Horticulture Faculty & Staff

Dr. Touria Eaton: Associate Professor of Horticulture and State Horticulture Specialist.

Dr. Eaton joined Lincoln University in 2014. The focus of her research and extension work is sustainable production of Horticultural crops. Her research includes agricultural strategies to increase the nutrients’ concentrations in vegetable crops, potential of growing Brussels sprouts in the Midwest, and high tunnel production of tomatoes. Her extension work includes development of educational programs aimed to help underserved and unserved farmers increase income and profitability through sustainable agricultural practices. Eaton is Missouri NCR-SARE Co-Coordinator and she is native to Morocco.

Bleu Moore: Area Educator of Horticulture for Southwest Missouri and Co-owner, Moore Roots Farm.

Bleu is an Area Educator of Horticulture with Lincoln University of Missouri and holds a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Plant Science with a minor in Horticulture, along with a certificate in Sustainable Food Production from Missouri State University. With hands-on experience in various greenhouses and farms she has developed a deep understanding of sustainable farming practices. Her passion for sustainable agriculture and plant science fuels her commitment to educating others on horticulture and environmental stewardship. Her gardening journey began with a backyard garden at her childhood home, filled with a sense of (some- what) organized chaos, and transitioned to an apartment balcony packed with as many plants as physically allowed. It has since evolved into co-managing Moore Roots Farm, a small family farm in rural Missouri specializing in growing herb starts and produce from seed, alongside her wife, Nikki, and the help (or occasional hindrance) of their dogs George, Millie, and Frank, along with cats Nyla, Miso, and Kusco.

Bradley Hayes: Area Educator of Horticulture for Southeast Missouri.

Bradley is an Area Educator of Horticulture with Lincoln University of Missouri and holds a BS and MS in Agricultural Engineering Technology and Business from Mississippi State University. He co-owned Sandy Bottom Farms in Benton, MO for over a decade where he and his family specialized production in potatoes, sweet potatoes and market vegetables after transitioning from cotton and grain production. He has experience marketing produce at farmers markets, grocery stores, and restaurants across southeast Missouri. Bradley also has experience in managing precision agriculture applications for large scale commodity and vegetable farms.

Brooke Monson: Area Educator of Horticulture at Lincoln University of Missouri.

She holds a bachelor's degree in Plant Science with an emphasis in Horticulture Science and Design from the University of Missouri and a master’s degree in Horticulture with an emphasis in Urban Food Systems from Kansas State University, where her work centered on the ecosystem services of urban agriculture. Her professional experience includes landscape design, nursery and greenhouse production and applied research projects. At Lincoln University, Brooke works with Missouri farmers and collaborates with North Central Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (NCR-SARE).

Melissa Lepore: Area Educator of Horticulture for Southeast Missouri.

Melissa Lepore is a passionate herbalist and educator who grew up in the SEMO area, moved away for a time, and recently returned to reconnect with her roots. Her love for plants began as a child, when she would help her grandmother tend a small garden filled with healing herbs and vegetables. That early experience planted a seed that grew into a lifelong calling. Today, Melissa runs a small nursery where she grows every plant she uses in her herbal practice. Her work is deeply personal and hands-on — each plant is nurtured with care, and every remedy she creates carries the wisdom of generations. She’s dedicated to teaching others about the power of plants, offering workshops, garden tours, and one-on-one guidance to help people rediscover nature’s gifts. Through her work, Melissa hopes to inspire others to live more intentionally, sustainably, and in harmony with the earth.

Mike Crowden: Area Educator of Horticulture for Southeast Missouri.

Crowden is a Lincoln University Area Educator of Horticulture, with extensive experience in advertising, marketing and brand building. Previously, Crowden owned Root + Holler, a wholesale purveyor of sustainably raised proteins and produce, and Cape Importers, as well as working in the advertising agency world with Rust Media. Crowden has a BS in Mass Communications and MS in Public Administration from Southeast Missouri State University.

Nathan St. Clair: Area Educator of Horticulture for Northwest Missouri.

Nathan St. Clair serves as an Area Educator of Horticulture with Lincoln University Cooperative Extension, supporting farmers, community gardens, and agricultural stakeholders across the Kansas City metro and surrounding counties. In this role, he provides technical assistance, develops educational programs, and helps strengthen regional networks focused on specialty crops, sustainable production, and community-based agriculture.

Nathan has nine years of experience as a specialty crop farmer and small-business owner, operating St. Clair Farmstead, a diversified small-scale farm in west-central Missouri. He is passionate about small-scale sustainable agriculture, growing healthy food, and building community through local food systems. Nathan also served on the board of the Brookside Farmers Market for six years, where he worked alongside producers and community partners to support local agriculture. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Southwest Baptist University. Nathan lives in Concordia, Missouri, with his wife, Katie, and their four children—Emery, August, Linden, and Ellis.

Sophie Whyte: Area Educator of Horticulture for Central Missouri.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in plant sciences with an emphasis in Horticulture Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and she is a certified pesticide applicator. She has several years’ experience working in a commercial greenhouse in Columbia, growing ornamental shrubs and trees as well as tropical houseplants. During this time, Sophie managed the native plant section and helped share her passion for using Missouri native plants in landscaping. At LU, Whyte works closely with Missouri farmers, conducts educational programs, and implements SARE awarded projects.