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Annie Kiessel
LIVESTOCK, ANNUALS GARDENS, FOOD FORESTS, CUT FLOWERS
Annie is part of the 5th generation of her family to live at the farm. After attending college for a few years and gaining an extensive background in science, she decided to return home to realize her lifelong dream of being a farmer and revitalize the old farm. With one year of farming under her belt, she is excited to continue on this journey of learning, patience, and hard work! She enjoys gardening, cooking, being outside, and spending time with her animals.
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Jesus Ledesma
CONSTRUCTION, PROJECT MANAGENT
Jesus grew up in Leelanau County and is Annie’s partner of 5 years. He recently completed a bachelors degree in political science from the University of Michigan, and is excited to use it to improve social justice, community, and quality of life in Leelanau County. Jesus enjoys construction and woodworking projects, swimming, spending time with the dogs, music, and running.
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Christa Kiessel
BARN RESTORATION, RE-WILDING, DESIGN
Christa is part of the 4th generation of our family to live at the farm. She has always been passionate about gardening, the history of the old farm, and especially sheep. As a result of this passion, Christa kept Rolling View going as a hobby farm during the 2000s and 2010s. She planted bushes, trees, and perennials that form the backbone of our project today, and kept animals that fed our soil and kept weeds in check. In 2021, inspired by reading the work of indigenous writers, she decided to begin the reforestation project. With a desire to heal the land in a way that would last long after she was gone, she began to plant hundreds of native trees and bushes. It was this initial reforestation effort that inspired us to form an even deeper relationship with the land and venture to feed ourselves and others with the ecosystem we would create. Christa enjoys sustainable and architectural design projects, travel, and cultivating native plants and perennials. She especially loves to grow dahlias.