Our Team
Harry & Gwen Carr - Co-founders, Farmers, & Owners
Harry has plugged along organically farming in Illinois for over 20 years now. He has long been a believer in the power of perennial pasture to counteract climate change & add resilience and biodiversity to our region. Always striving for a challenge and a dream, Harry continues to be the fearless leader of the farm. Gwen, an owner, caretaker, and advisor to the farm, mainly spends her time these days teaching elementary Montessori School. She also cared for hundreds of pasture-raised chickens this summer, and greatly enjoyed it. Hailing from East & West Coasts originally., Harry & Gwen met in Stelle, IL, and here they settled down to form family, farm, and business together. Harry & Gwen have always shared a love for and interest in nature, the outdoors, and organic food & agriculture. When they bought land together in the early 1990s, they dreamed of restoring the native prairie. Harry, a self-taught entrepreneur and idealist business man who grew up hunting and gardening in rural New Jersey, quickly had ambitions towards a farm business. Gwen, a painter, writer, Montessori teacher, & homemaker from southern California, imparted her love of good food and nutritional research on the farm.
Erin Hancock (they/them) - Chicago Market Operations Manager
Erin began their journey with Mint Creek in April 2024, staffing our booths at various farmers markets throughout Chicago and Evanston. It only took one season for Erin to fall in love with the work of promoting organic, pasture-raised meat while building relationships with customers who are equally as passionate about supporting regenerative farming and community-based food systems. In December 2024, Erin stepped into the role of Operations Manager, providing full-time support to the week-to-week operations of Mint Creek's presence at farmers markets across Chicago. Erin feels like they have the best of both worlds - getting to work at markets on the weekends while also getting to spend time each week out at the farm learning more about Mint Creek's farming philosophy and practices while connecting with the land and the animals.
Chaniece Moryah - Market Staff
Chaniece’s journey with Mint Creek began June 2023. She primarily works retail at the Chicago Farmers’ Market. Chaniece was drawn to Mint Creek first as a customer to the organic and regenerative practices that centered the well-being of both the soil and the animals. What Chaniece likes most about her work is getting to know the community of folks who shop with Mint Creek every week, and working with the sweet and kind folks at Mint Creek. Fun fact, Chaniece absolutely LOVES to dance!
Maddy Ray (she/her) - Lead Market Chef, Home Delivery Staff
Maddy has worked for Mint Creek seasonally since 2021. Here she is pictured doing home deliveries in February. She is proud of developing the recipe for pulled pork/boar in partnership with Urban Canopy and bartending at Farm Dinners
Aly Meza - Market Staff
Aly joined the farmers market staff team in spring 2025. A Chicagoan born and raised, she loves the city's access to locally raised and grown food. The market is the perfect outlet for her extroversion, where she enjoys chatting with customers and picking up cooking tips. When she’s not with Mint Creek, you can find her bike camping through the Great Lakes region, attending births as a doula, and studying for nursing school.
Jonathan Carr - Advisor & Solutions Architect
Jonathan grew up on Mint Creek, and is passionate about organic land stewardship and the environmental impacts of farming ecologically. He has been a vital part of Mint Creek for decades, and over the years he has worn many hats: from farm management, organic certification paperwork, bookkeeping, business planning & grant writing, to soil & pasture maintenance through prairie restoration. After completing his degree in computer science, Jonathan became a software developer for a Chicago-area public sector hospital system. He lives with his wife Kathleen and their two daughters in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Jonathan loves playing music on piano and accordion (and just about any instrument you put into his hands). As a trusted advisor and solutions architect for the farm, Jonathan takes a broad view of the family business, assessing the bigger picture risks and proposing informed solutions.
Raya Carr (she/her) - Shepherdess, Events & Project Coordinator
Raya began farming at the age of 4 when Mint Creek got its first two sheep, one of which she named “Jackie.” Through her work in farming, food, & preventative healthcare, Raya’s goal is to help heal, restore, and regenerate people's connection to the powerful & delicate ecological balances we exist within. After growing up as farmhand at Mint Creek, Raya spent most of her twenties doing sales management, event coordination, & marketing for the farm, while she also completed her massage therapy license. Since then, Raya has branched out within the intersection of organic farming & finance and works for Iroquois Valley Farms (organic farmland REIT). On top of that, Raya still spends time during early mornings, evenings, & weekends supporting Mint Creek Farm’s staff in sales & marketing, events—& on very special days—sheep care.
Sean Winters - Farmer
Sean found Mint Creek through his mother, Christine, who worked for the farm, as well. Sean started at Mint Creek some time afterwards, and took well to the hard work and heavy lifting. Sean has now been farming with Mint Creek for years. Sean and his family also raise a few of their own animals on a nearby farm.
Carly Pinto - CSA Coordinator, Marketing
Carly discovered us after beginning her journey as a holistic nutritionist in Chicago in search for the highest quality meat offered in her area. As an advocate of conscious meat eating, she felt deeply connected to the mission of Mint Creek's farming philosophy. Carly is excited to be working behind the scenes of this truly unique farm and is passionate to spread the word about their mission in the nutrition and holistic health field.
Syd Raven Whittington (she/her) - Market Staff
Syd has enjoyed her work in the service industry for the last 17 years and loves bringing that passion to the amazing team at Mint Creek. Syd believes community and human connection are the bedrock of a meaningful and joyful life, and has found those values held by everyone else on the team. In addition to the humans she gets to work with and serve at the markets, she enjoys the time spent with the animals and learns new things from every visit to the farm!
Wilson Yerxa - Market + Prepared Food Staff, Home Delivery Staff
Wilson has worked markets on the retail and prepared food side on and off since 2019. He loves the people, the variety of scrappy labor, and the food(!) he gets to enjoy working for Mint Creek. He’s lived in Chicago since 2018. When he drives the farm’s delivery van through all Chicago’s neighborhoods he’s flooded with endless memories.