Board of Supervisors

Mark F. Hedrich, Knox County, has been an elected Supervisor since 1986. Mark and his wife, Linda Rose, own Agricola Farms, a diversified 117 acre farm in Union, where they raised forage crops, flowers, bedding plants, and vegetables, and operated Agricola Farms County Store and a Gallagher Power Fence dealership.

Mark graduated from the UMaine at Orono with a B.S. in Animal and Veterinary Sciences and received an M.S. from Cornell University, specializing in ruminant nutrition. Formerly, he was a planner and administrator at Roswell Park Memorial Institute in Buffalo, New York, a dairy farmer, and has served on numerous regional and local committees. In Maine, Mark has served on the Executive Board of the Maine Association of Conservation Districts (MACD) for 8 years, serving as President for two years. Subsequently, he was a member of the MACD Advisory Council and served as Councilman to the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), and was active with the Farm Service Agency County Committee for 21 years, serving as Chairman for 10 years.

When not farming in Union, or assisting Knox-Lincoln SWCD, Mark can be found at Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry as the Nutrient Management Specialist where he assists producers with nutrient management planning, solar pasture endeavors, irrigation, and compost management statewide.
In addition, Mark’s knowledge of farm operations, resources, permitting requirements, and soil health provide important input and recommendations for creating and updating informational resources – published documents, brochures, and Best Management Practice guides – provides the agricultural community with vital material statewide.

As an expert in carcass composting, Mark has assisted in helping the agricultural community on a national level, as well. He is a recognized USDA Compost Subject Matter Expert. As such, Mark was deployed in 2018 to North Carolina to assist poultry operations recover after Hurricane Florence where he worked directly with growers to supervise poultry losses (broilers) through composting. Mark’s expertise and willingness to deploy is important during these types of catastrophic events to ensure sustainability and safety on site during devastating animal loss.

A member of the Maine Association of Conservation Districts Executive Committee, Mark makes recommendations and offers guidance to advance the profile and public awareness of Soil and Water Conservation Districts. With long-range awareness to conservation methods, common sense approach decision making, and skills that provide extensive assistance, Mark Hedrich’s efforts were recognized in 2022 through inclusion in the National Association of Conservation Districts Hall of Distinction.

Diane Schivera, Knox County, worked as MOFGA’s livestock specialist from 1998 until 2019. The position provided information to all farmers and homesteaders interested in primarily organic practices. In collaboration with University of Maine Cooperative Extension, NRCS, and farmers, she was instrumental in starting Maine Grass Farmers Network, which works to educate farmers on pasture improvement and hay management to make the fields and farms more resilient. These days much of the growing season is spent working with Master Gardeners at Brae Maple Farm.

Diane also has a small farm/homestead in Appleton that included various livestock mostly chickens these days, vegetable and pasture fields, an orchard and wood lot - all of which aim for sustainable practices.

Jeff Tarbox, Lincoln County, is the seventh generation to live on the Tarbox family property on Westport Island, Covelly Farm. The farm today is primarily managed forest land, in tree growth, with trails for visitors. Jeff also leases 20 acres of fields to a MOFGA-certified mixed vegetable organic operation, Tarbox Farm, and supports their expansion of farming acreage and the implementation of NRCS-supported high tunnels and irrigation. He is a part-owner of Sasanoa Brewing Company, also located on the farm property.

Jeff has served on the Westport Island Select Board and many town committees. Jeff brings to the board his decades of experience working in project management, finance and consulting for General Dynamics, Computer Sciences, and Deloitte Consulting.

Nancy Prisk, Lincoln County, has served on our Board since January 2021 as a voting supervisor. Nancy Prisk serves her community as a member of the Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission (8 years) and as a member of their Executive Committee for 4 years. From 2015-2018 Nancy represented Southport Island on the regional (Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb and Southport) Joint Economic Development Committee with the goal to promote regional planning and decision making.

In 2015, Nancy co-founded the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Land for Southport's Future (LFSF). During the summer of 2020 this community based non-profit organization sponsored and staffed Southport's access to the federal free breakfast and lunch program, "Free Meals for Kids", available to all Southport children. LFSF also partnered with Healthy Lincoln County and Lincoln County Gleaners to provide the "Southport Shares" table filled with fresh vegetables and pantry basics, available weekly on the lawn of the Southport Central School. In response to the public health concern during the COVID pandemic, LFSF hosted a weekly shopping service with the goal to keep our island elders home safe while having full access to nutritious foods and the opportunity to receive other community support as needed.

Nancy is a nontraditional student at the University of Maine, Orono. She will graduate in Spring 2024 with a Interdisciplinary Masters degree in Maine Studies, focused on Land Use, Community Engagement and Native American Studies. After a career in education, business, and project management, Nancy uses her skills as a research consultant with a focus on family and community histories. She is a registered researcher with the Maine CDC, the credentials needed to access vital records archived with the State and each municipality. Her business is posted as a resource on the website of the Maine State Library.

Karin Rector, Knox County, served on our Board since November 2020, originally as an Associate Supervisor and currently as a Supervisor. Karin continues to be active on our Board through attending our meetings and volunteering for our annual plant sale, youth activities and various office projects.

Karin graduated from the University of Maine-Orono with a B.S. in education. She also holds a graduate level Certificate of Literacy from USM. She taught middle school English and retired from Camden Rockport Elementary School in 2018 as a Title I educational technician teaching reading and occasionally math. Prior to her years in education, she worked in publishing and advertising.

She served on the Camden Conservation Commission from 1994 until June 2011, retiring as Chair. While on the Commission, she became knowledgeable in dendrology and natural area preservation. She received her Master Gardener Volunteer certification in 2019. She has grown vegetables and flowers for many years. She is a member of Maine Woodland Owners and owns a modestly sized woodland in Union with her husband. They run a small vineyard in Union as well.

In 2014, Karin rejoined the Merryspring Nature Center board, having previously served as a Trustee and officer from 1986-1995, Special concerns are awareness of invasive species, erosion, and field preservation. She has served on the Board of Supervisors of the Knox-Lincoln Soil and Water Conservation District since 2020. She has lived in Camden since the 1970s, and her family has had a home in Union since the 1950s.

Sharon G. Chadwick, Knox County, lives with her husband, Gerald, at BenEva Farm in Warren, which was started more than 70 years ago by her grandparents, Ben and Eva Barbour. Sharon and Jerry “came home” to run the farm with Sharon’s grandparents in 1988 and still operate as a conservation farm, raising commercial Black Angus beef for the freezer and feedlots, and selling hay. They engage in conservation practices with a manure storage facility, a heavy use pad area, a livestock barn and by developing a management plan for invasive plant species

Each year, Sharon looks to judging the Annual Poster Contest and helping out at the Conservation Fair and Plant Sale.

In 2023, Sharon received a “Lifetime Achievement Award” in recognition of her commitment to conservation practices and decades of volunteer work serving as a Supervisor, and now Associate Supervisor.

Mid-Maine Forestry, Warren

BIO forthcoming.

Honorary Lifetime Member of our Board of Supervisors

Robert W. Spear received Knox-Lincoln’s Honorary Lifetime Membership Award in 2005. Bob served as an Associate Supervisor of Knox-Lincoln SWCD for 8 years and a Supervisor for 20 years, and was Maine’s Commissioner of Agriculture from 1999-2005. His expertise and dedication are greatly appreciated by all who share his values of agriculture and conservation. Bob is generous with his time and talents, representing Maine across the US to ensure continuing accomplishments in resource conservation. Bob and his wife, Janet, reside in Nobleboro where they operate Spear’s Vegetable Farm with their sons and grandchildren.

Honorary Lifetime Member of our Board of Supervisors

Barry J. Tibbetts - Whitefield

BIO forthcoming