Crystal has worked for the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences for the past six years. Crystal was part of the Functional Foods for Health Program within the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition prior to joining NRES. She has been a partner of the Sustainable Ag group working with Deborah Cavanaugh-Grant and Dan Anderson to organize the Annual Illinois Organic Production conferences, Sustainable Ag tours and most recently the Farm Beginnings Program.  She enjoys designing program materials for this group and meeting the interesting people throughout the State of Illinois who devote their time to producing healthy food for consumers. She and her husband are experiencing life on a small farm they recently purchased south of Monticello where they are raising berries, apples, and chickens. The addition of Nubian and LaMancha kids to their growing family of pets (yellow labs) keep the 8 grandkids happy when visiting the farm. Making memories for the little ones is what it is all about for Crystal.