Hans is the Eastern Ohio Sustainable Ag Manager at Rural Action. He is a 2016 graduate of Kent State University with a B.A. in Applied Communications, focusing on organizational communications, journalism, and visual design. In his professional career, he has worked as a full-time farmer as well as a sales representative in the agricultural and construction industries.
Hans is a lifelong farmer, working alongside his family to raise sustainable meat, eggs, and produce on their farmsteads outside of New Philadelphia, Ohio (Kneuss Family Farms).Their farm is proud to be one of the founding members of the Tuscarawas Valley Farm Market since 2008–the first producers-only market in Tuscarawas County. Hans also managed a multi-weekend fall festival his family’s farm hosted for several years, attracting thousands of families to enjoy pumpkin picking, a corn maze, and educational hay rides. He is passionate about increasing local food access and educating the public about the importance of sustainable agriculture.
In his free time, Hans enjoys gardening, hiking, foraging, reading, creative writing, and live music.