Hi everyone! My name is Sarah Landauer, and I recently started as a new AmeriCorps member for the Pennsylvania Mountain Service Corps servicing the Student Farm at Penn State. Over the course of my term, I look forward to working with the Student Farm and the larger Sustainable Food Systems Network to create community through building connections between people and the food that we eat. My decision to take on this role was not a flip of the coin but rather a decision to take an opportunity that would expand and deepen my experience advocating for community-based food systems.
I grew up in Biglerville, PA, a small town in the southcentral region of the state. Throughout my childhood, I lived surrounded by farms which heavily relied on the labor of immigrant workers. I consistently heard about the injustices to these farmworkers who did grueling work in return for inadequate pay. However, it wasn’t until I reached college and got involved in the Student Farm Club that I really had the resources to learn deeply about injustices in the food system and ways we can come together as a community to mitigate those injustices. Since being exposed to the topic, I have continued to work in the food justice space and hope to carry this focus into my time as an AmeriCorps member.
While my passion for food justice was the main driver for me taking on this position, I also do enjoy the chance to get my hands dirty and be outside. I am currently in my final semester of earning my degree in Environmental Resource Management with minors in Environmental Engineering and Marine Science. This degree path arose from my interest in environmental conservation and love of the outdoors. In the past 4 years I have had several opportunities to do work in various outdoor environments from working on a small-scale local sustainable farm to snorkeling in Panama. I am thrilled to have yet another position where I can connect with nature all while growing crops from seed to harvest. Following this role, I have plans to continue my education focusing on food systems, but I also hope to take this time to learn a bit more about myself and where I want to go.
Over the course of my involvement with the Student Farm, from club member to now starting an AmeriCorps position, I have grown so much in my knowledge of food systems and building community. It has been inspiring to work with others who share passions for sustainable food systems and creating a safer, more welcoming food community at Penn State. I look forward to seeing all that we can continue to accomplish over the course of my AmeriCorps service.