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Julie Hewitt
Executive Director, The Gulch Environmental Foundation
Julie Hewitt is Executive Director of The Gulch Environmental Foundation, where she leads efforts to advance regenerative agriculture, environmental restoration, and innovative approaches to measurable environmental outcomes through Rainmaker Farm, the Foundation’s 160-acre demonstration and research farm in Oklahoma.
With more than 25 years of experience across agriculture, research, business development, and environmental stewardship, Julie has built her career at the intersection of science, agriculture, and practical implementation. Prior to joining The Gulch, she served as Executive Director of the Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council, directing producer-funded investments in nutrient management research and helping translate agricultural science into practices that improve both productivity and environmental outcomes.
At The Gulch, Julie is focused on developing partnerships and scalable models that demonstrate how working agricultural landscapes can deliver multiple benefits—from soil carbon and water quality to biodiversity, resilience, and stronger rural communities. She is particularly interested in connecting regenerative agriculture with corporate sustainability goals, research, and innovative financing to create environmental solutions that work for farmers, communities, and the organizations investing in them.
Julie holds a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness from Illinois State University and was inducted into the university’s College of Applied Science and Technology Hall of Fame in 2024.
With more than 25 years of experience across agriculture, research, business development, and environmental stewardship, Julie has built her career at the intersection of science, agriculture, and practical implementation. Prior to joining The Gulch, she served as Executive Director of the Illinois Nutrient Research and Education Council, directing producer-funded investments in nutrient management research and helping translate agricultural science into practices that improve both productivity and environmental outcomes.
At The Gulch, Julie is focused on developing partnerships and scalable models that demonstrate how working agricultural landscapes can deliver multiple benefits—from soil carbon and water quality to biodiversity, resilience, and stronger rural communities. She is particularly interested in connecting regenerative agriculture with corporate sustainability goals, research, and innovative financing to create environmental solutions that work for farmers, communities, and the organizations investing in them.
Julie holds a bachelor’s degree in Agribusiness from Illinois State University and was inducted into the university’s College of Applied Science and Technology Hall of Fame in 2024.
