What is an Agrihood?

Emery is an 11th-generation Charlestonian and grew up in Ravenel, SC. Her family, including her parents and two older sisters, has owned and operated Champney’s Blueberry Farm since 1995. Farming 10 acres of blueberries was a year-round job, and summers included nothing but working in the fields and at the blueberry packing shed at least 12 hours a day.

Homeschooled since 3rd grade, Emery had the opportunity to work closely with her father to develop the skills required to manage farm operations She graduated in 2022 from Clemson University with a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology with a minor in Forest Resources Management. During her time at Clemson, she served as president of the student chapter of The Wildlife Society and was a member of the university’s shotgun team.

Before joining Carnes Crossroads, Emery worked on a 7,500-acre plantation in Colleton County, SC, specifically in the plantation’s multi-million-dollar gardens, where she gained a deeper knowledge in ornamental horticulture and greenhouse management. Today, she lives with her family in Meggett, SC, where they moved their farm operations in 2023.

When she’s not working at Carnes Crossroads, Emery is helping her family build a farm that grows blueberries, cut flowers, and sunflowers. She is passionate about agriculture, the outdoors, and raising awareness about the ecosystems that surround them and the challenges that farmers face every day.

Leann joined the Carnes Crossroads team in May 2025, just one week after moving from Chicago. Originally from the suburbs of Chicago and the proud daughter of Vietnamese refugees, Leann’s love for food sparked her interest in farming. Recreating meals from her childhood led to a deeper curiosity about where food comes from — and a desire to grow it herself.

She brings years of experience farming in both rural and urban settings, from rooftop farms and hoop houses to community gardens to leading education programs focused on food access. Leann has led teams, taught workshops, and helped distribute thousands of pounds of fresh food to underserved communities.

Her technical background includes crop planning, greenhouse management, pest management, and food safety, all of which she brings to her work at Carnes Crossroads.

She’s passionate about fixing the cracks in our food system and believes that no one should go hungry in a world with so much abundance. When she’s not farming, Leann can be found experimenting in the kitchen, playing video games, or hanging out with her beloved chinchilla. She loves camping and being by the water and is happiest when she’s eating something delicious surrounded by good people. She’s a people person through and through and is always up for a good chat about food, farming, or what’s for dinner.