Kimball Cartwright, Development Director
Kimball (he, him) joined CT Farmland Trust (CFT) in October, 2021, devoted to connecting with donors, farmers, partners and other supporters of CFT, to shape a healthy future for farmers, farming and food systems in CT. Immediately prior to CFT, Kimball worked as Director of Development at the New Haven Ecology Project (AKA “Common Ground”), in New Haven, CT.
Kimball’s background includes an MBA in Organizational and Environmental Sustainability from Antioch University New England and has served on the Boards of Junta for Progressive Action in New Haven, and the CT Chapter of the Northeast Organic Farmer’s Association. Growing food has been among his interests since he first pulled a carrot from the earth and a tomato off a sprawling vine climbing up the side of his father’s compost pile.
Hannah Abbott, Conservation Coordinator
Hannah (she/her) joined CFT in August of 2025 after 5 years working as a Lab Analyst testing soil and water quality. She attributes her passion for nature and farmland preservation to childhood years spent outdoors, as well as her family’s involvement in Laurel Ridge Farm, a grass-fed cattle operation in Litchfield, CT.
Hannah has a B.S. in Natural Resources from the University of Connecticut and a Master’s degree in Natural Resources from Virginia Tech. When she’s not working, she enjoys bird watching and hiking. Her favorite bird is the American Kestrel, which prefers farmland and other open spaces as its habitat.
Rebecca Ridgway, Stewardship Coordinator
Rebecca’s (she/her) passion for protecting farmland has been generations in the making. In the 1980’s, her grandfather and father protected the farm that she would later grow up on in Cornwall, Connecticut. Her childhood as a farm kid in the Northwest corner fostered Rebecca’s enthusiasm for all things CT agriculture. She wants to make sure the next generation of farm families can enjoy farm life as she has.
Rebecca graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Master of Environmental Studies in May 2025 where she focused on sustainable agriculture policy. Rebecca also received a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Hamilton College. She has many hobbies including various arts and crafts, hiking, swimming, eating farm-fresh produce, and spending time with her dogs, cat, and family. She is also an active EMT with the Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department.