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Program Collaborators

FHI partnered with Farmer’s Outreach Solution, Farmer Veteran Coalition, and Latino Farmers & Ranchers International as Program Collaborators.

DEDICATED TO

Expanding Outreach Efforts & Program Initiatives

Providing Educational Resources & Free Technical Assistance

Raising Awareness About Available FSA Programs & Loan Funding

Assisting Producers Throughout the Application Process

How to Request Technical Assistance

Meet the Team

Harleigh Moore-Wilson

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Harleigh Moore-Wilson, a citizen of the Osage Nation, has a diverse set of talents and education that make her a well-rounded individual. With a background in Agricultural Engineering and Food Science and a dedication to Native American communities, she is promoting food sovereignty among Tribes across the United States. Harleigh's entrepreneurial spirit, paired with her MBA, empowered her to establish a company dedicated to serving Native American communities. Through this company, she leverages her expertise in Agricultural Engineering and Food Science to make a meaningful impact. Pursuing a Doctorate in Food Science with a focus on Food Safety, Harleigh is committed to ensuring the quality and safety of indigenous food sources. Her focus on bison-related initiatives honors her heritage and preserves traditional food systems. Outside her academic and professional careers, Harleigh's passion for Osage culture shines through her engagement in teaching beadwork to younger generations ensures that Osage traditions continue to thrive. Harleigh's diverse approach to preserving indigenous knowledge and culture, both professionally and personally, shows her deep-rooted commitment to her community's well-being and cultural heritage. Her Osage heritage serves as a testament to the strength, courage, and enduring spirit of the Osage people, inspiring her to honor Osage legacy through her work and advocacy.

Kelly Gunter

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

The program’s Project Coordinator, Kelly Gunter is an experienced consultant for non-profit organizations with a focus on educating communities in agricultural programs, expanding food knowledge and origins while promoting local food sovereignty. While serving in positions such as Office Administrator of a civil engineering firm and as Assistant Director of a construction-related non-profit, Kelly gained experience in grant reimbursement, reporting, and awards education and has honed her skills in bookkeeping, accounting, tax and insurance navigation and is accomplished in coordinating and implementing large group projects and services. Her more than two decades of work with multiple non-profits has given her the opportunity to assist underserved communities offering innovative solutions to inherent issues. She received her B.S. of Sociology from Missouri State University with a minor in Religious Studies. Kelly was brought up in the Missouri Ozarks in a rural area, where farming and ranching are prevalent, so she has a first-hand understanding of the hardships and merits of living in a small community and the food challenges that can be encountered there. She is especially interested in conservation endeavors applying common sense answers to challenges faced by agricultural businesses and passing this knowledge along to others.

Kendal Jeffers

IN-TAKE & AWARD MANAGER

Kendal Jeffers is a Cherokee Nation citizen with a range of experience across the food industry. She has valuable insight from sourcing food in institutional settings to distributing resources to unserved community members. She has experience compiling inventory sales data, formulating reimbursement claim information for the USDA National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs, and coordinating food purchases through wholesale foods vendors and USDA grant awardee vendors. Data management and analytics have played a key role in illustrating the performance of each of these programs. Her goal every day is to make sure the children in her rural school district enjoy the food they eat while having healthy and colorful food palette choices.

She currently serves as the Intake & Assessment Manager for Flower Hill Institute’s USDA FSA Disaster Assistance Outreach, Education, and Technical Assistance Program.

Loretta Hinton

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MANAGER

Loretta Hinton, retired from the Farm Service Agency as a lead Program Technician after 34 years of service. Loretta was fortunate to work with farmers in Texas county, the largest county in Missouri. She grew up and still resides there in the county seat. She began her profession with Agricultural Stabilization & Conservation Service (ASCS), later changed to Farm Service Agency to administer USDA farm programs that are federally funded. She kept the database current with all the names, address, farm records, and reporting information for all participating producers. She took pride in always treating each producer equal and fair. She followed policy and complex regulations per handbook procedures to complete every application in an efficient and timely manner. She was the lead technician in various programs and was deemed an expert by her superiors.

Her career spanned many farm bills, countless disaster programs caused by flood and droughts, dairy, continuous signups and County Committee elections. She was the Acting County Executive Director for most of her career. This position put her in charge of day to day operations of 4 additional counties located in two separate offices. She learned to oversee every aspect of each office and coordinate with other state, local and federal agencies.

Since retiring in May of 2023, she has assisted producers nationwide with Flower Hill Institute and she is a substitute teacher for classes in a local school district. In her spare time, she enjoys attending CrossFit class, camping and sewing quilts.

Marcos Cesar Perera

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE & OUTREACH MANAGER

Marcos C. Perera exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit, leveraging his humble beginnings in rural Argentina as a springboard to becoming a global business leader. With over 19 years of experience in international sales, supply chain management, and market development, Marcos honed his go-getter mentality by blending resilience with an insatiable curiosity. He holds a degree in Professional Pilot Technology with a minor in International Leadership from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, equipping him with the skills to excel in both technical and leadership roles.

As a Technical Assistant and Outreach Manager at Flower Hill Institute in New Mexico, he supports underserved farmers, connecting them with resources and programs to elevate their agricultural operations. His unique background, combining technical expertise and entrepreneurial savvy, makes him an indispensable ally to producers striving for success.

Marcos’ entrepreneurial journey extends beyond agriculture. In 2020, he and his wife Laura launched Che Chori, an Argentine street and comfort food restaurant in Indianapolis. By 2024, Che Chori earned national acclaim, being featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. This recognition highlights Marcos’ ability to transform his cultural heritage into a thriving business, turning passion into a culinary destination.

A seasoned real estate investor, Marcos also manages a successful rental property portfolio alongside Laura. His global career in exporting specialty commodities has taken him to 24 countries and facilitated shipments to 60, providing him with invaluable insights into building relationships, seizing opportunities, and fostering a global perspective that transcends borders.

Passionate about sharing his journey, Marcos inspires others through export seminars, motivational talks, and entrepreneurship presentations. Whether running a restaurant or exploring his ancestry, Marcos is a catalyst for growth, proving that success is built on vision, grit, and unwavering commitment to dreams.

Mike Shellenberger

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MANAGER

Mike Shellenberger was raised and lives in Toppenish WA on the Yakama Indian Reservation. Toppenish is a community located in the heart of the Yakima Valley. The Yakima Valley is known for its diverse agriculture and is number one in hop and apple production in the United States. Mike comes from a ranch and farm background and began working in hops at the age of 15 and continued working for several cattle ranchers and farmers for many years. He has operated a small ranch operation for the past 30 years raising cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and meat rabbits. He has spent the past 23 years working with Native Americans and Native American Tribes in the Pacific Northwest as a USDA Technical Assistance Specialist. Mike has specialized in being a USDA Technical Assistance Specialist for FSA, NRCS, RD and FRTEP. He has had numerous success stories with Native Americans and Native American Tribes. Mike particularly enjoys working with the youth 4-H and FFA programs and believes that the future of agriculture is with the ability to educate, mentor and provide resources to the youth. His passion, commitment, and experience in helping people are his greatest strengths. Mike is looking forward to bringing his knowledge of FSA programs to the Flower Hill Institute team. He is eager to continue working with people to help them succeed in agriculture and is very grateful to the Flower Hill Institute team in providing him the opportunity to do so.

Shaundin Jones

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

Shaundin Jones is a graphic designer and experienced communications manager for Flower Hill Institute. He has two years of experience co-managing two federal grant programs with the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service and Farm Service Agency. His educational background in film and media studies has helped him excel at developing effective digital marketing strategies and engaging content.

He’s passionate about supporting Indigenous-led projects through volunteer opportunities with local Indigenous non-profits and community events in New York City. He also freelances as a graphic designer and photographer for local NYC artists and clients, including the New York State Department of Health. His involvement in non-profit and community organizing began in 2018 when he facilitated educational workshops on college preparation and financial aid in rural Native communities for a summer internship.

Shaundin now uses his skills and experience to reach farmers and ranchers nationwide and market disaster relief programs and farm funding to rural producers and small business owners. He currently helps manage the organization's social media platforms and communication channels for the FSA Disaster Assistance program, creating digital resources and content promoting relief efforts and news related to grant funding and program announcements.