Utah Conservation Corps AmeriCorps Member Honored

If you ask Sam Fitch about her work as an AmeriCorps member with the Utah Conservation Corps, she will most likely invite you to join her for an hour or so of volunteering at the Urban Community Farm in Logan while she shares her story. You’d be joining the honored list of other community volunteers who contributed over 1,500 hours last year to the enterprise. And you’d very quickly understand why she is being honored as Utah’s AmeriCorps Member of the Month for August.

Fitch and other staff and AmeriCorps members have steadily increased the size, output and efficiency of the farm since its inception in 2017, as part of Utah State University’s Center for Community Engagement. In the past year, the collective efforts have resulted in the building of 700 feet of fence (seven feet tall), building a dozen raised beds, creating a windproof growing area, and erecting 120 feet of eight-foot tall trellis for vining crops. 

Fitch graduated from Utah State University in May with a degree in plant science. As farm manager, she says that “the farm has been growing and taking shape through my AmeriCorps service and that of our volunteers. I couldn’t be more thrilled about the progress that has resulted from everyone’s hard work and dedication.” 

In recent years, the work of these committed individuals resulted in the harvest and donation of 3,788 pounds of fresh produce. 

“Our growing list of community partners who help get the produce to individuals and families in need include Loaves & Fishes, Cache Community Food Pantry and the SNAC Food Pantry on Utah State’s Logan campus,” Fitch explained. 

As Utah’s August AmeriCorps Member of the Month, Fitch was selected by UServeUtah, Utah’s state-wide Commission on Service and Volunteerism, a Division of the Utah Department of Heritage & Arts. 

“AmeriCorps gives individuals like Sam Fitch an opportunity to take the path less traveled, to break the status quo, to stop talking about problems and to become the solution,” said LaDawn Stoddard, executive director for the commission. 

About the Utah Conservation Corps

The UCC was formed in 2001 with a mission to develop the conservation leaders of tomorrow. It is based out of Utah State University’s Center for Community Engagement and has offices and locations throughout Utah. Since 2001, more than 1,400 UCC AmeriCorps members have served over one million hours creating or maintaining 3,442 miles of trail and 425 miles of fence, restoring 41,653 acres of public land, and reaching 332,250 students with environmental education. Learn more about UCC at ucc.usu.edu.