Jen Rosenthal

Jen Rosenthal helps beginning farmers turn their ambitions into viable, sustainable businesses. As Farm Program Manager, she leads FarmPath, Farm Foundation’s national program providing aspiring and beginning farmers with education, mentorship, practical business resources, and a community of support. She guides the program’s strategy and implementation while working closely with participants, partners, and agricultural experts to ensure FarmPath responds to the real-world needs of farmers.

A first-generation farmer herself, Jen brings more than 15 years of experience working across Chicago’s food and agriculture community. Her career has taken her from managing multi-site and rooftop farms to growing specialty crops for restaurants and building partnerships with farmers, educators, nonprofits, and businesses. Before joining Farm Foundation, she founded and operated her own farm, garden, and consulting business.

Those experiences shaped Jen’s belief that succeeding in agriculture takes more than passion. Farmers also need practical knowledge, strong networks, mentorship, and clear pathways forward. She brings that perspective to FarmPath and her commitment to helping the next generation of farmers build successful futures in agriculture.

Outside of work, Jen can usually be found tending her garden or studying seed catalogs. She loves traveling, good wine, stinky cheese, and, most of all, sharing the wonder of the natural world with her daughter.