Staff

Erica Blair, Program Manager

Erica Blair is an Extension Specialist with K-State Research and Extension and a Program Manager for both the Rural Grocery Initiative and Kansas Healthy Food Initiative. In this role, she develops educational programming and networking opportunities for grocers, researches and elevates innovative models for sustainably operating grocery stores, and works one-on-one with communities to support the planning and operation of rural grocery stores for improved food access. Erica earned her B.F.A. in Intermedia and Certificate in Sustainability from the University of Iowa, and her M.S. in Environmental Policy from the University of Michigan. Other food systems experience includes conducting research on cover crop adoption in the Midwest, working on a diverse vegetable farm, and organizing campaigns with local communities to support sustainable agriculture.

Rial Carver, Program Leader

Rial Carver is a Rural Grocery Extension Specialist with K-State Research and Extension. Rial earned her Master of Regional and Community Planning from Kansas State University in 2019. Prior to moving to Kansas, Rial worked as the Sustainability Coordinator at Virginia Tech Dining Services where she increased local food sourcing, implemented composting initiatives, and initiated a reusable to-go container program. She received a B.S. in Environmental Policy and Planning with a minor in Civic Agriculture and Food Systems from Virginia Tech. Rial and her husband enjoy exploring the great outdoors with their pup, Cora, and gardening at the Manhattan Community Gardens. Rial has worked with the RGI team in various capacities since 2017.

Clara Misenhelter, Program Manager

Clara Misenhelter is a Program Manager for the Rural Grocery Initiative. Clara, a Truman and Marshall Scholar, earned her Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from the University of Reading and her Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Kansas State University. She has a passion for promoting local foods, supporting food security, and increasing healthy food access. Prior to joining the Rural Grocery Initiative, Clara was a Nutrition, Food and Health Extension Agent covering four counties in southeast Kansas for two and a half years. Clara is trained in facilitation and food systems leadership, and has had a wide range of food systems experiences.

Jenny Doty, Food Systems Entrepreneurial Resource Navigator

Jenny Doty is a Food Systems Entrepreneurial Resource Navigator for the Rural Grocery Initiative and Heartland Regional Food Business Center. Jenny attended Kansas State University earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Horticultural Therapy. After graduation she worked as a horticultural therapist with dementia patients at a long-term care facility. She transitioned to being a Recreation Supervisor with the City of Lenexa. In her time there she started many programs including the farmers market, managed multiple community gardens and served on the Johnson County Food Policy Council. During her spare time she teaches sustainable ag classes including Value Added Food Production. Jenny has a passion for connecting food businesses to the right resources and especially enjoys making introductions for mentoring to take place between producers.

Carly Whorton, Project Consultant

Carly Whorton is a part-time Project Consultant with the Rural Grocery Initiative. Carly earned her Master of Agribusiness from Kansas State University in 2011. Prior to that, she earned a Bachelor's in Agricultural Economics, also from KSU, in 2009. After school, Carly spent 5.5 years in Dallas, Texas, working for a software company where she earned her certification as a Project Management Professional. In 2017, she joined forces with her cousin and opened Cecil K's Hometown Market in Holton, Kansas, in February 2018. Carly has served in a grocery consulting capacity since 2021 and opened their 2^nd store, Westmoreland Hometown Market, in December 2022. Carly enjoys discovering new ways to combine her passions for communications, education, and nourishing those around her. Carly joined the RGI team in 2022 to lead our Rural Grocery Transition Specialist project.

Samuel Baumer, Graduate Research Assistant

Samuel Baumer is a sociology graduate student with an emphasis in agricultural and environmental sociology. He works on the Local Sourcing Innovation Research Project with the Rural Grocery Initiative. He aspires to be a subsistence farmer and promote social and environmental justice through subsistence initiatives. His graduate research explores how the religious/spiritual morality of farmers shapes their farming practices.

Ashlynn Hartman, Undergraduate Student Assistant

Ashlynn Hartman is a part-time student worker for the Rural Grocery Initiative. Ashlynn is an undergraduate at Kansas State University studying Agronomy, Agricultural Economics, and Global Food Systems Leadership. Upon graduating from Kansas State, she plans to pursue a career as an agronomist and eventually find a role in agricultural policy. Ashlynn grew up on a grain farm in southeast Nebraska and has been heavily involved in the agriculture industry her whole life. Her interests include protecting family farms, aiding rural communities, and helping advance the future of agriculture.

Jacob Miller-Klugesherz, Graduate Research Assistant

Jacob, a sociology PhD student, has been a research assistant for RGI since September 2022. He works on case studies, the 2021 Kansas rural grocery survey, data cleaning and analysis for a community survey, and grocers sourcing local producers. Personal website

David E. Procter

Chandra Ruthstrom