Our Staff & Board
The Youth Garden Project relies on a team of people to carry out our programs & events, grow the garden, and achieve our mission. The core of this team includes five full-time staff members, one AmeriCorps State member, seasonal programs instructors, our high school summer Seed Crew members, and dedicated volunteers serving as our Board of Directors. Find out our more about the staff and board of YGP below.
Interested in joining our team? Check for job openings.
Meet Our Staff
Emily
Executive Director
Emily has been Executive Director of YGP since Fall 2021, after having first spent a season as a garden intern and then two years in the Outreach & Development Coordinator role. Emily sees the garden as an invaluable asset to the Moab community. She’s excited to continue developing YGP as a place where people of all ages can learn new skills and foster meaningful relationships to their local environment, the food system, and with each other.
Contact:
emily@youthgardenproject.org
Katie
Youth Programs Director
Katie joined the Youth Garden Project team in Winter of 2024 as the Youth Program Director. Having spent a few seasons in Moab before, she is very excited to be back and working alongside the Moab community! Katie values community connections and spaces. She believes gardens are wonderful places to bring people together all while having fun, learning, and caring for the earth and ourselves!
Contact:
katie@youthgardenproject.org
Jessie
Outreach & Development Coordinator
Jessie first joined YGP as an AmeriCorps VISTA member from 2020-2021, and returned as Outreach & Development Coordinator in January 2022. She’s passionate about fostering connections between YGP, the Moab community, and the natural world.
Contact:
jessie@youthgardenproject.org
Sarah
Produce Manager
Sarah first joined YGP as a Farm Intern in 2020. She returned the following season as YGP’s Produce Manager. Sarah sees local food as a valuable tool in nourishing our community’s health and resiliency.
Contact:
sarah@youthgardenproject.org
Ben
Farm Manager
Ben moved to Moab to be YGP’s Farm Manager in winter 2022. Ben is ready to put down roots here to grow a community and explore all that Moab has to offer. He is looking forward to getting his hands in the dirt and sharing his passion for nature with all.
Contact:
ben@youthgardenproject.org
Meet Our 2025 Seasonal Team
Jade
Community Garden Development AmeriCorps VISTA
Jade moved to Moab and joined YGP as an Americorps VISTA member in January 2025 to work on developing the Moab Community Gardens project. Jade cherishes her childhood memories growing food in her backyard garden. With a passion for plant science and connecting people to nature, she is excited to see how the program can grow over her year-long term with us!
Contact:
jade@youthgardenproject.org
Cali
2025 Full Season Youth Programs Instructor
Cali is happy to be back for a second season of teaching at YGP! They love working in outdoor education and are excited to spend more time with Moab’s youth getting to know our desert ecosystems. Cali is passionate about using the garden as a tool for community building and is looking forward to growing more food for youth programs this year!
Contact:
cali@youthgardenproject.org
Caty
2025 Full Season Youth Programs Instructor
Caty moved back to Moab and joined YGP as an Instructor in March 2025. Having spent several seasons in Moab she is excited to become directly involved in the community through learning and growing as a teacher with a focus on food systems. With her educational background in science, passion for plants and connecting people to the natural world she is excited to apply her experiences and contribute to the vision of Youth Garden Project.
Contact:
caty@youthgardenproject.org
Meet Our Board of Directors
Desiree Westfall
Chair
Physician Assistant, Moab Regional Hospital
Anne Clare Erickson
Vice Chair
Sales Director, Retired
Tim Graham
Insect Ecologist
Jerry Shue
Educator and Information Specialist, Retired
Joyce Marienfeld
School Counselor, Retired
Laura Harris
Development Specialist, Housing Authority of Southeastern Utah
Ann Marie Aubry
Hydrologist & Gardening Enthusiast
Pam Sauvageot
Program Manager, Biogen Global Biotechnology / Pharmaceutical