Bridgett Hilshey
AGRICULTURAL SPECIALIST
SOIL SCIENTIST &
PROJECT MANAGER
Here's who I am & what I do
I'm an agricultural specialist with expertise in project development and management and data synthesis and communication.
Scroll down to learn more about my activities and accomplishments.
EDUCATION | EXPERIENCE | SKILLS | HOBBIES
Education
2010-2013
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
Burlington VT
3.9 GPA
2004-2008
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Bellingham, WA
M.S. Plant and Soil Science
My degree emphasized soil physics, soil chemistry, soil ecology, and statistics.
Thesis: Effectiveness of Raw Milk as a Pasutre Ammendment (2013)
B.S. Environmental Science
My degree emphasized environmental toxicology.
3.76 GPA
Professional Experience
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PROJECT MANAGER
Dairy Management Inc. (DMI)
Remote
2022 to Present
I develop and lead projects that support dairy checkoff's environmental stewardship strategy. Specifically, I collaborate with partners across the supply chain and agricultural support network to develop on-farm research, education, and implementation initiatives that reduce dairy GHG emissions, support carbon sequestration, reduce water use, and promote clean water.
INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT (BUSINESS FOUNDER)
Green and Grounded Environmental Consulting
Essex, NY
2021 - 2022
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Started a consulting business committed to advancing research, education, and implementation efforts that support clean water, resilient soils, and a stable climate.
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Continue to work for North Jersey RC&D managing soil and water conservation projects.
AGRICULTURAL SPECIALIST
North Jersey RC&D
Asbury, NJ
2018-2021
LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
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Hired interns and new agricultural specialists (2)
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Trained and supervised staff (1-2 people) including setting goals and objectives, and evaluating performance
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Lead development of the New Jersey NRCS Strategic Soil Health Management Plan (20 Person Team), having been selected for a leadership role from the 50+ member group.
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Selected to lead Regional William Penn Foundation Communication Team (10 Person Team)
GRANT DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT
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Developed, wrote, and received nine grants in less than three years totaling over $3,395,000
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Managed multi-disciplinary teams of staff, partners, and contractors to ensure project objectives were met
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Managed project budget, contacts, and developed systems to streamline budget tracking
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Developed a filterable GIS application to track grant metrics across regions, grants, and years
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Used modeling software (Fielddocs, Model-my-Watershed, & COMET-Farm) to estimate impacts of BMP implementation
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
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Developed and managed an $933,000 NRCS CIG On-Farm Conservation Trial soil health demonstration, with expansive soil health, social, and economic research components, over 1500 acres with 25 farmers focused on spring cover crop management strategies; collaborated closely with partners and subcontractors to develop the experimental design, essentially developing my own research committee
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Created expansive research manual that guides participants through the process of recording economic and agronomic data
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Developed system for using drone and satellite imagery in research plots to monitor cover crop growth and cash crop growth parameters
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Managed two additional research projects evaluating methods of applying cover crops and short-season crops on five farms.
OUTREACH AND EDUCATION
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Developed a No-till and Cover Crop Education Program for 75 agricultural services providers in the Northeast. In response to COVID, I modified the event from 8 field days to 15 webinars and designed the course to be a flipped classroom in which participants learned materials at home and used webinars for discussion and critical thinking.
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Organized large (100+ attendee) events including the first NJ No-till & Cover Crop Conference
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Organized two field days (No-till Tips and Tricks & Nutrient Management) including arranging accommodation, promoting an event, and hiring speakers)
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Presented at multiple conferences including the NOFA Conferences, NJ No-till and Cover Crop Conference, Delaware River Watershed Initiative Winter Gathering
DATA SYNTHESIS AND COMMUNICATION
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Authored a 180+ page textbook focused on soil health practice implementation, aggregating existing research and expertise from 16 farmers and agricultural professionals. The book is currently pending publication.
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Developed the Agricultural Planning Tool to assist individuals working with farmers to improve conservation, ask the right questions, recommend the right practices, and easily record their conservation notes for recordkeeping purposes
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Expertise in data translation for a lay audience using software platforms including Tableau and ArgGIS StoryMap and JMP to analyze and convey data.
POLICY
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Planned press event that included US Senator Cory Booker, US Representative Malinowski, and NJ Secretary of Agriculture Doug Fisher
OTHER PROJECTS
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Developed River-Friendly Farm Certification Program, including completing logo, trademark, website, and certification guidelines; also developed cross-state partnerships to grow certification.
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Conceived and developed mini-grant program that awarded over $150,00 in funding to farmers to support soil health practice implementation
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Developed and managed an innovative soil health education initiative spanning over 3000 acres; the program offered free soil samples to farmers as an outreach tool
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Provisionally certified as Pennsylvania Nutrient Management Specialist (160-hour course)
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Collaborated with contractors, engineers, agricultural supply dealers, and equipment dealers to install BMPs including waste storage facilities, HUAPs, grassed waterways, and permanent fence.
AGRICULTURAL LAB TECHNICAN
J.R. Peters
Allentown PA
2017
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Measured physical and chemical properties of soil, tissue, media, and water samples using ICP, Skalar Flow-through Analysis, Carlo Nitrogen Analyzer, and pH meters
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Communicated with agricultural producers about their sample analysis
GRAPHIC DESIGNER / STAY-AT-HOME MOTHER
Self Employed
2012-2017
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Designed posters, booklets, and brochures for a variety of organizations including, the University of Vermont, Cornell University, Penn State University, and various local organizations
GRADUATE RESEARCHER
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT
2010-2012
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Developed and co-authored three research grants; awarded over $40,000 total
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Simultaneously completed research, data analysis, and reporting for 4 separate research grants promoting agricultural run-off mitigation, soil conservation, and alternative organic fertilizers.
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Created 20-page manual teaching farmers simple research techniques
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Collaborated with farmers and businesses to refine the experimental design and perform multi-year on-farm experiments.
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Presented findings at numerous conferences and seminars
PROJECT MANAGER
Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Burlington, VT
Part-time
2010 - 2013
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Coordinated a study involving 25 growers and researchers from the University of Vermont and Cornell University aimed at determining shiitake mushroom best management practices and operation economic viability.
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Worked closely with producers through annual farm visits and frequent email communication
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Organized five-day-long events/workshops promoting sustainable forest farming
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Improved project efficiency by generating a complex online application and database to organize results
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Responsible for designing data collection methods and compiling and analyzing hundreds of pages of farmer data into concise reports
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Created 57-page manual summarizing shiitake mushroom production practices as well as numerous other articles and handouts.
ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR
The Hudson River Sloop Clearwater
Beacon, NY
2010
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Guided youth-at-risk on backpacking and kayaking expeditions in the Hudson Valley
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Taught natural resource protection and conservation to youth aboard the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater
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Re-designed promotional material and assisted in recruiting
PHYSICAL SCIENCE TECHNICIAN
Joshua Tree National Park
Twenty-nine Palms, CA
2008 – 2010
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Independently collected and analyzed air and water quality sample for an EPA National Trends and Monitoring Program
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Managed coordination between park resource scientists, maintenance crews, and government contractors for a multi-million-dollar project to close abandoned gold mines
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Managed teams of volunteers to monitor and restore desert fragile ecosystems through re-vegetation and exotic plant removal
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Promoted three times in two years
WILDERNESS RANGER
Olympic National Park
Olympia WA
Summers
2004-2008
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Educated visitors about ecology and natural history
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Resolved park visitor problems in a pleasant and professional and manner
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Independently patrolled thousands of acres of mountainous terrain during 12-day tours
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Managed multiple rescues and coordinated helicopter extractions with US Navy and Coast Guard
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
Graphic Design
I use my expertise in graphic design to create professional outreach materials for a variety of audiences including the public, farmers, funders, and agricultural professionals. Below are some examples of the handouts and flyers I used to advertise programs, initiatives, and field days.
Expertise with Adobe Design Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop)
Data Communication and Synthesis
I synthesize my own research along with peer-reviewed literature, first-person accounts, and interviews to create educational resources. Below are some of the data communication products that I've written and developed.
Expert-level skill using GraphPrisim, Tableau, and Mircosoft Excel;
Intermediate skills with SAS JMP and Microsoft Access
 180-page soil health best management practices (BMP) implementation guide |  Infographic describing Delaware River watershed economic benefits |  Project handout summarizing the NRCS-CIG Soil Health Demonstration |  Interpretive sign designed to educate shoppers about rain gardens |  32-page guide outlining on-farm pasture research experimental design, methods, and analysis |
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 Poster highlighting "Keyline" plow research in pasture system to reduce compaction |  76-page guide detailing log-based shiitake mushroom production BMPs |  12-page handout for a funder site tour |  Poster highlighting pasture amendment research |  Infographic describing water quality monitoring |
Website Design
I create complex, effective and visually appealing websites in support of projects and businesses. I typically use the WIX platform, although I am also proficient in Squarespace, Weebly, and Shopify.
Project Websites
Within a larger website, I develop and build landing pages to convey project information and collect data.
Geographic Information Systems
I am highly skilled at using ArcGIS software platforms (both desktop and online versions) to create and modify maps, story maps, and mapping applications. I frequently use ArcGIS Online to create collaborative mapping applications, which are editable outside of the GIS framework, to collect data from farmers and partners in order to track metrics. To streamline metric reporting, I create a complex, filterable mapping application that our organization uses to record and monitor all product impacts.
Statistics and Modeling
I am highly skilled at using SAS JMP, GraphPrisim, Tableau, Excel, Access, and collect and analyze data research. To model water quality impacts I've use FieldDocs and "Model my Watershed". To model climate impacts I use NRCS COMET and CarPE. To monitor and analyze satellite imagery, I use EOS (Earth Observing System). In general, I'm very good at learning new software and tend to be the person others go to for help.
Photography
I'm a skilled amateur photographer and have taken all the images on this website as well as most of the images included in the promotional materials I create.
Knowledge of Agricultural Systems
I am highly knowledgeable of agricultural management systems and agricultural conservation practices. I have supported farmers and NRCS staff implement a wide range of BMPs including HUAPs, manure storage facilities, nutrient management plans (NMP and CNMPs), cover crop, no-till, and grazing management plans. In addition, I am a provisionally certified Pennsylvania Nutrient Management Specialist (160-hour course) and am in the process of becoming an NRCS Nutrient Management TSP.
Furthermore, I have an excellent understanding of agricultural management systems and practical aspects of BMP implementation. I have a thorough knowledge of planting systems, nutrient management, termination practices, and pest management practices across conventional commodity crops, organic vegetable and pasture-based operations. Most recently I have provided weekly technical assistance to 25 farmers implementing a variety of advanced cover crop management systems (roller-crimper, grazing cover crop, and planting green) over 1500 acres in both conventional and organic operations.
I have held in-depth discussions with over 100 farmers about their management, priorities, challenges, and goals. In this regard my knowledge base is somewhat unique; I understand the scientific underpinning of conservation practices and also have a thorough appreciation of the difficulties that farmers face implementing them.
HOBBIES
Tiny House Contruction
My family and I have spent the last 8 months designing and building a tiny house on wheels from the ground up. I've learned everything from framing to electrical to plumbing, to cabinet making. Its been a marvelous opportunity to escape my desk (and comfort zone) during this long pandemic.
Gardening / Hobby Farming
I have always loved gardening and typically manage a diverse organic vegetable garden and chicken flock. Our family also typically spends a few weeks each year working on my sister's livestock farm in the Adirondacks. Mini-tribulations in my own garden (weeds, pests, and animal illness) had certainly given me plenty of appreciation of the difficulties real farmer's face!
Backpacking & Rock Climbing
I was an avid backpacker and rock-climber throughout my youth. Although having three children certainly slowed down my pursuit of these activities, our family is again returning to the mountains.