⬩ Team Members ⬩
Alex Kohler, Farm Co-Manager
Alex (“Lex”) Kohler joined Stonewood Farm in 2024. As Farm Co-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.
Maggie Thomas, Farm Co-Manager
Maggie joins Stonewood Farm with over a decade of farming experience in the Hudson Valley. As Co-Manager, she brings strong expertise in organic vegetable production, equipment operation, and land stewardship, along with a deep commitment to community-based food systems.
Born and raised in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California, Maggie grew up surrounded by local organic food and sustainable farming. After years of gardening, she moved to the Hudson Valley in 2015 to farm full time. She spent three seasons at Row by Row Farm in Hurley, where she built a solid foundation in production-scale farming, post-harvest handling, irrigation, and tractor and equipment operation.
In 2019, Maggie and her partner co-founded and operated Great Song Farm in Milan, NY. They ran a small CSA which grew from 75 to 180 members while managing both farm and business operations. Maggie later ran the farm independently while completing a BA in Environmental and Urban Studies through the Bard Baccalaureate program.
Most recently, Maggie worked as Facilities and Equipment Coordinator at the Poughkeepsie Farm Project, supporting large-scale food access efforts through land management, tractor operations, and equipment maintenance. She is excited to join Stonewood Farm and return to small-scale, community-centered farming rooted in care for land and people.
Kristen Essig, Director of Culinary Outreach and Development
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.
Jacob Myron Cerdeña, 2026 Farm Apprentice
Jacob Myron Cerdeña is a Hudson Valley native from Hopewell Junction. He returned to the region after college with a commitment to engaging more deeply with his local food system and the surrounding landscape.
Jacob has been an active Bartershare member with the Poughkeepsie Farm Project (PFP) for the past two growing seasons, entering his third, where he contributes to the production of high-quality food for local communities. He credits the PFP community with shaping his understanding of community-supported agriculture, food autonomy, and the importance of collective care within food systems.
In addition to his work in agriculture, Jacob has served as a volunteer tour guide at Bannerman Castle, is an active volunteer with the Dutchess Land Conservancy, and maintains the Round Hill Bypass trail in Fahnestock State Park. He is also bow hunting certified. Through these roles, Jacob continues to support land stewardship, conservation, and community access to shared natural resources.
At Stonewood Farm, Jacob is committed to advancing food autonomy, environmental stewardship, and community service.
Sycamore May, Grant Consultant
Sycamore began working with Stonewood Farm in 2025, supporting the team in identifying and securing funding opportunities that advance the mission of education, community nourishment, and regenerative agriculture. Through her consultancy, Food and Climate Consulting, based in Lake Peekskill NY, she helps Stonewood Farm craft compelling proposals, manage active grants, and strengthen the financial foundation of community-driven programs such as the Full Heart Kitchen and the First Harvest Pantry.
Before beginning her work with Stonewood, Sycamore managed philanthropy and farmer impact programs at Handsome Brook Farms, where she helped expand the company’s sustainability initiatives and secured federal funding for regenerative egg production and silvopasture research. Her background spans grant writing, communications, and program development across farms, food businesses, and nonprofits throughout the Hudson Valley and beyond.
Sycamore holds a Master of Science in Food Policy from the University of London and a BFA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College. When she’s not writing or visiting farms, she enjoys exploring local trails, trying new recipes, and cuddling with her orange tabby, Batata.