Farm Crew – Dickinson College Organic Farm

Jenn Halpin

Director of the College Farm

Jenn is the Director of the Dickinson College Farm. After graduating from Providence College, she joined the Peace Corps where she developed her interest in sustainable agriculture while living in West Africa and working with farmers. As the farm manager, Jenn provides students with hands-on training in sustainable food production and supports faculty and students with on-going research, class-based collaborations and internships.

Jenn served as the President of the Board of Directors for Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA). She is an active member in our regional local food movement and founding member of Farmers on the Square, a vibrant producer-only farmers’ market in Carlisle.

Matt Steiman

Livestock and Special Projects Manager

Matt has been farming organic vegetables since 1993, working on farms in Colorado, California and Minnesota before settling in the Cumberland Valley. For five seasons, Matt managed Fulton Farm at Wilson College where he learned the ropes of running an educational CSA program, and also developed initial experience with renewable energy systems. Matt and Jenn then ran their own farm on rented ground for two seasons before signing on as the full-time farmers at Dickinson College in 2007. In addition to regular farm duties at the Dickinson Farm, Matt supervises equipment maintenance, irrigation, sheep and cattle, and also works extensively with solar energy projects and biodiesel fuel applications for the College.

Alex Smith

Vegetable Production Manager

Alex is a graduate of Dickinson College as well as the College Farm Apprenticeship Program. After yurt livin’, Alex went on to further cultivate his passion for agriculture that produces high quality food, builds the community, improves the farm ecosystem, and is economically competitive. He continued his farm education at a number of well respected production farms in south central PA before starting his own farm enterprise serving his hometown of Baltimore with fresh produce.

In his spare time, Alex can usually be found outside with his wife, Courtney, and his two year old boy, George. Alex and Courtney are expecting the arrival of a new farm kid this spring.

Cheri Getty

Packing House Coordinator

Cheri is whipping the lower barn into shape and adding her great energy to the farm team. Having taught fitness classes at Dickinson for over a decade, some of you might already know Cheri – or have had a class with her! Before coming to Carlisle in 2008, Cheri and her family lived in D.C. though she is originally from the Finger Lakes region in New York. Cheri has two daughters, Maddy -17 and Sofia -19 plus two pups that keep her on the move. When she is not washing, packing, or preserving vegetables at the College Farm, Cheri likes to stay active working out at the gym and trying new fitness regimes like pole fitness.

Joe Rosas

Farm Works Kitchen Manager

Joe’s journey to the Farm Works kitchen has been anything but linear. After graduating cartooning school, Joe spent 15 years working for Marvel Comics and around the early 2000s, pivoted into a Product Assistant role in MBI. Joe and his wife moved to Carlisle in 2009 when his wife took up a teaching position at Dickinson. Joe worked at Amazon for 10 years before making another career transition – this time, to the kitchen. Joe was a chef at the Vegetable Hunter for a year before joining us at Farm Works. Despite the recent change, Joe has extensive kitchen and restaurant experience, having had worked in many since high school. In this role, Joe’s transformed passion to profession and is excited for the journey ahead.

When he’s not in the kitchen, you can find Joe painting, building furniture, or gardening.

Mary Silva

Administrative Assistant

Mary joined the Farm Staff in July 2019 after 10 years with Dickinson College in the Student Life Department as the Senate Bookkeeper. In administering support to CSA, GATHER events, Gift Box sales, meeting set ups, farm finances and general office details, she is amazed by the multitude of activities and is thrilled to be part of this vibrant farm team. Mary is a native of Carlisle who loves the outdoors, traveling, league tennis and spending time with her family. Being “Mom” to her four grown children is her favorite past time.

Sam Prisco

Education and Outreach Coordinator

Sam started her agricultural journey at birth; born into a family with a passion for agriculture. She grew up surrounded by animals on her parent’s hobby farm and immersed herself in ag-related jobs starting in high school. Sam became interested in teaching about agriculture when she took a job giving tours on a large- scale goat and sheep creamery. Sam attended Delaware Valley University where she majored in Animal Science and minored in Agri-business. After graduation she managed a sheep farm, while working on her homesteading journey on her own farm. In her spare time you can usually find her with a smile on her face, reading a farm-related book and hanging out with her animals. She’s excited to bring her passion of animals and agriculture to the Dickinson College Farm.