Kelly Larsen

Kelly leads The Conservation Fund’s Farms Fund program in the Chicago metro region, guiding farmland acquisition, farmer placement, and program strategy. Kelly works with farmers, partners, and communities to protect farmland, expand land access, and strengthen local food systems. She matches aspiring landowners with properties that support their long-term business goals and manages a team of staff and consultants providing technical assistance, business planning support, and connections to critical resources that help farmers build resilient operations and achieve land ownership. Kelly’s career in agricultural leadership has focused on advancing equity by supporting small and beginning farmers through USDA-funded training programs, business development assistance, and market access opportunities.

Prior to joining The Conservation Fund, Kelly was the Associate Vice President of Windy City Harvest at the Chicago Botanic Garden, leading workforce development urban agriculture programs and operations. Kelly has a degree in environmental studies from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago and lives on the West Side of Chicago, where she runs a community farm and native gardens with her partner.