Board Service Brings Rewards

Helen Skiba, South and Central Regional Director

Why did you decide on board membership?
Since I joined the association, I’ve always admired and respected the folks who have served as my regional director and the executive board members. They were always farmers of integrity, doing great work on their own farms and working even more to help the rest of us succeed, and I wanted to continue that mission and tradition. I’ve been part of my local young farmers’ group for years, and I knew that joining as a board member would help me bring lessons of organization to my smaller, more immediate community. I knew I could represent the needs of our region and climate to inform what the ASCFG was offering to members.

What has been most rewarding or surprising for you?
Coming fresh off my very first in-person board meeting, I am so struck by the clarity, kindness, and respectfulness each of our board members show to one another. Our meeting was productive because they were amazing listeners and carefully and thoughtfully articulated their opinions. It was remarkable to be in a room with 15 people who had so many skills and so much experience. We are so fortunate to have this organization in our country, working carefully and forcefully to improve the businesses and visibility of cut flower growers in the agricultural landscape. Our association strongly legitimizes each of our farms as part of a greater group and movement of folks working together—it’s powerful!

Michelle Elston, Treasurer

What did you hope or expect to gain from the experience?
I hoped to gain deeper relationships with my cut-flower-farmer peers and more connections in our industry. This has by far exceeded my hopes. I have learned so much from these role models and amazing humans. I have made deep friendships. I have grown in my knowledge of the industry. I have grown professionally and personally. I feel connected to something much larger than my little farm and little life. 

What has been most rewarding or surprising for you?
Most surprising is the time commitment. It is worth every wildly-rewarding minute, but it is not to be taken lightly. Most rewarding is the opportunity to think big thoughts and dream big things about our domestic cut flower industry. 

Sarah Kistner, Canada Regional Director

What spurred you to put your name forward as a candidate?
One of the reasons I stepped forward was to be part of a team. As is the case for most of us, I often work independently, and serving on the board felt like an opportunity to be part of something bigger and to work with a group of people who are all passionate about growing flowers and helping support the community of people surrounding that. 

What has been most rewarding or surprising for you?
The most rewarding part of serving on the board is working with a group of inspiring, hard-working people who all share the same goal of serving our community of growers. And to have the opportunity to help guide and grow the organization to help support as many people as possible along their farming journey. 

Niki Irving, Southeast Regional Director

What spurred you to put your name forward as a candidate? Why did you decide on board membership?
I was encouraged by another member of the board to put my name forward, and that conversation made me realize that the board was truly a representation of “regular” growers like myself. My own farm business was stable enough (finally!), which gave me the bandwidth to commit to something external, outside of the daily operations of my own farm. I had always wanted to be more involved with the ASCFG and make deeper connections – serving on the board felt like the perfect opportunity. 

What did you hope or expect to gain from the experience?
I hoped to gain a deeper understanding of how the organization operates, to better understand the cut flower industry, to make deeper connections with the flower-growing community, and to help ensure that the organization continues to grow and change with our rapidly expanding industry. I can say with absolute certainty that serving on the board checks all of these boxes and more!

What has been most rewarding or surprising for you?
The most rewarding aspect has been the friendships I’ve made and strengthened while serving on the board. While my main goal is to serve the organization and our membership, I have also gained extremely valuable insights and information to apply to my own farm through conversations with our members and other board members. Operating a small farm can feel isolating at times, and I feel like my connection to our industry and community has been solidified. 

Hillary Alger, Industry Liaison

What spurred you to put your name forward as a candidate?
The ASCFG is the most respected and relied upon organization for advancing and supporting our community. It’s an honor to have the opportunity to play a supporting role.

What did you hope or expect to gain from the experience?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   I hoped to give back and offer support to our community in a more meaningful way.

What has been most rewarding or surprising for you?
The most surprising thing was how much fun it is to be part of this great team.

Jenny Marks, Northeast Regional Director

What spurred you to put your name forward as a candidate?
The ASCFG truly helped me create a business that I love, and I know I could not have made the progress I did without this organization. Knowing how much value I received made me want to learn more about how the ASCFG works to support its members and the cut flower industry as a whole. I am passionate about helping other growers succeed at farming for a living, and I thought there could be no better way to help other flower growers than by joining the organization that does it better than anyone else!

Why did you decide on board membership?
I decided on board membership because I was excited about being a part of the conversation that fuels the forward progress of the cut flower industry. I am also keen on seeing the U.S. local cut flower market grow. Knowing all the work that the ASCFG is doing to help support growers and the industry as a whole is an exciting thing I want to be a part of. 

What did you hope or expect to gain from the experience?
I hoped to be able to be a part of the conversations that helped support other flower growers as the industry morphs, changes, and grows. There’s no doubt that there has been a huge uptick in interest in cut flower farming, and I wanted to help support growers and help steer the direction in a positive way. Serving on the board has rewarded me with so many meaningful conversations and has helped me learn so much more about our industry as a whole. 

What has been most rewarding or surprising for you?
The most rewarding part of serving as a board member has been getting to connect with more flower farmers and industry supporters than I ever thought possible! The relationships I’ve formed through being a board member have been joyous and so valuable. I am learning so much from not only the other board members but also from all of the ASCFG members I have been meeting along the way! It’s truly invigorating to have conversations with other “flower people” who “just get it.” This is yet another reason why the ASCFG is so valuable.