Meet your local farmers
Theresa and Mark met at the University of Michigan Biological Station in 2005, where they bonded over their mutual passion for sustainability. Much of their early time together was spent gathering used cooking oil to power their old VW diesel. They have since found it significantly less messy to power an electric car with solar power.
When they aren’t on the farm, they enjoy riding bicycles and paddling the local waters.
MARK WESTBROCK
Mark works full time on the farm, but also does some freelance engineering work for a solar photovoltaic installation company. Before the creation of Solstice Farm, he was an electrician and branch manager for Positive Energy Solar in New Mexico for over a decade. Prior to that he enjoyed traveling widely as a field biologist, including studying seabirds in the Galapagos Islands while in graduate school. Mark also volunteers for the Cedar Falls Food Co-Op and enjoys pressing and fermenting cider.
theresa westbrock
Theresa is the Dean of Library Services at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), where she also serves on many committees, including the steering committee for the Aldo Leopold Lecture Series. Prior to UNI, she worked as a librarian at New Mexico State University. While in New Mexico, Theresa also served as the President of the Board for the Mountain View Market Co-Op. She is an active knitter and canner in addition to helping out on the farm.
ROBIN WESTBROCK
Robin goes to middle school in Waverly. She loves her dogs, playing and exploring outside, playing saxophone, and reading.