Fellowship Keeps Dilmun Hill’s Mission Moving

Above: Izzie Beck ‘27 has spent two years working and leading Dilmun Hill Student Farm. (Photo by Emma Kagen)

Working with the organic coordinator for Cornell AES, Ryan Maher, who supervises Dilmun Hill, and Frank Rossi, the Richard C. Call Director of the Agricultural Sciences Major, Beck helped create the new position to address the continuity challenge.

As the farm grows, so do its leadership needs. With new managers each year, the farm began thinking about the farm’s leadership pipeline. “We’re always talking about ways to improve continuity at Dilmun,” Beck said. “If you want to do something there, you can take the initiative and propose your idea and do it, which is kind of how this ag fellow position came about,” she said. 

After stepping into the position last fall, she advised and supported  managers in farm and market operations while focusing on the farm’s long-term sustainability - cleaning up fields, cover cropping, and putting the farm to rest for the winter.

Beyond its CSA, the farm hosts events year-round — from community dinners and shiitake workshops to volunteer days where students earn produce. Managers also lead tours and support student research and on-farm innovation projects.

“Agriculture made me understand community and leadership better,” Beck said. Her experience as both manager and fellow may shape her future. “Farming is a very rewarding job and task, which I’m attracted to. It’s been very empowering, realizing that maybe I could start a market garden in the future after I graduate.”

 Above: Arroyo-Jefferson prepares growing beds over the 2026 spring break (Photo provided) 

Beck's successor, sophomore agricultural sciences major Jamora Arroyo-Jefferson, will organize and support the next generation of the student-based farming team.

“I am excited about getting my hands dirty, doing the hard work and celebrating the resulting crops. This is exactly what drew me to want to study at CALS — its hands-on approach to the curriculum,” she said.

During the spring semester, Arroyo-Jefferson is completing farm orientation training and preparing the farm for the upcoming season, including ordering seeds, preparing fields and working in the greenhouse. During the fall semester, she will coordinate market distribution, and help with field production. 

“I get to work with a talented and passionate group of student farm managers at the site, and we all serve in leadership positions, overseeing all aspects of operations at Dilmun Hill,” she said. 

Students can get involved with Dilmun Hill by joining the club, applying to be a paid student farm manager or serving on the Steering Committee.  

Visit the Dilmun Hill Student Farm website for more information and to learn how to get involved.

Jacob Zajkowski '26 is a food systems communicator, journalist from Maumee, Ohio.