ISAP STAFF

Helen VanBeck serves as the Manager of the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership. A Senior Program Manager for AFT, Helen works closely with partners across Illinois to advance the adoption of conservation practices proven to build soil health, improve water quality, and support climate resiliency. In addition to her work with ISAP, she provides leadership to AFT’s Farmer Led Advances in Soil Health (FLASH) initiative and sits on the Steering Committee for Illinois Saving Tomorrow’s Agriculture Resources (STAR). Helen earned her Bachelor of Science in environmental policy with an emphasis in sustainable agriculture from the University of California, Davis.

 

Jim Isermann is the Soil Health Specialist for the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 2002 with a Bachelor’s degree in Crop Sciences, and returned home to work on the family farm with his father. He has experience working with cover crops as a seed dealer, and utilizing annuals and other forages in grazing systems. He currently has a 65-head cow-calf operation. The farm includes 900 acres in Livingston and LaSalle Counties, with 120 of those acres in permanent forage; the rest are in production using a corn-soybean-wheat rotation.

 

Maddy Kangas serves as the ISAP Coordinator and supports partners in advancing soil health practices, building regional networks, and strengthening on-the-ground implementation of sustainable agriculture initiatives. She also helps connect resources across agencies and practitioners, ensuring farmers have the tools and support they need to succeed in an evolving agricultural landscape. Maddy holds a Master of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences from the University of Illinois.

 

 

Alex Ramirez is an Outreach Associate for Illinois Extension and is based at the Urbana-Champaign campus and serves statewide. She develops programs, coordinates outreach events, and shares information on sustainable agriculture. She earned a B.S. in Environmental Studies at Central Michigan University and a M.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois.