Meet the White Oaks School Farm
Founding Families
David WashburN
Co-Founder
A lifelong entrepreneur, David inherited his love of farming from his grandfather, a gentleman farmer and owner of Juneway Farm in Dellwood. Thirty years ago, he and his wife Meg were early pioneers in the Twin Cities' CSA and farm-to-table movements. Together with fellow farmer Everett Myers, they founded Red Cardinal Farm, where they grew organic produce for 250 families, local co-op grocery stores and fine restaurants. Equally passionate about architecture and landscape design, David is the co-developer and co-founder of White Oaks Savanna, an architecture-driven community with 30 homes on 200 acres of carefully restored prairie.
Zach Robinson
Co-Founder
Zach brings nearly two decades of non-profit leadership to White Oaks School Farm. He is a founding board member and Executive Director of Spark-Y, a mission-driven non-profit that provides youth with hands-on education, projects and employment rooted in sustainability and entrepreneurship. With White Oaks School Farm, Zach and his wife Emma are proud to be creating a living legacy of education, restoration and opportunity to serve generations to come.
meg anderson
Co-Founder
In hindsight, farming was always Meg's destiny, nurtured by her father as he shared stories of his adventures on his grandmother's South Dakota farms. Meg's mother, a wonderful cook, inspired 4-year-old Meg to discover an unlikely fondness for artichokes, and years later, a natural talent for planting, growing and cooking healthy foods. When Meg first met David, their shared love of farming took them to Kauai and back to Stillwater where they founded Red Cardinal Farm with Everett Myers, became frontier organic growers in the St. Croix River Valley and planted the seeds for White Oaks School Farm.
Emma Robinson
Co-Founder
Farming and stewardship are deeply rooted in Emma’s DNA, as she is the 7th-generation of an Iowa farm family. An expert in marketing, operations and development, Emma is a founding board member and marketing consultant for Spark-Y. As co-founder of White Oaks School Farm, she’s honored to continue her family’s farming tradition, create new opportunities for independent farmers and restore farming as an honorable and profitable profession.
FOUNDING BOARD MEMBERS
Mary Samoszuk
Board Chair
Mary brings extensive development, management and governance experience—and a heartfelt connection— to WOSF. "As a first-generation American, I come from people whose lives depended on family farms, so I'm proud to help WOSF educate future organic farmers," she says. An expert in senior living, she's served as a consultant and senior executive director for numerous companies and non-profit organizations. She's also served on the Medica and Allina Health boards and chaired the City of Mendota Planning Commission. When she's not volunteering, she enjoys gardening, reading, walking and spending time with friends and family.
STEVE SCHUMACHER
PROJECT MANAGER
Steve brings decades of leadership, project management experience and organic gardening expertise to WOSF. He's honored to help create and develop the master project plan and schedule for WOSF, as it will positively impact many people's lives for years to come. Steve earned his Project Management certification from the Project Management Institute and he's led enterprise-scale initiatives for USPS, Northwest Airlines/Delta Airlines and 3M. He received his Master Gardener certification from the University of Minnesota, and he loves planting, harvesting and sharing fresh produce with his family, friends and community.
Hal Tearse
BoARD tREASURER
As a Certified Private Wealth Advisor®, author, mentor and coach, Hal helps families and business owners make good financial decisions and achieve their goals. As a WOSF board member, he's honored to help empower the next generation of farmers to create sustainable and rewarding businesses. Hal received his CPWA® designation through Yale University and the Investments and Wealth Institute. He's also an award-winning professional photographer and Planning