Kelly O’Neill, CBF’s agriculture policy analyst, has worked to strengthen Pennsylvania’s agricultural production and improve water quality since November 2001. She champions practices and policies that help farmers retain soil and nutrients on their land—a fitting role for a northeastern Pennsylvania native whose family has farmed in the region for more than 150 years.

Before CBF, Kelly worked with the Center for Rural Affairs in Nebraska to advocate for federal policy reforms and promote marketing opportunities that rewarded environmental stewardship and sustained family farms. As a Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras, she organized a dairy goat cooperative that helped significantly improve children’s nutrition. She has a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Cornell University and an master’s degree in international development from Clark University.

In her free time, Kelly enjoys outdoor activities with her wife and dog, often with a camera to document the natural beauty to hopefully inspire environmental protection.