2025 MAC's Teacher of the Year

I'm Evey, an agricultural educator, maker, and lifelong advocate for connecting with the natural world. My journey began on my family's multigenerational farm in Kansas, where 4-H introduced me to gardening, animal husbandry, and cooking. A leap of faith brought me to Massachusetts when I answered a newspaper ad to be a nanny in Hingham—and I've been planting roots here ever since!

Today, I live in Hanson with my husband, our two sons, and a lively flock of seven chickens, including our spirited friendly rooster, Marty.

For over a decade, I've been a dedicated 4-H volunteer and club leader, fostering curiosity and hands-on learning. As a Program Assistant Educator with Plymouth County Extension 4-H, I shared programs such as gardening, chicken care, and babysitting safety in schools and libraries. During the pandemic, I launched The Farmer's Daughter, a local cable access TV series that teaches people how to grow their own food. It aired on WHCA TV and continues to thrive on Instagram and Facebook (@thefarmersdaughtershow).

Bringing Agriculture to Life at Bay Farm Montessori

For the past three years, I've served as the Agricultural Specialist at Bay Farm Montessori Academy in Duxbury, MA. On our stunning 9-acre campus, complete with gardens, chickens, goats, alpacas, and serene hiking trails, I bring agriculture to life through dynamic, hands-on lessons.

• arly Childhood Learners discover where their food and clothes come from, tracing the origins of foods like pizza or exploring pollination with lessons such as A Picnic with No Bees. Lessons are often inspired by students' curiosity, like when a child brought in a cicada molt from South Carolina.
• Elementary Students connect agriculture with grade-level curriculum, such as growing a “Three Sisters Garden” during Indigenous studies, exploring hydroponics to learn about NASA's work on the ISS, or creating a Mesopotamian farm-to-table experience.
• Middle Schoolers delve into agribusiness with a micro-economy project, running small businesses that sell agriculture-based products like goat milk soap and holiday wreaths. They gain real-world skills in entrepreneurship, sustainability, and market dynamics.

Inspired by Maria Montessori's philosophy to "Follow the Child," I tailor my lessons to embrace both nature and students' inquisitiveness, often pausing to explore butterfly chrysalises, snake skins, or praying mantis ootheca discovered on campus.

Innovating in the Maker Space

Two years ago, I also became the Shop Teaching Specialist, developing a new curriculum for our Montessori Maker Space. I combine agriculture with STEM and design through collaborative programs like “Articulture,” blending art and nature. Students craft projects ranging from painting my rooster Marty to designing floral arrangements with greenery from campus.

Field trips to farms, creative explorations of rare heritage animals, and multi-sensory projects allow students to experience the intersection of science, art, and sustainability.

A Lifelong Mission

Whether it's tending animals, journaling on nature hikes, or crafting with alpaca fiber, my mission is to make agriculture engaging, meaningful, and memorable. I aim to teach life lessons that instill curiosity, creativity, and care for the world around us—empowering the next generation to grow, create, and thrive.