Molly Rockamann is a St. Louis native but felt the coastal pull for college and remained in warm tropical climates until she decided her heart was in the heartland and returned to her family’s roots in North St. Louis County. While away, she worked with mushroom producers in Ghana, organic rice farmers in Thailand, veggie farmers in Florida and California, and sugar cane farmers in Fiji. She has a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Eckerd College, a Certificate in Ecological Horticulture from UC-Santa Cruz and a Postgraduate Diploma in Development Studies from the University of the South Pacific. (But the land and other farmers have been her greatest teachers.) Finding inspiration in Caroline Mueller, a life-long organic farmer, she is dedicated to preserving farmland and to celebrating the culture in agriculture. She is proud to be a Ferguson, Missouri, resident, and loves to dance and hula hoop. Molly Rockamann was listed on Mother Nature Network’s ‘40 Farmers Under 40‘ list in 2009, received a 2009 Kick-Ass Award from 52nd City, was named one of 10 Most Dynamic St. Louisans by Ladue News in 2010, and in 2011 was the first recipient of the Young Food Leader category of the Natural Resource Defense Council’s Growing Green Awards. Rockamann feels that her greatest reward is witnessing the transformation that takes place when individuals spend an entire growing season farming in community.