Where did you grow up, and were you a city kid or farm kid?
I grew up on Ontario, Canada and I was a kid from the suburbs in the twin cities of Kitchener-Waterloo.
What is your background and area of expertise?
I have a bachelor’s degree in Gerontology (University of Guelph), an associate’s degree in environmental Pest Management (Sir Sandford Fleming College), a master's and PhD in Entomology from Purdue University. Everything kinda comes together in my job now as an Extension Educator with a specialty in Urban Entomology, working in a county office, working with the public and Master Gardeners to make better decisions about pest management.
What year did you make your first appearance on Backyard Farmer?
I started doing segments with Jonathan Larson in 2017 and had two panel shows that year.
What do you enjoy most about being part of the Backyard Farmer show?
I enjoy the people on the panel and how much I learn from them when I'm watching the show at home or on YouTube afterwards AND when I'm on the panel with them. Absorbing even a little of what is said from my colleagues and fellow panelists makes me a better, more insightful entomologist. I also did not have a clue about garden insects or gardening until after becoming a panelist. I learned so much from Jonathan Larson, Jim Kalisch, Fred Baxendale, Scott Evans, Elizabeth Extrom, Terri James, and Kim Todd. Getting to know about plants allows me to be a better entomologist. I also love how I've become a gardener and it's my favorite thing to do when I'm not working or on the show - looking at my own, homegrown, garden arthropods, and most of them are friends or as Kim says, "good guys".
What’s one piece of advice you find yourself giving most often?
I have been known to think many of the arthropods mentioned are "cool" rather than "ewww gross" or "kill it". Mostly my advice is to "relax", "not worry", "no need to spray". This usually comes with more explanation, so after the show, I will often email the viewers who sent in questions, so they understand the WHY to my answer. There are ultimately critters out there in populations and situations that may warrant insecticidal treatment, and I acknowledge that. But it is important to me to always have all the necessary information to make the best/safest/economic decisions for the client and others involved in the system (like non-targets, environment, people, pets, pollinators, etc.). Basically, my message "Stop and think before you step on a bug" - sometimes you don't have to step on it. It's just out there living a bug's life.
What’s the most unusual question you’ve been asked on Backyard Farmer?
You know, I have had a few that made me stop scrunching up my eyebrows, but I can't remember them right now. There are not many things that can surprise me anymore. I do know that being on the show has provided me many opportunities outside of my subject matter area, like becoming the resident expert on invasive jumping worms or fall armyworm. When people want to know, I take it upon myself to dig in and find out!
Do you have a favorite plant, tree, flower, disease, bug, or critter — and why?
I can't pick a favorite, but I love talking about ticks. There are so many fun facts about them that many Nebraskans don't know and so I feel like there is an opportunity to not only make engaging connections, but help people protect themselves against tick-borne disease and stay healthy. I also enjoy educating about bed bugs, but that's not a garden bug. Some other favorites: leafcutter bees, dragonflies, doodlebugs, and I adore large spiders. I have a fondness for mushrooms, magnolia trees, snakes, and perennial plants for pollinators.
What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?
I enjoy a good bourbon, neat.
What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of work?
Outside of work, I am a mom to a teenager involved in various sports. I love watching my daughter run cross country and play soccer. I do my best to show up and support her and her teams as much as possible. I also run, but not competitively or as far as I used to. I am involved in the local running community, volunteering with the Omaha Running Club, Pink Gorilla Events, and serve as the vice president for the GOATz (Greater Omaha Area Trail-Runners) a non-profit that supports local runners and trails. I am also on the Pottawattamie Conservation Foundation (PCF) board, a non-profit organization that supports environmental education, habitat preservation, and outdoor recreation in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Even when I'm not working, I enjoy doing this related to insects like weeding my garden, moving plants around, and watching bugs in my yard (or other people's yards too). I like to walk, hike, or run in different public spaces and parks. I love being outside and if I meet sometime who is interested in something I know about, I can't help but educate. I co-host a podcast with two fellow entomologists, Jonathan Larson (former BYF panelist from University of Kentucky) and Michael Skvarla (Penn State University) called Arthro-Pod. I enjoy the time I spend with them, learning new things, and sometimes we interview experts in some insect-related topic, and I get to learn more about something else.
