Rachel Burke

Senior Beginning Farmer Engagement Coordinator

Rachel Burke Headshot 09.29.2022 small

rachel.burke(at)practicalfarmers(dot)org

Rachel Burke joined the PFI staff in March 2023 and is the senior beginning farmer engagement coordinator. Previously, she served Practical Farmers of Iowa through Green Iowa AmeriCorps, starting her service term in September 2022. In this role, she supports beginning farmers through outreach, networking, and farmer led education.

Rachel grew up in a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. Her love for Iowa started in Davenport, Iowa, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in philosophy and fine art from St. Ambrose University. Rachel continued her education, and trek north, to earn her Master of Fine Arts in painting and drawing from the University of Minnesota in 2013.

Before PFI, Rachel lived in New Orleans, where she painted sets in the film and television industry. Following Hurricane Ida, Rachel made her way back to Iowa to be closer to family (and to avoid hurricanes). She looks forward to planting roots in Iowa and avoiding tornadoes.

In her free time, Rachel sews, collects fabric and spends time with her husband, Jeremy, and cat, affectionately named Stinky.