⬩ Team Members ⬩
Kristen Essig, Culinary Director
Kristen joined Stonewood Farm in 2023 as Culinary Director, bringing the skills and experiences of an accomplished executive chef to support our charitable and educational mission. In this role, Kristen oversees food sourcing and preparation for Stonewood’s fundraising gatherings and serves as the liaison between our Market Garden and our wholesale customers, ensuring that Farm Managers Sam and Jeremy’s fresh produce reaches your plate without a hitch. She also works with the Stonewood team in all aspects of our community outreach as we fulfill our goal to promote food justice throughout the region.
Born and raised in Florida, Kristen attended Johnson & Wales University in Charleston, South Carolina, where she received an Associate Degree in Culinary Science. Relocating to New Orleans, she spent years learning from culinary legends like Chef Emeril Lagasse at Emeril’s and Chef Anne Kearney at Peristyle. She has worked with and managed farmers markets; created programs for private culinary instruction, boutique catering, and front of house management; traveled as a private chef; and worked for small independent operations and for large hospitality groups.
More specifically, she served as Corporate Executive Chef for LeBlanc + Smith; then as Owner and Co-Executive Chef for sibling restaurants Coquette and Thalia in New Orleans; followed by a continuing role at Dauphine’s, a New Orleans-inspired restaurant in Washington, D.C. Through these varied experiences, Kristen has developed a culinary style known for farmers market-driven dishes and innovative takes on culinary classics, with an emphasis on environmental sustainability, ethical sourcing practices, regenerative farming, and local engagement.
Kristen received the Michelin “Bib Gourmand” Award (2022), and was named a James Beard Award Nominee for “Best Chef, Finalist: South” (2018 and 2019), a Food & Wine Magazine nominee for “People’s Best New Chef” (2015), and a Times-Picayune “Chef to Watch” (2014).
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, spending time with her dog Shirley, traveling, and “attempted” gardening. At Stonewood, Kristen is excited to share with our guests the stories of the many cultures, chefs, and traditions she brings to food and farming in the Hudson Valley.
Alex Kohler, Farm Manager
Alex (“Lex”) Kohler joined Stonewood Farm in 2024. As Farm Manager, he is responsible for the daily operation and management of our Market Garden, along with several secondary activities including keeping our flock of chickens happy and healthy, and maintaining the Giving Garden at the Cardinal Hayes Home for Children. He also works with the Stonewood team in all aspects of our community outreach.
Previously, Lex was in a management position at the non-profit Farm at Augusta Health Hospital in Fishersville, Virginia, a farm that bridges the gap between quality health care and access to nutritious, locally grown food. Prior to that, Lex received hands-on and classroom education as a Farm Fellow at Allegheny Mountain Institute in Monterey, Virginia. Lex is not only a great farmer, but he also understands the positive impact a farm can have on a community.
Lex was born and raised in Ohio. For most of his life, he wanted to be an attorney like his dad. But when COVID hit as he was graduating from Ohio State University, he took a job at a greenhouse. The job was supposed to be brief, but it turned out that he really liked the work and had a green thumb! From horticulture, he moved into organic agriculture and farmed in Virginia before moving to the Hudson Valley. In his free time, Lex enjoys keeping up with friends, reading, playing sports, playing board games, and hanging out with his cat, June.
Alyssa Clark, Assistant Farm Manager
Alyssa joins us from New York City, with roots in the San Francisco Bay Area. Raised in a family of professional gardeners, she developed a connection to the more-than-human world. While studying International Agricultural Development at the University of California, Davis, she applied her learning in a community garden, where she began to understand the vital role food systems play in community well-being. She earned her degree in Community and Regional Development before moving to New York City, where she spent several years with the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG), organizing communities around issues such as food insecurity and environmental preservation.
Motivated to return to her agricultural roots, Alyssa apprenticed with Threefold Community Farm in 2022, gaining hands-on experience in biodynamic vegetable production, beekeeping, draft horse care, and dairy cow management. Most recently, she worked at Valentines Farm, a small-scale private farm that donates much of its harvest to those in need. As their only Farmhand, she collaborated closely with the Farm Coordinator to expand her skills in mushroom cultivation, chicken care, and cut flower growing and arranging.
Leah Schmid, 2025 Farm Apprentice
Leah, a lifelong resident of Stanfordville, New York, grew up immersed in agriculture. Her journey began in her grandmother's garden and continued into high school, where she participated in her local 4-H club with a focus on cows and horses.
Leah studied Environmental Studies and Sociology at SUNY New Paltz, where she developed a passion for organic agriculture and local food systems. After graduating in 2024, she made the decision to pursue farming full time. Drawn to Stonewood Farm’s commitment to organic, regenerative farming practices and deep ties to the local community, she joins us eager to grow into her role as a future farmer.