If Someone Is Doing It,
It Must Be Possible
Our Founding Members
Paul Maggio
LEADER & FARM OWNER - Starry Nights Farm is a 140-acre, certified organic, certified animal welfare-approved, perennial rotational grazing farm. We raise, beef, pigs, chicken and bees and we have a small orchard. We sell directly to the consumer and offer agrotourism with farm stays where families can experience rural and farm life and learn about rotational grazing and regenerative agriculture. Learn more at www.starrynightsfarm.com.
Randy Ebertowski
FARM OWNER - Farm Fresh at Fox River is a roughly 100 acres supporting Angus grass-fed beef, pasture-raised hogs, corn and soybeans. Production practices include Silvopasture, rotational grazing and grass-fed/finished cows. Learn more at the Farm Fresh at Fox River website.
Drew Thelen
FARM OWNER - A small-scale farm raising organically-fed pigs and chickens on rotated, fresh pastures. Interest in joining the group came from the desire to learn more about using regenerative practices, rotational grazing, and integrating biodiversity to protect local watershed health.
Iris Lee
FARM OWNER - 34-acres of leased farmland growing hay and cover crop for animal feed. Future plans include rotationally grazing goats, sheep and poultry. Interest in founding this group came from learning about conditions concerning watershed health and how to use best practices to conserve and minimize runoff from my land.
Mark Bearce
FARM OWNER - Grass-fed cow-calf-to-finish operation on ~80 acres of perennial pasture consisting of grasses, and legumes and 30 acres of grass hay fields harvested for forage. Currently, 45 cows, yearlings and calves are rotationally grazed in an open paddock system. Group participation will offer learning opportunities to enhance soil health, water retention and seasonal pasture resilience through the introduction of diverse plant species via interseeding and/or frost-seeding techniques.
Jim & Jessica Sorensen
FARM OWNER - Sorensen Angus Farm is a 39-acre farm comprised of 23 acres of hay, 5 acres of corn and 7 acres of pasture where we grow most of our own feed. Animal residents include 18 head Black Angus cattle and 7 Boer goats. Through this group, we hope to meet local farmers to share techniques and best practices, while helping to educate our community on regenerative farming benefits.
Kirsten Jurcek
RESOURCE CONSERVATIONIST
Kirsten has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. She has broad experience in environmental sciences, regenerative agricultural production and public education. She worked as a hydrologist, the sole proprietor of an organic feed mill and currently manages her family’s farm. She is also a Resource Conservationist for Glacierland RC&D. In her conservation work, Kirsten has vast on-farm conservation planning and educational outreach experience. She serves on the boards of GrassWorks, The Rock River Coalition and the Food Animal Concern Trust. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and enjoying wonderful food together.
Our Founding Collaborators
Mark Jenks
COUNTY CONSERVATIONIST
Mark is the County Conservationist for the Kenosha County Division of Planning and Development. After over 30 years in conservation, he enjoys helping people find solutions to natural resource-related problems on their properties, large or small. He received his undergraduate training in biology and conservation at Carthage College and completed a master’s degree in water resources management at UW-Madison. He also has his teaching certification from the State of Wisconsin. In his free time, he enjoys hunting, fishing, camping and paddling his canoe down quiet streams or in the Boundary Waters.
Dave Giordano
WATERSHED COMMUNICATIONS
Dave is the current Executive Director and former board member of Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network (WIN) with a goal of leading organizational communications, fundraising and operations to connect partnerships with restoration projects that improve water quality. With a background in marketing and non-profit work through various organizations including Trout Unlimited, Safe & Sound and the Kenosha Sport Fishing and Conservation Association, I hope to assist the Kenosha Producers Group in growing their presence and funding availability so they can continue their important work of feeding the community while safeguarding critical freshwater resources.
Current Founders, Members and Collaborators
(in alphabetical order): Dave Giordano, Drew Thelen, Iris Lee, Jim Sorensen, Joe Wiltjer, Kirsten Jurek, Marisa Wiewall-Maggio, Mark Bearce, Mark Jenks, Mynesha Holliday, Paul Maggio, Randy Ebertowski, Sarah Lloyd, Susan Ludwig, Wenona Harry