Each month, we feature two of our staff members as a way for you to get to know the good folks who make up our community. This month, we're featuring assistant farm team manager, Natana Roots, and director of philanthropy, Elodie Lee.
Natana Roots (she/her)
Assistant Farm Team Manager
Natana was drawn to her role as Assistant Farm Manager at Gould Farm in 2019 due to her passion for community and agriculture. Growing up in the area, she was familiar with the Farm from a young age, as her late father was friends with Bob Rausch, a longtime staff member at the Farm. This early awareness, combined with her extensive background in farming and education, made Gould Farm a natural fit.
With nearly 15 years of experience in farming and farm-based experiential education, Natana has raised sheep, pigs, and poultry, worked in vegetable production, and contributed to various nonprofit farms. These organizations focused on sustainable food systems, providing educational programs for both children and adults. She also served as Operations & Membership Director for the National Young Farmers Coalition, an advocacy organization working to shift power and change policy to equitably resource the new generation of working farmers.
As the Assistant Farm Manager, Natana finds great meaning in the shared purpose of stewarding the land and nourishing the community through the food we produce. She believes that working in nature alongside animals can be transformative. Animals, she believes, can read energy and demand honesty, sensitivity, flexibility, patience, and trust, teaching those who care for them how to nurture themselves.
Natana holds a Bachelor of Arts from Bard College at Simon’s Rock, where she studied visual arts and social sciences. She has also pursued extensive professional development in pasture and grazing management and animal herd health. When she’s not taking care of 30 cows, 2 sheep, and 2 dogs, Natana can be found riding horses, both in the ring and on the trail.
Elodie Lee (she/her)
Director of Philanthropy
Elodie Lee rejoined the Farm in July 2024 as our Director of Philanthropy. With over a decade of experience in fundraising, Elodie is dedicated to fostering a culture of generosity to meet our community's most pressing needs. Her approach, rooted in care and radical hospitality, focuses on building transformational relationships that ensure our efforts are bold, authentic, and impactful. Elodie’s energy is dedicated to creating connections among individuals and within the community, reinforcing the sense of unity and support central to Gould Farm's mission. (You can read Elodie's longer welcome announcement here.)
Elodie’s journey with Gould Farm began in 2009 as an AmeriCorps volunteer in the kitchen. She later served as a staff member on the Residential Team and as Activities Coordinator until 2012. During this time, she organized community events that fostered a sense of belonging among guests and staff. In the 12 years since, she has focused on fundraising for basic needs, housing, and solutions to homelessness in Minneapolis, MN. At Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative, where she worked for nine years, she significantly increased donor engagement and completed an $11.1 million comprehensive campaign as one of her final projects.
Elodie is a graduate of Bethel University with a bachelor's degree in psychology and serves as a board trustee for the American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis. She aims to expand Gould Farm’s donor community, develop innovative fundraising strategies, and enhance community engagement through inclusive initiatives. Elodie envisions a future where Gould Farm’s impact is amplified, inspiring greater generosity and support from a broadening network of donors and advocates.
In her free time, Elodie enjoys growing, preparing, and sharing food with loved ones and participating in her local cookbook club.
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