Lily Riesett graduated from St. Mary’s College in 2024 with a major in political science and a minor in environmental studies. While at St. Mary’s College, Lily spent a good deal of time out at the Kate Chandler Campus Community Farm, taking on leadership roles such as serving as the Co-Op Manager and helping to launch the Kate Farm Stand in the Student Center. Lily also participated in the Bottom County Festival by selling Kate Farm T-shirts of her own design to raise money for the farm. In addition, Lily was awarded a prestigious Environmental Leadership Fellowship with the Rachel Carson Council, which enabled her to build a community garden at the Kate Farm dedicated to growing produce historically accurate to the region and to write articles for the Rachel Carson Council that appeared on its social media and website. The knowledge Lily gained at the Kate Farm has followed her post-graduation. She has completed a year-long Organic Farming Apprenticeship through Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners during the 2024 growing season, and now she is a member of AmeriCorps, working on food access and educational projects with the Green Mountain Farm-to-School program in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom.