve Miles, who led production on a nonprofit farm focused on food security and education. Even though I had little experience, he showed me that it was okay not to have all the answers and encouraged me to learn by doing. Working with him kick-started my passion for growing plants, especially food, and set me on a path of lifelong learning.
My mission in life: My mission in life is to simply leave my small corner of the world a little better than I found it.
How I give back: Sharing knowledge with others has always been important to me, whether through applied research, hands-on collaborations or outreach. I've long been involved in community gardens and farms that provide fresh food to people in need through local programs and food banks. More recently, I've worked with the Wild Ones of Kalamazoo as their membership chair, helping connect people and native plants across Southwest Michigan.
Hobbies: I'm a part of the fiber studio at the Kalamazoo Institute of the Arts and enjoy floor loom weaving. I also enjoy traveling and hiking with my husband and dogs.
If I Could Do Something Else: I wanted to be an artist! Science and art truly aren't that different, both require you to be creative and think outside the box.
To nominate someone for this column, call or email Jerry Goshert (jerry@farm ers-exchange.net) editor. The telephone number for the editor is 574/831-2138.