Amy Tavalin is owner of Tavalin Tails Farm, the Executive Director of the Pick TN Conference and the Executive Director of the Franklin Farmers Market. After graduating with a master degree in Education from the University of TN, Amy taught middle school Language Arts for 12 years in Maryland before returning home to TN to live on the farm. Amy has been involved in Agriculture her whole life. She served as the Marketing Specialist at the TN Department of Agriculture for CSA’s, Farmers Markets and Organics. She and her husband, Brandon Tavalin, raise Katahdin sheep and Angus beef cows on Tavalin Tails Farm in College Grove, TN.

Originally from Jackson, Tennessee, Reggie grew up on a small farm where his family raised hogs, chickens, and vegetables, and where his love for farming began. He later earned degrees in Animal Science and Nursing from Tennessee State University. He spent 15 years as an ICU nurse before retiring in 2020 as House Supervisor for St. Thomas Hospital. In 2015, Reggie attended the New Farmers Academy at Tennessee State University, where he gained land access to start the beginnings of his vegetable business. With a dream of bringing healthy and nutritious foods to my community, Reggie launched Reggie's Veggies, a small urban farm in Antioch, TN growing herbicide and pesticide free produce. Reggie serves as the president of the Fruit and Vegetable Association for Tennessee, and in 2017, he was recognized as the National Lloyd Wright Small Farmer of the Year through the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Dr. Dilip Nandwani is a professor in the College of Agriculture and Environmental Studies at Tennessee State University where he leads the Organic Agriculture program. Dr. Nandwani is an accomplished scientist, extension educator, mentor and teacher with 103 publications and two books in plant and horticultural sciences, Certified Professional Horticulturist (ASHS), and professional experience with Land Grant institutions for two decades. He is a significant contributor in international development with a broad range of skills applicable to innovating in agriculture for marginalized farmers.

After three years managing clean water projects in East and Southern Africa, Emma left her job to pursue a long-held passion of working in local food systems. This journey led her to participate in farm work exchanges in six different countries, and then to work on diversified vegetable farms across New York. In early 2022, she moved to the South with her partner and began her current role with the Southeast Tennessee chapter of the National Young Farmers Coalition (a Patagonia Nashville grantee), where she works to support young and beginning farmers through resource- and knowledge-sharing and state-level advocacy. In line with this mission, the chapter hosts monthly community-building events, supports a soil carbon project among area farmers, and is working with state legislators on policy to strengthen land access for first-generation farmers.

Emma holds a BA in International Development Studies and Sustainability from George Washington University. She currently serves in a variety of roles, working with Gaining Ground - a local-sourcing grocer in Chattanooga and Rising Fawn Gardens - a medicinal herb farm in North Georgia, in addition to her work with Young Farmers.

Natalie Ashker Seevers is the Executive Director of Tennessee Local Food, a nonprofit that hosts events to support, educate, and connect the Middle Tennessee food community. She is a mother, gardener, and community organizer. Natalie has seven years experience working as a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) and Marketing Manager for The Barefoot Farmer and Caney Fork Farms. Natalie is the host/co-producer of Agrarian Trust’s podcast Commons Groundswell and serves on the board of Sweet Radish, a nonprofit working to make Nashville more food secure.

We support a healthy local food system for Middle Tennessee by hosting events that educate and connect. We promote food sovereignty through educational empowerment and provide the collaborative space necessary to develop a resilient local food economy.

@tnlocalfood

The Nashville Food Project was born from the idea that ALL people should have access to the food they want and need. We know that one in seven people in Nashville lacks access to enough food to sustain a healthy lifestyle. But we also know that more than 40% of all the food in our city goes to waste. Solutions to hunger take much more than simple handouts. Poverty, unemployment, low wages and escalating housing costs all contribute to the challenges that the most vulnerable residents of our city face.

@thenashvillefoodproject

As a Nashville brewery, we strive to better the community in which we exist. This includes providing quality jobs and creating new agricultural economies. We are committed to using our brewery as a place for the people of Nashville to gather and grow together.

Beer is a key element to the community, conversation and the shared table we are creating. While our product is fresh, high-quality beer, it must become something more. As a craft brewery, we believe our product can be used to bring people together in a world that so often strives to break us apart.

@hardinghousebrew

Maypop is Nashville’s first and only locally-made, small batch, alcohol-free sparkling water made with real fruit juice.

We source and double carbon filter all of our water locally and our fruit comes from ethical vendors that we know and trust. Every ounce of Maypop is carbonated and packaged in Nashville, so you know we’ve made it with neighborly love.

@maypopwater

Compost Nashville is Nashville’s residential and commercial organic waste collection service. We began in April 2014 and have grown to service more than 1,800 homes, restaurants, coffee shops, and offices. We have diverted over six million pounds of compostable material from landfills, and donate finished compost to local farms and gardens twice a year. Our mission? "Grow Food Not Landfills."

@compostnashville