Executive Director of Project FARE & FARE Idaho
Katie Baker advocates and educates on behalf of Idaho independent food and beverage businesses with a mission to create positive change.

After achieving a degree in international business, she received the Kauffman Entrepreneurial Internship where she quickly discovered her passion for supporting small independent businesses and local markets. Katie has worked in the food industry for the last 12 years for a farmer and producer owned food cooperative, Idaho's Bounty, and the food-and-farming-focused Edible Idaho magazine.

In her spare time, you'll see her in her own little urban garden, wrangling stray chickens, volunteering, hanging with the family and catching up on podcasts, books, and movies in the winter months (the slow season).

Project FARE Editor
Tara Roberts is a lifelong Idahoan from Moscow and Laclede (a tiny town along the Pend Oreille River). She has been a newspaper reporter, science communicator, college media adviser, writing instructor, and freelance writer and editor. Her work has been published in Sunset, The Inlander, Inland 360, Idaho Magazine and a variety of University of Idaho publications.

She lives in Moscow with her husband, two sons and dog. She loves hiking, finding great ice cream in new cities, having a beer with friends on the back patio and growing her own tomatoes. Follow her on Twitter @tarabethidaho.

Elise Barker is an adjunct instructor of English at Idaho State University, where she also works part-time planning commencement. She writes in a variety of genres from academic articles and narrative non-fiction to poetry and blog posts. She is also a licensed lay preacher in the Episcopal church. Her most recent work can be seen in IDAHO Magazine.

Cassy Benefield loves food and is so excited to share Idaho's food stories through Project FARE. She is a freelance writer and photographer, with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, Calif. She is an army brat, so she didn't really grow up anywhere. She currently makes Spokane, Wash., her home, which is a hop, skip and a jump from Idaho. She loves to read non-fiction and spend time with her family. Her work has appeared in SpokaneFāVS, the Spokesman-Review, Spokane Public Radio and the Ritzville Adams County Journal.

S. Michal Bennett is a freelance writer, home culinary technician, and professional drink crafter living in North Idaho. She and her husband enjoy local and regional food and drink as often as possible, as well as discovering new places, people, and cuisine. Michal's writing focuses primarily on food, drink, outdoor adventure, gardening, environmental issues, and lifestyle topics, and has been published in a number of Inland Northwest and national publications. Follow @MichalBennettLS on Facebook or @michalthewriter on Instagram.

Geoff Crimmins grew up in Moscow where he graduated from high school and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in communications from the University of Idaho. He enjoys learning about people's careers and hobbies while sharing their stories through photographs. He worked for 30 years as a newspaper photographer before becoming a freelancer in 2019. His photographs have appeared in newspapers and other publications throughout Idaho and across the country. Geoff lives in Moscow with his wife, Kim, and two sons. He enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, woodworking and reading.

Anteia grew up in Idaho’s Panhandle and graduated from small town Kendrick Jr/Sr High School with a class of 16. Anteia is a combat engineer with the Idaho Army National Guard and is working as a full-time student toward a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, with a minor in English, at the University of Idaho.

She is the 2021-22 editor-in-chief at the university’s digital-first student newspaper, The Argonaut, and is an award-winning writer.

Sharon Fisher is a digital nomad and freelance writer who lived in Kuna for 20 years. She specializes in food and agriculture, historic preservation, and urban planning. She holds a master's degree in public administration from Boise State University and is the author of “Images of America: Kuna” from Arcadia Publishing. Her work has also appeared in Edible Idaho, Territory, Sun Valley, Boise State University News, Idaho Business Review, Idaho Statesman, Boise Weekly, Idaho, Eagle, This is Kuna, and the Kuna-Melba News. She likes explaining things and going to meetings.

Riley Haun is a freelance writer and pastry cook living in Moscow, Idaho. She graduated from the University in Idaho in 2020, where she wrote for student publications The Argonaut and Blot magazine. She’s also written for The Spokesman-Review, Spokane/Coeur D’Alene Living and Nspire magazine.

Growing up on a Treasure Valley farm with Red Angus cattle and Boer goats, she gained a deep appreciation for the people, plants and animals that produce the ingredients in everything she bakes and cooks. When she isn’t writing or baking, she’s probably out hiking with her corgi Linda.

Katarina Hockema is a senior at University of Idaho pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Journalism with a minor in Marketing. She is set to graduate in May 2023, and is the editor-in-chief of the student magazine, Blot. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, taking nature walks, playing the piano and brainstorming new story ideas.

Ethan Kimberling is a Moscow, Idaho, native and 2013 University of Idaho graduate. While earning his Studio Art degree at the university, he worked as a layout designer and illustrator for the student publication Blot Magazine and as a graphic designer for the University of Idaho Sustainability Center.

He currently resides in the Boston area and works remotely as a senior graphic designer for Dark Horse Comics, a Pacific Northwest comics publisher. Over the course of his seven years at Dark Horse he has received two Eisner Award nominations for Best Publication Design (2019 and 2021). When Ethan is not too busy with freelance design work, he enjoys spending his time exploring all of the beautiful places and delicious food/beer New England has to offer.

Brittney Long is a passionate multimedia content creator and copywriter who cares about the impact a story can make. With a background in the wine & spirits industry, Brittney loves to experience the enticing world of food and beverages. She is here to share the stories of local spots, fantastic bites and hidden gems to help educate and inspire others to a vibrant and cultured food and wine lifestyle.

Lex Nelson is an Idaho Press Club award-winning reporter, editor, and ghost writer based in Boise. She specializes in food and environmental reporting, and her work has been published by Boise Weekly, The Idaho Press, Edible Idaho, Visit Idaho, IdaHome Magazine and more.

Lex has lived in Idaho and Montana since 2004 and reported on food since 2016. She graduated from Boise State University with a major in Creative Writing and a minor in Sustainability. Her family of Nebraska dairy farmers and Montana cattle ranchers taught her to appreciate both good food and the people who make it possible. Read more of her work at lexnelsonwrites.com.

Kurt Orzeck is a nationally recognized senior editor, writer and web content specialist with more than 20 years of experience at media companies encompassing international conglomerates, online startups and independently owned businesses. His 3,000 plus writing credits include cover stories, artist interviews, features, reviews, games and columns published on Rolling Stone.com, New York Magazine, Reuters, Alternative Press, FLOOD, Filter, Thrasher, The Big Takeover, Greenbelt, Idaho Business Review and many more publications.

Leslie Rodriguez is a professional food and product photographer. Her love of photography lead her to start her business right out of high school, and she has not looked back in 22 years. Being born and raised in Southern California, her work is airy, vibrant and full of color. Now living full time in Idaho with her husband and son, she enjoys exploring and tasting her way through her new home state.

Jake Smith is a writer, multimedia producer and editor based in Boise, Idaho. An Idahoan at heart, Smith grew up in Coeur d'Alene and graduated from the University of Idaho with degrees in public relations and clothing design. Throughout the state, from Idaho Falls to Athol, his editorial and commercial multimedia work has highlighted the state's various industries and celebrated its people.

Lettie Stratton is a writer and outdoor enthusiast from Vermont. Her work has been published in Edible Idaho, Lonely Planet, the New York Times-bestselling Eat Pray Love Made Me Do It, and more. She is the creator of Wild Wanderer, an outdoor adventure site for the LGBTQ+ community.

Carol Woolum Roberts is a native Idahoan, growing up in Kellogg. She graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in public relations and a minor in English. She has been a college admissions and public relations director, radio announcer, newspaper reporter and photographer, animal hospital manager, and college and career advisor for middle and high school students. After retiring from education, she taught English online to students in China. She is also involved in her local community theater, where she is an actress, singer, director, producer and playwright. Her hobbies include cooking, gardening and bike riding. Besides working as a freelance writer and photographer, Carol currently runs an online business with her husband, Paul, where they share with people the tools to live a more creative life. Visit their website at www.growmeastory.com.