Harvest Day Speaker Information

Matthew Ampersand, finder/founder find out farms and Community Fruit

Matthew Ampersand suffers from insatiable curiosity. With a background in informal education and a passion for ecology, food, and community, he founded find out farms, where he curates educational programming and runs a native plant nursery.  He produces events around food and ecology, maintains dozens of native plant gardens around Sacramento County, runs Community Fruit, an urban gleaning program, and gets easily distracted trying to identify insects.

Rachel Davis, UCD GATEways Horticulturalist

Rachel started her career in habitat restoration with the National Park Service and US Fish and Wildlife but has spent most of her career at the University of California in Santa Barbara and Davis. She is a senior horticulturist for Climate-Ready Gardening initiatives with the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden and mentors the Habitat Horticulture Learning by Leading™ team. 

Jon Kupkowski, Beginning Farmer Training Program Manager, Center for Land-Based Learning

Jon Kupkowski supports adults transitioning into farming careers through his work at the Center for Land-Based Learning in Woodland, where he provides hands-on training and guidance across all aspects of farming. He also runs The ReFarmery, a mixed vegetable and flower farm in north Sacramento County, bringing real-world experience into his teaching.