Dr. Erin Silva
The director of the OGRAIN program is Dr. Erin Silva. She is a professor of Organic and Sustainable Cropping Systems, director of the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems, a member of the Wisconsin Organic Advisory Council, and Clif Bar Endowed Chair in Organic Agriculture and Outreach at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She also runs the Organic and Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension program at UW-Madison.
Contact: emsilva@wisc.edu, 608-890-1503
Kelly Debbink
Kelly arrived in the role of outreach specialist for the OGRAIN program at UW Madison following a master’s degree in plant pathology. She organizes OGRAIN field days and the annual winter conference. Kelly also works to connect OGRAIN with Midwest TOPP, the Transition to Organic Partnership Program, a coalition working together to build a stronger, better connected support structure for transitioning and existing organic producers.
Fun Fact: Kelly spent several years hiking and camping in the Mojave Desert for work as a desert tortoise biologist before returning to school and joining OGRAIN.
Contact: kelly.debbink@wisc.edu, 608-262-4592