CJ comes to Ciudad SWCD as a former and aspiring farmer, having worked in vegetable farming and dairying in the Pacific Northwest for eight years and in agriculture education in New Mexico since 2021. They’ve worked as an apprentice, started their own small farm and sauerkraut business, and managed the startup of a nonprofit community farm and its transition to no-till. From the beginning of their farm career, CJ has been involved in supporting the education of other beginning farmers while learning alongside them. Their favorite kind of work combines support for people with support for healthy soil. After years of farming in the rainforest, they’re using their abundant curiosity to adapt to farming in New Mexico, and loving it. Outside of their work at Ciudad, CJ is getting a small farm started with their partner, where they're raising laying hens and dairy goats, cultivating a vegetable, herb, and flower garden, and wrangling three dogs. They also love building things, reading, hiking, cooking, and spending time with their family.