Farm Enterprise Advisor
Leilani Zimmer-Durand is an agricultural consultant, researcher, and business advisor with more than two decades of experience supporting farms, food businesses, and agricultural organizations. Her work focuses on helping entrepreneurs improve profitability, strengthen business planning, secure funding, and build resilient operations for long-term success.
Leilani grew up on a small, diversified organic farm outside of Spring Green, Wisconsin, and has worked in agriculture for the past 20 years. She has experience across a wide range of agricultural enterprises, including working with her family’s artisan cheese business, writing a book about the principles of biological farming, and writing and managing grants for farms and agricultural organizations. Her grant experience includes working for PCO Certified Organic where she served as Program Director for the USDA’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program for the Northeast region.
Throughout her career, Leilani has worked with grain, specialty crop, and livestock producers across the Midwest, helping them improve production systems, develop business plans, and evaluate value-added opportunities. She also held leadership roles at Midwestern BioAg, where she led research and education programs focused on soil health, crop productivity, and farm profitability.
Earlier in her career, Leilani worked in Hawaii as an ecologist and natural resources manager, contributing to environmental research and conservation projects. This combination of scientific, agricultural, and business experience informs her practical approach to helping farm and food entrepreneurs navigate growth and financial decision making.
At the Food Finance Institute, Leilani works with entrepreneurs to strengthen business strategies, evaluate opportunities for growth, and develop financial plans that support sustainable success.
Outside of her professional work, Leilani enjoys cycling, spending time with her family, and staying connected to Wisconsin’s agricultural community. She lives in Middleton, Wisconsin, with her family.
- Master of Science, Tropical Ecology (Botanical Sciences) – University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
- Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy – University of Wisconsin–Madison
