Reserve your FREE TICKETS to our 5th Annual Sheep Shearing Shindig on May 9th!
About City Farm SLO
Our mission is to empower the next generation to live healthier, more prosperous lives through sustainable agriculture and farm-based education.
What we do:
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Promote health, success, and environmental stewardship through farm-based education, especially for at-risk and under-served youth
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Model regenerative and sustainable agricultural practices, seeking to improve the long-term health and productivity of farm land.
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Strengthen our food system by providing affordable land to enable sustainable small farms.
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Foster a community of people from diverse ethnic, racial, and socio-economic backgrounds who come together around food and farming.
City Farm SLO is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
History
Starting in 1994, the City of SLO aimed to preserve 180 acres of prime farmland, leading to the creation of the Calle Joaquin Agricultural Reserve. Over the years, various initiatives transformed this land into a hub for sustainable agriculture, education, and community engagement.
Meet the Team
Meet the dedicated people that make our work possible.
Leading Staff
Kayla Rutland
Executive Director
Kayla moved to San Luis Obispo County in 2017 and quickly immersed herself in community service, eventually becoming Executive Director of City Farm SLO in 2021. With a background in public health and nonprofit management, she is dedicated to fostering community health and climate resilience through food education and access. Her daily work aligns with her passion to connect people with the sources of their food, a mission she pursues with gratitude.
Shane Lovell
Strategic Farm Advisor
Shane started his career in furniture design, a creatively fulfilling path that eventually led him to explore his passion for gardening, natural ecology, and regenerative agriculture. Transitioning into farming in 2019 at City Farm, he began as a volunteer before quickly rising to Site Manager and later becoming Farm Manager in 2021. His primary goal is to develop systems that foster the harmonious growth of people, ecology, and agriculture.
Kate Ditrani
Farm Operations Coordinator
Born and raised in Cambridge, MA, Kate moved out west to start at UC Davis in 2019. There, she earned a degree in Environmental Science and Management. During a gap period, Kate hiked the Appalachian Trail - a 5 month backpacking trip which clarified her sense of self and passion for community involvement. Kate is excited to pursue her passions in the environmental science field and community work and to delve into her year of service and work on continuing to grow the farm’s volunteer base.
Sequoia Corvin
Farm Education Coordinator
Sequoia brings a deep passion for the outdoors and environmental education. Her journey began with an internship at a nonprofit in Colorado, where she discovered a love for teaching youth about farming and sustainability. With experience in horticulture and outdoor education, including at One Cool Earth, she is dedicated to fostering a love for farming in the community. Having grown up on the Central Coast and in Northern California, Sequoia appreciates the region's rich agricultural potential and is eager to share her knowledge and passion with others.
Kalea Conrad
Youth Empowerment Program Facilitator
Kalea earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Environmental Sciences and Management at Cal Poly, where she researched the history of plastic mulching in California specialty crops. Her work interviewing local growers deepened her passion for soil restoration and sustainable agriculture. She has also worked on waste mitigation and reuse initiatives and is eager to connect students with opportunities in agriculture and environmental sciences. With minors in Anthropology and Sustainable Environments, she values the human side of resource management and environmental education. This summer, she is excited to serve as the YEP coordinator!
Catrina Sada
Community Programs Coordinator
Catrina was born and raised in San Luis Obispo and recently graduated from UCSB with a degree in Environmental Studies. Learning at UCSB and living in a housing cooperative strengthened her belief in the power of community to make transformative change. Living near the ocean and mountains throughout her life has developed her love for the environment. She is excited to combine her passions for community and nature through her role with City Farm SLO.
Clare Beezhold
Regenerative Farming Intern
Photo and Bio coming soon!
Board Members
Gina Ruedebusch
Chair
Gina joined the City Farm Board of Directors in March 2021 after volunteering with the farm for a few months. In her professional career Gina has a background in Sales and Sales Support and is currently the Director of Sales Operations for Mindbody. She relocated to the Central Coast from Ohio in May of 2020 and enjoys all of the things that the area has to offer including hiking, road and trail running, and wine tasting. She's passionate about health and wellness and in particular about helping both adults and children reap the benefits of an active lifestyle, sustained by delicious natural whole foods.
Claire Tuohey-Mote
Secretary
After leaving the food science industry, Claire moved back to the Central Coast and immersed herself in the SLO County food system. After completing her Masters in Sustainable Food Systems, she joined the Slow Money SLO team in 2020. Since then, she has worked to connect local small to mid-sized farmers to regional school districts and continues to work toward building a farm to school program that is robust and sustainable. Claire is passionate about finding food system solutions that bring balance, health, and resilience to the land and community.
Kenneth Trigueiro
Treasurer
Ken was inspired by City Farm SLO's mission after his youngest son participated in the Youth Empowerment Program. He is the CEO and President of People’s Self-Help Housing, a nonprofit affordable housing developer in San Luis Obispo. He is passionate about providing housing for farmworkers, creating community gardens, and promoting youth education programs. A San Luis Obispo native, he holds a degree in Agricultural Business Management from Cal Poly and has worked in the agriculture industry at Cilker Orchards, producing various crops.
Josh Kouri
Board Member
Joshua is a farmer, biologist, and educator from Oklahoma City. His work includes a wide variety of research projects in ecology and conservation biology, as well as hands-on work as a regenerative farmer. He now works with the local Resource Conservation Districts, providing resources for farmers and ranchers working to make their operations more resilient and sustainable. City Farm SLO was the first organization he connected with upon moving to the Central Coast, and after volunteering for several years he joined the Board of Directors in spring 2025. When he's not at work, you can find him enjoying the outdoors with his wife Kayla and their three pups: Moose, Penny, and Clive.
Erin Krier
Board Member
Erin is the Coordinator and Professor of Agriculture at Allan Hancock College. She currently teaches plant science, sustainable agriculture, animal science, agribusiness, introduction to agriculture studies & careers, integrated pest management, and soil science. Erin is responsible for curriculum development, outreach, and the on-campus student farm. She chairs the Academic Quality Committee, Sciences & Technologies Success Team, AHC Agriculture Advisory Committee, and is the faculty advisor for 5 student clubs. Erin serves on local high school FFA advisory committees, is a 4-H club and poultry project leader, and is Vocational Chair for the Rotary Club of Santa Maria.
Steven Marx
Board Member
Steven has been involved with City Farm since 2011. He started serving as Board President and Executive Director in 2016. He has been motivated by the will of City residents to create an urban farm expressed in the General Plan of 1994. He was Professor of English specializing in Shakespeare at Cal Poly from 1988 to 2010. There he developed the Cal Poly Land Project, an interdisciplinary program that brought faculty and students from all Colleges together to produce a course, a book, and a website about the University’s 10,000-acre property. He and his wife, Jan Marx, lived on an old homestead near the coast of British Columbia from 1970 to 1979, where they ran a summer camp.
Ryan Rich
Board Member
Ryan has a degree From the University of Vermont (1995) in Plant And Soil Sciences and has a life long career in organic faming. He co-owns and runs sales and product development for All Good Bodycare with his wife and company founder Caroline Duell. They live in San Luis Obispo county where they operate their own organic farm growing ’satsuma’ mandarins and calendula which is incorporated into most of their body care products.
Megan Widle
Board Member
Megan connected with City Farm SLO in the 2022 as a Regenerative Farming Intern. Inspired by the organization’s mission and the incredible staff, she joined the Board in 2025. Megan currently pursues a Master’s in Agriculture with a specialization in Crop Science at Cal Poly SLO, where she studies soil nitrogen dynamics in organic vegetable cropping systems. Before graduate school, Megan worked with the Coastal San Luis Resource Conservation District, collaborating with local landowners, nonprofits, and other stakeholders on conservation projects. She is passionate about building more sustainable food systems through thoughtful farming, education, and community engagement.
Terry Hicks
Board Member
After more than three decades leading and growing teams in the technology industry, Terry Hicks now focuses on helping others reach their potential through learning and mentorship. He was drawn to City Farm SLO’s work using farm-based education to inspire curiosity, confidence, and connection—helping young people and families live healthier, more meaningful lives.Terry brings a background in leadership, strategy, and innovation to support the organization’s growth and long-term impact. He and his wife, Megan, care for Rancho Toro y Oso in the Los Osos Valley, where they’re learning—often by trial and error—about land stewardship and sustainable practices.
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