Mike was raised on a large grain farm in La Porte, IN and has worked for Tuholski Farms, Inc. seasonally for over twenty years. He has learned much about farm management from his dad, who is the manager of Tuholski Farms, Inc. and the owner of Tuholski Family Farms, LLC. Mike has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology (Indiana University, 2014) and a Master’s degree in Genetics (University of Wisconsin, 2017) and currently teaches biology at La Porte High School. In both his agricultural and academic background, Mike has developed a lifelong interest in growing food efficiently and sustainably. Mike looks forward to applying his scientific background to the farm in future years through the development of automated hydroponics systems and controlled experiments to increase crop efficiency.

 

Becca was raised in La Porte, IN and has earned her Bachelor's degree in Applied Health Science (Indiana University, 2014) as well as her Master of Public Health (Benedictine University, 2017). She currently teaches Agriculture at La Porte High School but will be starting a new position in 2022. She has served in numerous roles that have ignited her passion for community health. While attending school at IU, Becca worked with IU Outdoor Adventures where she led backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, white water rafting, and rock climbing trips throughout the US. After graduation, she worked with the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. Becca and her husband Mike moved back to their hometown of La Porte in 2017, where Becca interned with Purdue Extension. She wrote and was awarded a grant for the Farm to Freezer to Table program which focused on utilizing in-season, local produce to create healthy and ready-to-cook freezer meals for La Porte County residents. Becca wrote and was awarded another grant on behalf of     La Porte Community School Corporation in 2019, which allowed for expansion of the agriculture program and construction of a new school greenhouse. In 2020, she was honored with the Conservation Educator of the Year award by the La Porte County Soil and Water Conservation District. Becca aims to bring her knowledge of community food systems to the farm and improve access to local foods in the NWI region.