History
Dr. Jennifer Reeve, Dr. Dan Drost, and over thirty USU graduate and undergraduate students broke ground on the USU Student Organic Farm in the spring of 2008. The farm provides a “hands-on” student laboratory for teaching students about best practices in both organic farming and gardening.
Interested in joining?
Students from all disciplines are welcome! Sign up for PSC 4900, spring or fall semester, to learn how to build a successful organic farm from the soil up. It's an incredible opportunity for anyone interested in the nuts and bolts of sustainable food systems to get hands-on instruction from USU soil scientist Dr. Jennifer Reeve and small farms outreach extension specialist Dr. Melanie Stock.
At the close of spring semester, five student interns are employed to work for the duration of the field season. This usually includes two experienced students returning for their second season on the farm as farm managers. Although the students come from various backgrounds and are pursuing many different majors, they are all passionate about organic farming and sustainable agricultural.
Technical support and mentorship is generously extended by administrators and faculty of the Plant, Soil and Climate department in the College of Agriculture, and the staff and faculty at Greenville Research Farm,
The farm provides an opportunity for students to acquire the many skills critical to creating a successful market or backyard garden. The farm’s produce is sold on campus every week, as well as through a large Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. All proceeds support the student farm, providing for operating expenses, equipment purchases and modest student stipends.
At the close of spring semester, five student interns are employed to work for the duration of the field season. This usually includes two experienced students returning for their second season on the farm as farm managers. Although the students come from various backgrounds and are pursuing many different majors, they are all passionate about organic farming and sustainable agricultural.
Technical support and mentorship is generously extended by administrators and faculty of the Plant, Soil and Climate department in the College of Agriculture, and the staff and faculty at Greenville Research Farm,
The farm provides an opportunity for students to acquire the many skills critical to creating a successful market or backyard garden. The farm’s produce is sold on campus every week, as well as through a large Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. All proceeds support the student farm, providing for operating expenses, equipment purchases and modest student stipends.
Meet the 2025 Team
"The student farm gives students the opportunity to experience running a small business from the ground up. It is a lot of hard work and also an amazing opportunity. This year, we have another amazing group of young people, Mariana, Emma, and Lily, who are ready and excited for the challenge. They bring with them experience in horticulture, plant science, gardening, animal science, and agricultural outreach. I am honored to be their mentor." - Dr. Reeve
Dr. Jennifer Reeve and Dr. Dan Drost, alongside the efforts of over 30 undergraduate and graduate students, founded the USU Organic Farm through which countless learning opportunities and are provided to students and through which countless learning opportunities are provided to students and through which we are able to deliver produce to you!
Originally from England Dr. Reeve earned a Bachelor of Science in Ecology from the University of Sheffield in 1995 followed by a MS and PhD in Soil Science from Washington State University in 2003 and 2007. Dr. Reeve currently oversees work on the farm with the assistance of our student farm managers. 
Nate Ducasse
Nate is Dr. Reeves farm technician. He recently graduated with a degree in sustainable farming after managing the farm for two years. He has helped create the farm that you see today like the four out of the six high tunnels he built. He grew up in Southern California and landed in Utah after doing a google search for "top 10 farming schools" and seeing that USU was the cheapest. That turned out to be the best decision he ever made, not just because of the great outdoor access and farming education; he also met his fiancé at Utah State University and recently proposed to in the Tetons. They now live with their two cats, and enjoy travelling, hanging out with friends, reading, and spending as much time in the mountains as possible. "Among the farm interns and lab students alike, Nate has earned the nickname "Saint Nate" for his tendency to swoop in and save the day. Nate is as hard a worker as any, but he does so with patience and diligence that is hard to come by. Farm work is no easy task, but Nate's ability to think creatively, troubleshoot, and lead with humility and graciousness helps to lighten the load a little--even on long, hot days in the field. Many of us on the farm are lucky to call him both coworker and friend. If you could bottle up the personality of a golden retriever and the wisdom of a wise king and mix them together...that would be Nate. Everyone deserves to have someone like Nate in their corner, the world would truly be a better place!" -Abbey (Past Farm Manager) 
Lily Prisbrey
Lily is the farm's CSA Manager. She manages the budget and our finances. She manages CSA outreach, advertising, and vendor relationships. She is the one you'll meet on our pickup days! "Hi! I am a Senior Plant Science Major. I am a trail runner and outdoor junkie ( I recently ran my first Ultra Marathon in Moab). I love learning about sustainability, the natural world, and all things plant-related. I am determined to build a career that keeps my hands in the dirt, working with plants. I am so excited for this opportunity to work for the Student Organic Farm! The work is stretching, but I love it. It pushes me outside my comfort zone and forces me to learn new things." -Lily |
Mariana Jaramillo Mariana is our Student Organic Farm Manager this year. 
Victoria Skillings Tori is one of our two Summer interns at the farm! "Hi! My name’s Tori, I’m a senior at USU in conservation and restoration ecology. Right now, my two main passions are land stewardship and making scrumptious food, so in other words I’m super stoked to be at the farm. I’m also really into foraging, backpacking, making bread and dancing my brains out. I’m excited to dig around in the dirt, EAT ARUGULA and meet all the CSA members this year! Cheers!" |
