board
Executive committee
PRESIDENT: Amy Duerk
After growing up in southern California and going to school in Minnesota and Michigan, Amy moved to Missoula in 2000 to continue her litigation career. After working with a local law firm for over 15 years, she hung a shingle. In addition to practicing law, Amy has loved raising her twin boys. She enjoys all that Missoula has to offer, from a supportive community to outdoor recreation. Amy is honored to serve Garden City Harvest and the many ways it feeds Missoula.
VICE PRESIDENT: Cindy Weese
Missoula has been Cindy’s home since she moved here 34 years ago to attend UM. She has spent her professional career deeply involved in local and state nonprofit organizations as staff, board member, volunteer, and donor. In 2023 she retired from the YWCA, and soon after joined the Garden City Harvest board. The granddaughter of farmers, and daughter of an ardent gardener, Cindy feels fortunate for the opportunity to dedicate her time and knowledge to ensure the organization continues providing local families access to healthy produce and fertile plots.
Board Members
John Adams
John has made Missoula his home since 1996. A Project Manager for the City of Missoula, in his spare time John likes to get into the hills on two feet or two wheels. John has long enjoyed the way his family’s share at the PEAS Farm has compelled him to learn to prep vegetables that were not part of his childhood table—kohlrabi, dragon tongue beans, salad turnips—and would like to help share such experiences with others.
Marcia Hogan
Marcia graduated from Sentinel High School and the University of Montana with liberal arts and forestry degrees. After retiring, Marcia co-produced two documentaries now on YouTube: Pines of Primm Meadow about a grand local forest and The World of K.D. Swan about Montana's national forests. Marcia believes MIssoula non-profits make the city a special place and has served on the boards of Five Valleys Land Trust, Montana Natural History Center, Good Food Store and Blue Mountain Clinic.
David Tyson
Since joining the Missoula community in 2011, David Tyson became married, a UM graduate, a father of two sublimely entertaining children, and among other things, the co-founder of Tandem Bakery. He has successfully grown kale, collards, tomatoes, the three sisters (corn, beans, and squash), lavender, garlic, onions, beets, turnips, various herbs, established currant and serviceberry bushes, arugula, nasturtium, salsify, Malabar spinach, Fort Laramie strawberries, cared for plum and apricot trees, and various herbs in his various backyard, curbside and window based gardens. David believes farming and gardening is a force for change and is deeply honored to be a part Garden City Harvest.
Allison Lawrence
Allison and her family have been so grateful to call Missoula home for the past 12 years. Allison is currently in her dream job: head volleyball coach at the University of Montana. One of the many things that drew Allison to coaching at UM is the commitment to the community within Missoula. In living, working with college students and raising a family here in Missoula, Allison continues to be both impressed and humbled by Missoula’s commitment to collaboration, resiliency, curiosity and compassion. Allison sees Garden City Harvest as an essential part of the heartbeat of this vibrant place.
Steve Hiro
After arriving in Missoula over 30 years ago, Steve was able to further his career as a cardio-thoracic and vascular surgeon and to help create the International Heart Institute of Montana at Providence St. Patrick's Hospital. Following his retirement from that endeavor, he devoted more of his time volunteering with the Owl Research Institute in Charlo, Mt., which still occupies much of his time today. He was proud to have already served one stint on the Garden City Harvest board, and after several years off, is excited about rejoining the board and continuing to work on issues related to food insecurity in the Missoula community.
Linda Sliter Yearous
Linda has lived and worked in Missoula, MT for 20 years and received her MSW from the University of Montana in 2018. Linda is currently a clinician at the Montana Center for Somatic Psychotherapy primarily working with adults who have experienced trauma. Linda has a long-standing love for Garden City Harvest and brings a unique perspective to the board, having previously worked for Garden City Harvest in the Neighborhood Farm and Community Garden programs.