ABOUT GORMAN HERITAGE FARM

Meet the Gorman Heritage Farm Staff

Peggy Paff, Executive Director – brings 30 years of business experience including strategic planning, marketing, event planning, sales administration and customer service. Peggy has served as a volunteer for many non-profit organizations, served on the Volunteers In Mission Executive Board and worked at Seton High School Development Office. Over the past 10 years Peggy has led teams of youth and adult volunteers to work with indigent families in Mexico. Peggy lives with her husband and two children in Western Hills.  ppaff@gormanfarm.org

Sandra Murphy, Associate Director – has served as volunteer, board member and employee on several educational farms for the past 30 years, including seven years at Gorman Heritage Farm. Sandra is a published writer of environmental essays and poetry, and has conducted workshops on the local, state and national levels. She has been designated by the National Association for Interpretation as a Certified Interpretive Manager, and also serves as a consultant to other educational farms. smurphy@gormanfarm.org

Mike Roman, Education Manager and Summer Camp Director - His love for the outdoors is evidenced in his past employment at the farm, his interest in ecology while a student at Xavier University, and his self-directed learning in the subjects of permaculture and organic gardening.  His own backyard mini-farm includes a perennial flower garden, organic vegetable garden, berry patch, fruit trees, composter, and chicken coop.  Mike first worked at GHF as an agricultural intern, camp counselor, and office assistant during the summers of 2002-2004.  Most recently, he has spent the past 4 years teaching music at Cincinnati Catholic grade schools.  He is happy to be back home on the farm, and working to continue its growth as an excellent place for people to learn about farming and care of our world. mroman@gormanfarm.org

Tom Smith, Farm Manager - Tom  has gained a very diverse experience from different farms including both livestock and crop production, organic and conventional.  He has a B.S. in animal sciences from Wilmington College, M.S. in forage agronomy from Virginia Tech, and is currently completing a PhD in forage agronomy at The Ohio State University.  Tom believes in hands-on learning about all aspects of agriculture and is eager to share this knowledge with visitors at Gorman Farm.  Tom and his fiancée, Greta, have a small herd of llamas, some sheep, and two horses.
tsmith@gormanfarm.org

Vicki Foster, Marketing & Event Manager– has held diverse jobs, ranging from US Defense Department analyst to customer service and marketing. She says her greatest reward comes from volunteering. She has worked for a number of years on event coordination and public relations through church, and through the Army Reserve Family Support Group. vfoster@gormanfarm.org

Emily Miller, Livestock Manager – Emily left the farm in April of 2008, to finalize her preparations for veterinary school.     Thanks for all your great work in caring for the GHF animals, and best of luck in your new career!

Kathi Cook, Livestock Assistant - Kathi joined GHF as an intern in the summer of 2006.  She has a strong desire to learn horticulture and animal care, and owns a 2-acre farm in Kentucky.  Prior to coming to GHF, Kathi has worked with animals in various capacities, as well as owning her own painting business. kcook@gormanfarm.org

Denise Iler, Gardener - Denise joined the farm staff in the spring of 2007.  She's the one you see buzzing around in the golf cart to get seeds and plants in, weeds out, and everything watered!  She comes with a great deal of plant knowledge  through her contract plantscaping business, and is ready to help out in any project!  diler@gomanfarm.org