Who we are

Joy Kauffman, MPH, is the Founder and Executive Director of FARM STEW International. As a mother, public health nutritionist, and Christian, she is passionate about addressing the root causes of hunger, disease, and poverty. Joy graduated Magna Cum Laude from Johns Hopkins University with a Master's in Public Health and from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor's in International Nutrition. She is a wife of 25 years, mother of two young women, and "grandma" to an orange cat.

Susan Cherne, J.D., graduated from La Sierra University with a BBA Degree, Management Emphasis, Cum Laude and from the University of Oregon School of Law with a Doctor of Jurisprudence. She worked as General Counsel for a medical development company and has served on numerous school and church boards and finance committees. She loves working with youth, community service, cooking, family mission trips and sharing the love of Jesus. She joined FARM STEW because of its exciting mission and the belief that all people should have the opportunity to live an abundant and healthy life.

Dawna has always had a heart for service, so nursing was a natural career goal. While in training, to her surprise, she discovered teaching was her calling and health education was a natural choice with a master’s degree in health education from Loma Linda University. After graduation she, her dentist husband and two children served 6 years at the Adventist hospital in Karachi, Pakistan where she was the hospital health educator. Over the years, God has led her to teaching in hospitals, public health, evangelism training and church/community outreach. These opportunities have been in multiple places around this earth, often in evangelistic outreach. She has always held in high regard Biblical guidance and our SDA health message, and they have served her well along with the evolving knowledge of science. She has joined her interests and talents with FARM STEW because it is a well-balanced, comprehensive health-promoting program, providing solutions to poor people in need of food, sustenance, encouragement and conversion, to achieve an abundant life now and eternally with Jesus. She looks forward to FARM STEW continuing on the current path and developing a training center with a curriculum adapted for use anywhere in this world.

Kevin grew up overseas and he learned early on the value of service and compassion. He serves as the Senior Accountant at Adventist Care Centers and is a graduate of Southern Adventist University. He and his wife Astrid live in Apopka, Florida.

Cherri joined FARM STEW because of her love for God and His church. She is a gifted administrator and has served as church treasurer for more than a decade. She graduated with an associate’s degree from Southern Adventist University and served as a Senior Human Resource Management Assistant for Loma Linda Medical Center. She worked in the Human Resource field for over ten years before becoming a wife and mother of two. She enjoys helping and serving others through church outreach and various community programs, such as cooking schools, women’s prayer groups, and youth activities. FARM STEW’s unique way of meeting people’s needs while sharing the gospel message is what has drawn her serve with Joy and the FARM STEW family. She now serves as the Domestic Operations Director of FARM STEW. Cherri also serves on several board committees.

Juliette Bannister graduated from Athens State University with a BS Degree in Business Administration, and from Independence University with an MBA Degree, Suma Cum Laude. She is presently completing her MPH degree with an emphasis in Nutrition and Wellness from Andrews University this summer to support the prevention of disease and restoration of health in local, national, and global communities. Juliette worked as an Office Coordinator in a healthcare system foundation office and supported the fund-raising efforts of the local hospital. She has served on the hospital’s foundation board, local church and school board, and over the years with the deaconess, health ministry, hospitality team, and treasury department at church. She enjoys serving the community by participating in food and clothing drives and health screening events. Juliette also enjoys cooking, gardening, and singing. She joined FARM STEW in support of its gospel mission and the recipe for abundant life, which harmonizes with her passion for humanitarian work and promoting healthy living. She is a wife and mother of two.

As a young man in his teens, Edwin was exposed to poverty in the world and felt a calling to do something about it. After marrying Jennifer, they both completed MPH degrees in International Health at Loma Linda University in 1985 and immediately began serving the poor. They pioneered in Sudan with ADRA, in Tanzania with OCI and in Yemen with ADRA for 16 years, helping to start each of those offices. They also raised three children. On returning home to the US in 2001, Edwin continued his overseas involvement for three years doing consultancies for ADRA. After two years of teaching religion at Ouachita Hills College in Arkansas, in 2006, they moved to the family farm in middle Tennessee, where they joined Edwin’s brother John in growing organic vegetables and small fruits for market. With an empty nest, in 2017, Edwin and Jennifer traveled to Uganda, where they had the privilege of meeting Joy and spending two weeks with the FARM STEW team. They were immediately attracted to FARM STEW’s vision and the desire to do what they can to help forward its mission.

David McCoy was born in Big Spring, Texas, to a military family. He always lived in typical urban neighborhoods, but his family would visit his grandparents on their dairy farm in the country once a year. David just loved everything about farming. He feels like he is on vacation when on a farm. He worked on the dairy at San Pasqual Academy, Walla Walla University, and Andrews University. While in college, David received an Associate Degree in Agricultural Business. He wanted to combine ministry with Agriculture, so he went on to get Religion degrees from Andrews University. David has served as a Pastor in Oregon since 1992. He has had many opportunities to serve on short-term missions in Russia, Africa, Fiji, Mexico, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, and Thailand. David joined FARM STEW because it agrees with his Philosophy of helping people see Jesus through practical, real-world needs.

Danny Stewart, CPA graduated from Emory University with a BSBA. He worked with NC State government for 36 years in a number of progressive positions in auditing and management. In addition, he was appointed by the Governor to serve on the State IT Advisory Board, received the Governor’s Order of the Long Leaf Pine and Governor’s Award for Employee Excellence.When Dean Flint introduced Dan to FARM STEW, he was immediately impressed with the wholistic approach of FARM STEW in improving the lives permanently of some of the poorest people on earth and sharing with them the wonderful news of Jesus. He was also impressed with Joy Kauffman and the dedicated Board and staff of FARM STEW and believes Farm Stew is answering the mission call of Jesus found in Matthew 25:35-45.

Sherry Shrestha, M.D. graduated from Loma Linda University in 1974. She spent 40 years in family practice before retiring in 2019. She practiced medicine in Nebraska, Iowa, and Michigan in the U.S. and in Nepal, Mexico, and British Columbia. She is married to Dr. Prakash Shrestha and has 3 daughters and 3 grandsons. When she retired, she felt at a loss on how to continue to lead a useful life. After attending a FARM STEW meeting in Michigan, she volunteered as a writer for FARM STEW for grants and other things. Sherry soon found that her keyboard and Zoom opened a world of opportunities to help others lead a more abundant life even though she could no longer "be a missionary." It is a delight to share with others in FARM STEW in helping the vulnerable and those in need.

Jeff has farmed for more than 30 years in Washington’s Yakima Valley. His interest and research in farming by keeping the soil healthy led to a Heart & Soil philosophy. He has grown many different crops but is most satisfied by the growth of the next generation. He is known for trying new ideas and continues to be an inspiration behind farming, packing and Blue Cream businesses. He is excited by the Three Angel’s Messages and looks for ways to share them (Jesus revealed, Satan exposed, Choose). He enjoys the outdoors, Bible study and spending time with family.

Dr. Rick Westermeyer is secretary and co-founder of Africa Orphan Care- a nonprofit dedicated to the care of the Orphan generation of Africa. he also volunteers as Zimbabwe country director for FARM STEW. He is an anesthesiologist practicing in Portland, Oregon. He has a diploma in tropical medicine from the London School of Tropical medicine. He has volunteered with disaster response teams from Medical Teams International to Afghanistan, Haiti, Rwanda, and Ethiopia. With his wife Ann, a nurse, they have served in hospitals and clinics in New Guinea, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. He lectures on disaster response medicine for the Oregon Health Sciences University Institute on Global Health. Rick and Ann have two married daughters both nurse practitioners Allison and Allana and three grandchildren.