Meet Our Team

Serena founded Stuart Farm with her husband, Fred, in 2011 in Gerald, MO, and currently raises cattle, hogs, broilers, and laying hens. Stuart Farm joined Known & Grown in 2019, and Serena served on the Farm Advisory Committee and assisted with the formation of The Gateway Sustainable Farmers Alliance. Serena earned a BS in Criminal Justice and an MA in Forensic Psychology, discovered her passion for advocacy and serving the underrepresented. After 10 years advocating for victims of domestic violence in the family courts of Texas, New York, and Hawaii, she became a farmer. Her advocacy now focuses on sustainable farming, educating her customers on the benefits of local food, and supporting her fellow farmers. In her downtime, Serena enjoys gardening, crocheting, playing pinball, and traveling to see her family.

Jaye Pires-Jancose is an herbalist, community organizer, and lover of plants. They moved back to St. Louis in 2022 where they were introduced to STL’s community of farmers and growers through Urban Harvest’s Farming for Community apprenticeship, and since then they have been active in the Feed the People Garden Project. Jaye comes to agricultural work out of the conviction that growing food grows community. They are excited to work with Known & Grown to support farmers in our region and grow community around resilient and equitable local food systems. Outside of work, you can often find them in Forest Park talking to medicinal plants.

Rae Miller has worked in the St. Louis local food system since 2010, staffing a farm stand at Tower Grove Farmers Market, working on vegetable and livestock farms, starting her own urban farm, and working in nonprofit sustainable agriculture roles. Rae played an integral role in founding the Known & Grown program in 2019 and has been part of the team and community since. Outside of her passion for farming, Rae loves tending to her family- children Maple and Wallace, partner Jarred, and pup Woolly.

Nicki, along with their family, founded HartBeet Farm, a diversified farm, in 2015 in Eolia, MO. HartBeet Farm was among the first farms to join the Known & Grown program. Nicki served on the Farmer Advisory Committee before officially joining the team in 2023. They bring along a passion for supporting other farmers, fostering mental health, and encouraging awareness about our food system. In their spare time, Nicki enjoys writing, baking, and spending time in nature alongside their wife, Katie.