Gail Donkers

Gail Donkers hails from Faribault Minnesota, where her family raises Dorsets and Babydoll Southdown sheep, dairy steers, finishing hogs, and crop farms alfalfa, soybeans and corn.  Gail has 3 grown children that are all a part of the next generation on their farm. With over 40 years of livestock and dairy experience, Gail enjoys teaching others how to care for their livestock and igniting the passion in the next generation of farmers.

Gail’s off the farm job is working for Minnesota Farmers Union where she is the Southeastern MN Membership and Outreach Coordinator. Gail loves her job working with farmers - every day is different!  Gail also serves as Vice Chair of the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council, Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance, The Center of Soy Excellence, is an ambassador for CommonGround, volunteers at the All-American Junior Show, and at 4-H and FFA events.   

Tessa Sadae Parks (she/they) is a first-generation, half Japanese-Filipino farmer who co-owns and operates a beef and certified organic hay operation with her spouse Wyatt (he/him) on 100 percent rented ground in the Northfield area. As part of the Sharing Our Roots Farm Commons Cohort since 2021, Tessa and Wyatt rotationally graze Holstein steers, raising them bottle calf-to-butcher to improve soil health and provide quality beef direct-to-consumer.  Her work in agriculture has also led to advocacy work at the state and federal level for emerging farmers and climate-smart practices with organizations like Minnesota Farmers Union, Land Stewardship Project, and National Young Farmers Coalition. Away from the herd, Tessa has worked in organic certification and inspection, and recently joined Clean River Partners as the Agricultural Practices Conservation Program Coordinator.

 Kari Ripley-Boysen

Kari Ripley-Boysen (she/her) owns and operates Unruly Earth Farm in Webster MN with her husband and 3 children. They tend a herd of Alpine/Toggenburg milking goats, a flock of chickens, rabbits, and 1 duck. She beekeeps, boils maple sap, grows produce, and forages on their homestead. Her family has participated in the Riverwalk Farmers' Market selling produce and are members of the local Cannon River SFA. Her formal education is as a Veterinary Technician and she works part time at an UrgentVet. Kari has worked as an EMT, in the ER of the local hospital, as a landscaper, and in the reconstruction industry. Working alongside and being guided by nature is an important part of her vision and belief system. She believes that hands-on education is as powerful as formal education and loves both teaching and learning with others.

 Kathy Zeman

Kathy Zeman (she/her) grew up on a typical diversified livestock and crop farm in Steele County and enjoyed a very successful career in 4-H, FFA, and Junior Holstein. Coaching numerous state and national dairy and general livestock quiz bowl and judging teams, Kathy brings that animal science knowledge to The Wifery team. Her degree in ag business / farm business management / ag econ drives her to connect production to profitability. The skills The Wifery teaches farmers to do themselves helps them take better care of their livestock - and become more profitable.

Kathy purchased her first farm in 1998 and has owned Simple Harvest Farm Organics by Nerstrand since 2006. Simple Harvest is all highly erodible land, so it's in perennial pasture and grazes stacked livestock enterprises. Sheep, goats, pigs, broilers, and turkeys are sold direct to consumer; eggs are sold retail and wholesale. All inputs at Simple Harvest are certified organic. Simple Harvest is an MDA Ag Water Quality certified farm with three endorsements: organic, soil health, climate smart.

 Lindsey Zemanek

Lindsey Zemanek is the owner and operator of Burning Daylight Draft Farm in southern Minnesota. She and her husband farm primarily with draft animal power. They raise pastured lamb, poultry, and meat rabbits. Lindsey was always in love with animals. She grew up surrounded by ranchers in the southwest as an avid horsewoman. In order to further her education and career with animals, she completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science at New Mexico State University. Lindsey realized that while animals were important to her, so was serving other people. She completed a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. A move across the country to Minnesota allowed Lindsey to complete further education and then for her and her husband to purchase their first little farm. Due to her background in animal science, Lindsey has always been interested and able to care for her own livestock as much as possible. It is a passion for her to help other farmers learn as many skills as possible for caring for their animals.