December 2023 - 18

Leonard Burger III
Leonard Burger III is a fifthgeneration
farmer, managing his
family's vegetable farm in Drums,
Pennsylvania. He and his wife
have three children. Burger is a
Erin Doughtie
Native to Austin, Texas, Erin
Doughtie's connection to agriculture
is rooted in family, being one
generation removed from the farm.
Today, she visits farms around the
board member of the Luzerne County Farm Bureau
and the Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Research
and Marketing Board and is a Luzerne County Farm
Service Agency committee member. He's passionate
about growing and encouraging others to learn where
food originates. Burger also operates a roadside farm
market and u-pick operation.
Brent Christensen
A Michigan native, Brent Christensen
is a first-generation farmer who
has found a knack for growing
ingredients for craft beverages.
He began his career growing hops
in southwest Michigan and now oversees all growing
operations for Blake's Orchard and Cider Mill in
Armada, Michigan, which includes a wide variety of
fruits and vegetables. Christensen's passion lies in the
outdoors, with a love for hunting and fishing.
Andrew DeGroot
Andrew DeGroot is a partner of
DeGroot's Vegetable Farms, a
multi-generation family farm in
Saint Anne, Illinois. DeGroot grows
potatoes, peppers, cabbage, squash,
soybeans and wheat. He is a regional director on the
Kankakee County Farm Bureau board and previously
served as a volunteer firefighter with the Saint Anne
Fire Department. DeGroot and his wife have been
married for 16 years and have three children.
Luke DeHaan
Luke DeHaan lives in West Olive,
Michigan, with his wife Amber
and four children: Easton, Elliott,
Emmett and Esther. He's part owner
of Crossroads Blueberry Farm with
his parents-in-law, Dave and Kelley Reenders. They
harvest and pack blueberries for Crossroads and other
local growers.
world as Syngenta Vegetable Seeds' Americas regional
portfolio lead for watermelon. Doughtie helps ensure
growers have access to the best genetics, ensuring
consumer access to safe and nutritious fruit. Doughtie
has a master's degree in agricultural science and
development from the University of Reading, based in
Reading, Berkshire, England.
Joshua Duley
Joshua Duley has worked for
Hartung Brothers' Wisconsin
pickling cucumber division for 16
years. He leads sales and crop
planning. Duley is involved with
Pickle Packers International and the Midwest Pickle
Association. He and his wife Amanda have two sons,
Luke and Calton. He graduated with a Master of
Science degree and an MBA in Food and Agribusiness
Management from Purdue University in 2022.
Jake Emling
In 2020, Jake Emling founded
Emling Agricultural Services,
a Medina, Ohio, consulting
business specializing in controlled
environment agriculture and
vineyard management. He also runs his own produce
farm, Root 42 Harvests, with his wife, Katie. Emling is
a Certified Professional Horticulturist and received his
bachelor's and master's degrees in horticulture from
Michigan State University.
Emily Grant
Hailing from Cashmere, Washington,
Emily Grant has thrived in the
dynamic world of the fruit industry at
the intersection of sales and science.
Her career is a testament to her
commitment to sustainability, fostering collaborations
that yield unique solutions. With a foundation of
integrity, Grant has promoted eco-conscious practices
while driving growth. Enthusiastic about a greener
future, Grant uses her expertise in the realm of
fruits, where business acumen meets environmental
responsibility.
18 | DECEMBER 2023
December 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2023
