Our committee

My love for gardening began not with a seed I planted, but with the ones I inherited. When my wife and I moved into our first home, we were greeted by flourishing plants, quiet witnesses to years of care. Their presence stirred something in me. Though I knew little about tending a garden, I felt called to continue that care, as if the plants themselves were inviting me into their world.

As I learned, the soil taught me humility. I realized how much I didn’t know, but instead of discouraging me, that awareness pulled me deeper. In nurturing those plants, something in me was also being nurtured. My time in the garden changed me, it grounded me, awakened my spirit, and opened my eyes to the delicate balance of life thriving just beyond the back door.

That awakening led me further, down a path of sustainability, where I continue to learn not just for myself, but for the wellbeing of others and the quiet, natural world we so often overlook. I garden now not only to grow, but to listen. To advocate. To belong.

I’m new to plants, and appreciating nature. A life lived with the earth in mind leads to a beautiful life.

I grew up around the corner from my Italian grandparents, who both had incredible gardening skills! I started helping them “tend” their flowers and vegetables at a very young age, weeding, watering, and witnessing the miracle of growing something from a seed into a plant that produces a wealth of delicious food or a bounty of beautiful blooms. So, you might say gardening is in my blood… It’s been a major part of my life for as long as I can remember. Now that I’m retired, I’m fortunate to spend lots of time in my garden, wandering from bed to bed deadheading, smiling at the busy bees and butterflies, and enjoying the wonderful aroma of basil, rosemary, and thyme. And sometimes I think I can hear Grandpa and Grandma DeSoto’s voices offering a little advice!  

Growing up in the 1950s and 1960s in the rolling hills of southeast Nebraska, near the Missouri River, my childhood was blessed. My family’s home had four different apple trees, two peach trees, a pear tree, a buckeye tree, and grape vines, along with a large area for a garden.  I used to love climbing up into the trees to eat the fruit!  The average yearly rainfall of 35 inches, combined with the rich, dark soil and 95% humidity and 95-degree temperatures, made for perfect growing conditions for trees, gardens and corn and milo crops the area is known for.  This background and having a wife who has developed a deep love of gardening from helping her grandparents will allow me an opportunity to help Kevin, Rhonda and everyone involved with Mend share their passion of growing their food and the benefits it provides to the next generation of garden and home-grown tomato lovers!

Jesse is a Commercial Relationship Manager at First Interstate Bank and has been in banking for over 22 years. He is a Weld County native from Eaton. Jesse is committed to helping grow and support Mend for his family, community, and future generations to come. Jesse lives in Greeley with his wife Elizabeth and two daughters, Angelina and Cecilia, and appreciates their constant love and support.

Justin is a seasoned media and nonprofit leader with over two decades of experience in radio broadcasting, strategic outreach, and community engagement. As Executive Director of KRFC 88.9 FM, he champions local artists and amplifies the voices that shape Northern Colorado’s creative landscape. His career spans leadership roles at Townsquare Media and iHeartMedia, as well as nonprofit communications at Larimer Humane Society—each reflecting his deep commitment to mission-driven storytelling and regional impact.

Since relocating to Fort Collins in 2014 with his wife Tricia and their four sons, Justin has become a passionate advocate for the arts, outdoor exploration, and community connection.