April Community Highlight
- admin334611
- Apr 21
- 4 min read
Highlighting Community Member Katy Rogers
Doing great things alongside us and in alignment with our purpose!
In this issue of Neighbor & News, we’re proud to highlight a community member who lives out our purpose every day, someone who believes deeply in connection and in investing in the community we all love.
Katy serves as the Director of Operations & Farm Manager at Teter Retreat and Organic Farm in Noblesville. Through her work, she is helping cultivate more than just fresh produce, she’s helping grow a stronger, more connected community.
Katy is a passionate advocate for increasing access to nutritious food for individuals experiencing food insecurity. Under her leadership, Teter Farm regularly donates fresh, organic produce to Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank and other local food pantries, ensuring that more families have access to healthy, nourishing meals.
At the heart of Katy’s work is a simple but powerful belief: we are morally obligated to do the most good we can with the resources we have. Katy lives out the belief that to SERVE is to steward what we’ve been given for the good of others. She leads with purpose, grounded in the idea that we are morally obligated to do the most good we can with the resources we have, and she leads by example turning that belief into meaningful, tangible impact across our community.
Because of Katy, more families are fed, more connections are made, and our community is stronger. Through her commitment to service, generosity, and connection, Katy is helping build a healthier future for Noblesville one harvest at a time.
This is what it looks like to SERVE!
To help you get to know Katy better we played a round of 20 Questions!
The Gift of Showing Up
The "Asset Mapping" Discovery
What is one skill or hobby you possess that always makes you feel most like yourself when you share it?
“I don't think I have hobbies anymore but I love teaching people about how connected everything is. Agroecology is my jam.”
If you were a "Project Leader" for a day, what kind of service opportunity would you dream up for our community?
“I'd lead a group building gardens in town for everyone to access.”
What is a "hidden asset" or a beautiful part of Hamilton County that you wish every neighbor knew about?
“The trails at Teter are gorgeous and free to the public. More people should know that.”
Who is someone in this community who made you feel like you truly belonged?
“This is tough. Jama from Delullo's, Wendy Hantelman, Loi Milam, Kathy Church, Amber Good, Lorrie Overton, the SERVE Crew.”
What is the best piece of advice a neighbor has ever given you?
“Learn to be fine with it when someone doesn't like you. And stop waiting for some special reason to open the champagne. The moment is special because you open it.”
Intergenerational & Connection Stories
We love "intergenerational magic"—what is something you’ve learned from a neighbor in a completely different age bracket than you?
“Stop saying yes to everything. Practice saying, "I'm sorry, I'm already committed," and don't feel bad about it.”
How do you personally define a "Compassionate Neighbor"?
“ Someone who believes other people are genuinely as deserving of what we all need as they are themselves.
What is your favorite way to welcome a new "Villager" to your street?
“I welcome people by making sure they are connected to the things they care about.”
Can you share a moment where a simple conversation with a neighbor changed your perspective on a challenge?
"thinking..."
Which community event helps you feel connected to others in our community?
“I love SERVE events, obviously. And the Farmers Market is wonderful for staying connected, as are the NDC Community Conversations. And I like to sit at the bar rail at Syd's and work and be around people.”
The SERVE Experience
What first drew you to SERVE Village, and what keeps you coming back?
“SERVE is just such a gorgeous idea and it works in real life. Every community should be intentionally organizing like SERVE does for us. I think Emma, one of our volunteers, is the one who brought me in.”
What SERVE Village program have you participated in and what is an impressionable memory that you have from it?
“Teter hosts projects and I love the Longest Table event. I think my favorite memory is just every time someone is a repeat helper.”
How has being a "Volunteer" or "Partner" impacted your own mental health or sense of purpose?
“Helping the community is everything. I think most of us want to leave the world better than we found it and we can always accomplish more together than we can alone.”
What do you love most about the SERVE Village purpose to foster relationships through community resources?
“ I think those connections save lives.”
We talk about "Neighbor Elevation"—is there a neighbor you’d like to give a shout-out to for their quiet acts of service?
“I know sooo many people who quietly do good things. I don't even know where to start. Anita Rush Taylor helps everyone she can. Loi Milam and Kathy Church are always up to good works in the community.”
Local Favorites
Where is your favorite "third place" in Hamilton County to grab a coffee or a meal and catch up with a friend?
“ I like to pop in to Fluff, Debbie's, Bica, and Syd's. Not on the same day. And community dinner's at 9th Street.”
Which local park or green space do you head to when you need a breath of fresh air and a moment of peace?
“The trails at Teter Farm.”
What is your favorite Hamilton County "hidden gem" (a venue, shop, or spot) that more people should visit?
“Lordy, how to pick?”
Is there a local event or festival (outside of SERVE) that you look forward to every single year?
“I am so excited for the Teter Farm Fest this year. And Shakespeare in the park. And the Front Porch Music Festival.”
If you were showing a new neighbor around town for the first time, what is the very first stop you would make?
“The Square. The whole thing.”
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