Sandy McAntire
Data Systems and Member Engagement Manager
Data Systems and Member Engagement Managersandy.mcantire(at)practicalfarmers(dot)org
Sandy McAntire started working with PFI part-time in August 2021 supporting the small grains cost-share program. In January 2025, she transitioned to a full-time role as the data systems and member engagement manager. Her work supports all cost-share programs by ensuring efficient, high-quality, personalized member engagement and successful execution of all data collection for aggregation and analytics.
Sandy was a city girl originally from Rochester, New York, who moved to Ottumwa, Iowa, in grade school. She later purchased a small farm in east-central, Iowa, that was a perfect mix of timber, pasture and tillable ground. On the farm, she raised goats, emus, llamas, ducks, a few horses, one pig, peafowl and one daughter. After realizing that containing plants is much easier than corralling livestock, Sandy now grows elderberry, pawpaws, persimmons, chestnuts, hazelnuts, native prairie plants and flowers.
All ag-ventures lead to many hours at farmers markets on both sides of the table, lots of great connections with fellow farmers and a passion for sustainable farming systems and local foods from both a business and environmental perspective. Sandy has an undergraduate degree in entrepreneurial management from Buena Vista University, a Master of Business Administration from the University of Northern Iowa and an associate degree in local area network technology from Kirkwood Community College.
She is a proud PFI lifetime member with additional certificates in permaculture design and organic farming. Sandy is excited to combine her past skills as a tech support manager and database administrator, and her work on business development for an organic farm, with her love of agriculture. When not enjoying the outdoors on the farm or experiencing a different growing system at a field day, Sandy loves taking motorcycle road trips with her daughter.