Tessa was a complete dream of a VISTA. She started with a quarantined two weeks but worked and researched the whole time. When she started we just learned that we received the large USDA grant and she was raring to go with ideas and setting the tone for the grant process. She dove right into the project head first and was my right hand help throughout the whole process of getting everything set up and structured. I don't think I could have survived the process without her help. She was always flexible, working through the hills and valleys, sometimes deep valleys, of this enormous project with a smile on her face the whole time.  Her professionalism and super attitude was noted by so many that we worked and connected with during her service. She was always willing to help and learn new skills at the office. She was an integral part of our FSWCD team all year. I'm so happy that she chose us and we are so happy to have been a part of her VISTA experience. She is truly amazing."

--Mel Sikes, Fairbanks Soil & Water Conservation District ​Natural Resource Education Specialist

By: Tessa Holmes, FSWCD 2020-2021

Sources:  ​(1) Alaska Food Policy Council, 2017, p. 1 (2) US Census Bureau, 2019 (3) Alaska Food Coalition, 2020 (4) U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture

​Leah wrapped up her service year on August 3, 2020. She served the Fairbanks Soil & Water Conservation District as their Project Development Specialist. She assisted in the development of project documents and resources that will help ensure the long term sustainability of the project, while also working with project partners to apply for various federal and non federal grants. With her spare time at the office, she worked with the Interior Alaska Food Network to develop and promote local food initiatives. After spending some time at home with family, Leah will head to Arizona State University​ to start a PhD program in Sustainability with a focus on resource economics.

Leah was an amazing addition to our team at FSWCD and the Fairbanks community.  We chose Leah for this position because of her impressive academic background in economics and community service. She seamlessly became part of FSWCD staff, the Fairbanks community, and the VISTA community.  Her dedication to the indoor community farm project began even before her first day of service and continued to be impressive in the successive months. As part of her service year, she assisted us with gathering the necessary support within the community by connecting with a wide variety of organizations. She was a part of a number of outreach events throughout her year in Fairbanks, helping with our information table at the Chena Hot Springs Energy Fair as well as a local food event at the Tanana Valley State Fair. She presented about her project to the local City Assembly, spoken briefly at the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce weekly meeting, and given information and updates at the city Housing and Homeless Coalition meetings. She assisted with the planning and leadership of our local Interior Alaska Food Network (IAFN), our local food policy group. Every chance she had to represent and share her work she jumped at without question. Her confidence and demeanor was excellent, and her representation of Fairbanks Soil and Water Conservation District was consistently impressive. She wrote at least two very large grant proposals during her time with FSWCD and her ability to collaborate with a large group of agencies and folks guided the process with ease. Her dedication to ensuring the positive outcome of her projects is evidence of her high standard of professionalism.  We are so happy she chose FSWCD for her VISTA service. We know she will go on to do great things with her career and will miss her smile and laughter terribly."

- Mel Sikes, FSWCD Natural Resource Education Specialist

Hydroponics in Anchorage and Racing to Build a Grow Tower
​By Leah Shaffer, FSWCD VISTA '19-20

We headed out to Alaska Seeds of Change where we were met by Sara Renard, the AKSoC staff coordinator. We stopped to discuss the successes and challenges of both AKSoC and the project I am working on, the Fairbanks Urban Hydroponic Farm (FUHF), and offered each other advice on methods of best practice.

With power drills out and at the ready, instruction packets in hand, and disassembled buckets, pipes, and screws scattered around the floor we were given a challenge: build the tower in 1.5 hours, beat the previous workshop’s record and someone will get to take the grow tower home. With our deadline looming in the near future, we rushed into action, naturally splitting into groups to tackle different aspects of the tower. I got to work helping with the sump basin, which is the foundation of the tower and holds all the water. ​