board of directors
Meet Our Leadership Team
Guidance Driven by Expertise and Passion
Our Board of Directors is composed of committed individuals who bring diverse skills and deep dedication to guiding Cultivating Connections Montana. They are pivotal in shaping our strategic direction, ensuring that we continue to thrive and expand our impact in the community. Their collective expertise in agriculture, education, and nonprofit management helps us to innovate and stay true to our mission of building community through food.
Mary Blankenbaker
Mary Garber
DePere, Wisconsin, a suburb of Green Bay, has been our home for 45 years. My husband, Richard, is retired from the paper industry, and I am a retired educator from the DePere School District. My favorite retirement activities include traveling, reading, and crafting. Our daughter, Laura, is the co-owner of Homestead Organics Farm along with her husband, Henry Wuensche. We have been visiting over the years and love the Bitterroot Valley and the Hamilton area. Their farm has been a wonderful place to spend our time especially during the summer months learning and helping to plant, tend and harvest the abundance of food. It would be hard to name a favorite food, but anything Italian comes immediately to mind and the garlic from the farm. We have been privileged to witness the growth of Cultivating Connections MT as it reaches into the community to help others connect through food.
Ricardo Castillo-Flores
My name is Ricardo Castillo-Flores, and I am based out of Portland, Oregon. I grew up harvesting fruit at multiple farms in Oregon. I graduated from Willamette University with my MBA in 2020. I have experienced working for nonprofits and businesses in customer service, sales, and marketing in multiple industries. I currently work for Oregon Health & Science University as a Recruitment Marketing Specialist. Cultivating Connections has a positive impact on the people of Hamilton. The organization’s sustainable organic farming practices interest me and align with my personal values. I have volunteered at cultivating connections in the past and enjoy helping out the organization.
Samir Singh
Finn Belanger
My name is Finn and I grew up in the Bitterroot Valley. My interest in ecology and agriculture led me to become a Cultivating Connections youth intern throughout my high school years. While there I became passionate about sustainable farming, the process of providing locally-sourced food to our community, and sharing that knowledge with others. After graduating I moved to New York for college but continued to work at the Cultivating Connections farm during my summer and winter breaks. I now live in Brooklyn where I work part time as a baker and a garden designer, and am thrilled that I can still be involved with CCMT from afar! My favorite vegetable is a beet.
Kate Naughter
Jennifer Holmes
Caleb Pernsteiner
I’m Caleb Pernsteiner, graduated and eldest of family of six. I have lived in the Bitterroot Valley my whole life. I am currently the lead framer at Cassens Fine Art, located in downtown Hamilton. In my spare time, I am usually very active, whether that’s soccer, frisbee, volleyball, skiing, hockey, or rock climbing. My favorite vegetables are eggplant or spinach, especially when made into Eggplant Parmesan or a Spinach Salad. I started gardening with my mother and have always liked it. Later, I began working at local farms. Working at Cultivating Connections was by far my favorite farm to work at and I always enjoyed working with the fellow farmers. After working for a summer for CCMT, I was asked to join the board and given a great opportunity to help further the farm.
cultivating connections montana
Connect with Our Leaders
Interested in reaching out to our Board of Directors? Click here to visit our Contact Page where you can find all the necessary details to connect with our leadership team directly. They are eager to hear from you!
