Matt O'Hayer & his wife Catherine Stewart started Vital Farms in 2007 with 20 Rhode Island Red hens. From there, Matt set out to prove that it is possible to produce the highest quality food in an environmentally responsible manner from humanely treated animals on a commercial scale.
Matt got his start in the egg business in 1968, selling eggs door-to-door as a teenager on the Brown University Campus. He purchased his first farm in 1980. Matt's previous companies have been listed on NASDAQ and in the INC 500. In addition to being a chicken whisperer, Matt is a USCG Master Captain, an accomplished chef, a rescue diver, and has been an instrument pilot for over 30 years.
A recent entrant into the wonderful world of fatherhood, Jason and his wife Charis were happy to land in Austin after his corporate experience had taken him around the world. An omnivore and entrepreneur at heart, Jason would tell you he's blessed to be part of the farm and the growing movement to get healthier food onto tables across America. When he's not managing the business, Jason can be found tightly wrapped around his daughter Mirabel's little finger.
After cooking her way through the Univeristy of Texas School of Journalism, Aurora volunteered on organic farms in Japan, England and Scotland and worked for non-profit organizations. As a native Austinite (and 5th generation Texan), she has also freelanced as an Assistant Editor at Edible Austin Magazine and video editor for youth agriculture non-profit Urban Roots. Helping others enjoy fresh food and finding new ways to tell stories about sustainable agriculture is her favorite way to spend a day! She lives in New York City.
Megan has spent several years exceeding sales goals, but never selling something she really believed in. After years in radio advertising sales, she quit her job, with no future job in sight, to focus on finding a place in the healthful food industry. Finally, a year and a half later, the Vital Farms Sales Manager position appeared, and she's been pedaling the world's best damn eggs and chicken ever since!
As a foodie, she's impressed daily by the taste difference of the eggs and chicken. Having seen the birds' lifestyle on the farms, meeting the farmers, and seeing the results of nutritional studies, she's 100 percent certain that every extra dollar spent on Vital Farms eggs and chicken is the smart thing to do for animal welfare and for the physical health of our communities. She looks forward to hooking you up with a free Vital Farms sample very soon!
Having spent much of his career behind spreadsheets and computer screens, Brent decided to make a change in 2008. Growing up in a rural agricultural town, the urge to be involved with food and farming was natural, as were those long farm days of his youth. Brent discovered Vital Farms in 2010; it embodied the perfect fit of progressive farming solutions within an ailing food industry and the ability to earn a living making a meaningful impact on people's lives.
In 2009 Scott created "SRP Consulting" to pursue his passion of assisting in the growth of sustainable businesses. He is committed to working with companies that share his passion for evolving the world to a healthier, greener economy. A 23-year veteran with Whole Foods Market, he always strives for excellence.
Over the last 30 years he has played many roles within the organic and natural products industry. In all these roles, he brings a guiding light to the work at hand. Be it day to day operations, merchandising, regional buying, category analysis, increasing sales, managing distribution, vendor development, new store design and development, enhancing communications or leadership, Scott always blends his experience with a vision of growth to create success.
After spending most of his life raising dairy cattle in frigid Eastern South Dakota, Bob took a chance after graduating college and moved to Austin, TX in search of sun and greener pastures. After a little over a year in Austin, he happened upon an opportunity at Vital Farms and knew he had found exactly what he had come to Austin to find. Since then, he has brought his knowledge of farm operations, desire to learn all things chicken-related, and passion for producing an amazing product to our farm on Onion Creek. He is finally the (self-proclaimed) King of the Chickens.
Randy is a CPA/CMA and has a long history of success in the controller and finance functions of Corporate America. He recently decided to leave the hustle and bustle of downtown Houston and moved with his wife of 35 years to a small farm east of Austin. Joining the VF management team was a perfect fit for his personal and professional interests. When he’s not handling the accounting and business matters of VF, he’s relaxing on the farm watching deer, tending chickens, feeding catfish and gardening.
Jackie’s experience with ethical poultry production began early; she grew up raising chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys on the rolling green hills of her parents’ small Oregon farm. She attended Oregon State University and earned her Honors B.S. in Animal Science, with a focus on Animal Behavior and Bioethics. As a passionate advocate for farm animal welfare, she spent four years with Humane Farm Animal Care as Director of Certification for the Certified Humane® program. Jackie is excited to bring her expertise in animal welfare and quality systems to Vital Farms, and to support production of the best-tasting, most ethical eggs and chicken anywhere! In her down time, she can be found gardening, hiking, biking and generally enjoying the beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
