Contact us
To learn more about the Farm Family Resource Initiative (FFRI) or to be added to our mailing list, email ffri@siumed.edu.
Help to spread the word about the FFRI.
FFRI offers marketing materials, social media graphics and articles at no cost, thanks to the generous financial support provided by the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Mental Health.
Meet the FFRI Team
Karen Leavitt Stallman
Program Coordinator & Agriculture Resource Specialist
A double alumna of SIU Carbondale, Karen Stallman earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Agriculture Education with a minor in Animal Science.
She worked with University of Illinois Extension in Randolph County for 20 years, serving a decade as unit leader and earlier as youth development extension adviser. Stallman then served as the Director of the Sustainability Initiative and Vice Provost of the Red Bud Campus at Southwestern Illinois College for 9 years, followed by 6 years as Director of Continuing Education and Outreach Director at SIU Carbondale.
Today, she serves as the Agriculture Resource Specialist for the Farm Family Resource Initiative, managed by SIU School of Medicine's Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development. Karen and her husband farm in Randolph County, raising corn, soybeans, wheat, and beef cattle.
Rachel Brown
Mental Health Specialist
Raised on a family farm, Rachel Brown spent nearly five years working in agriculture before answering a deeper calling to support mental health in rural communities. Now a Licensed Professional Counselor, she serves as a Mental Health Specialist with the Farm Family Resource Initiative and also sees clients at Pepper Brown & Associates in Springfield, IL.
Rachel supports clients with a variety of needs and has special focus areas in trauma, grief, and life transitions. She is passionate about making mental health care more accessible and relatable for those in agriculture and rural areas.
Sharie Cradduck
Agriculture Resource Specialist
Sharie Cradduck brings 25 years of experience in government roles to her work with FFRI. She spent 16 years with the Department of Defense, five years in municipal government, and five years with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).
Raised on a small family farm outside Coulterville, Illinois, that has been in her family since the 1900s, agriculture has always been an important part of Sharie’s life. She studied Geospatial Studies in college, earned her BS in Geography, and has worked extensively with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and geospatial technologies.
After taking an early retirement, Sharie shifted her focus to a second career that reflects her true passion: agriculture and community service. She and her husband, Rob, currently live in O’Fallon, Illinois, with plans to return to their family farm in 2027 when their youngest graduates from high school. She is currently developing business plans that may include an agritourism venture or growing local food to address food insecurity. She is also an advocate for women in agriculture.
In addition to her professional pursuits, Sharie enjoys gardening, hunting, traveling, camping, and spending time with her two children, a daughter in college and a son in high school.
Emily Reinhardt
Marketing Specialist
Emily Reinhardt is a full-time dairy farmer in Red Bud, Illinois, where she farms alongside her husband and in-laws. Together they milk about 240 Holsteins and grow corn, soybeans, wheat, and alfalfa. Emily and her husband are also raising their young daughter on the farm, making family a central part of their daily life.
She grew up on a grain farm, watching both of her parents farm full-time together. Emily attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where she majored in Plant and Soil Science. After graduation, she worked as a researcher in SIU’s Weed Science Department before transitioning to life on the dairy.
Over the past year, Emily has managed FFRI’s social media presence. She now serves as Marketing Specialist, where she is excited to expand her role in sharing resources and connecting with farm families across Illinois.