Staff
Uli Koester
Executive Director & Educator
Uli taught for six years in the Minneapolis Public Schools before starting full-time work for Midwest Food Connection. Over his years with MFC, Uli has become widely recognized as a master educator and expert on children’s relationship to food. He loves baseball, his cello, and traveling. Uli shares his garden at home with his wife, two sons, four chickens, and a host of rabbits.
Bonnie Lohman
Program Educator
Bonnie has been teaching garden-based and food education throughout the metro area since 2012. She comes to MFC as a licensed agricultural education teacher with a background in horticulture, permaculture and farm to school programming. Bonnie believes that kids are naturally curious about food and enjoys using it to inspire excitement about learning, nutrition, community and themselves. She lives in south Minneapolis with her partner, son, dog and their large (overgrown) garden.
Missy McDonald
Program Educator
Missy is an educator who enjoys teaching about food and its cultural connections to the many diverse communities in the Twin Cities. With a background in history, Missy loves cooking vintage recipes, and is an expert at hearth, woodstove, and campfire cooking. She has worked with youth in a variety of capacities: Minnesota Historical Society guide; National Park Service ranger, girl scout leader, tutor, day camp leader, and Destination Imagination coach. Teaching young people to be critical thinkers about our relationship to food inspires Missy to build a healthier future for ourselves, our communities and our planet.
Hailey Dickinson
Communications Lead
Hailey has been working in political and non-profit spaces for over 4 years. She has always been passionate about community and making positive change in the world. Hailey joined Midwest Food Connection because she believes it’s important to build communities who have the resources and knowledge to make positive food choices. These choices can help us build stronger communities and a healthy planet. She looks forward to helping elevate MFC’s message and interacting with supporters and students.