Meet Vicki Deerman | Executive Director of McKinney Roots

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vicki Deerman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vicki, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
McKinney Roots is a food donation farm. Everything we produce is donated to feed those who are food insecure. We grow fresh, nutrient dense, produce using organic practices. Everything is picked and immediately distributed to our partners who serve those in need. We also have free-range hens which we feed non-GMO grain. They produce healthy, fresh eggs which provide an important source of protein to our community. Our goal is to eliminate hunger in our community by working hard to produce more healthy food for those who need it.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I strongly believe in the providence of God. I grew up in Oklahoma and went to college at Oklahoma State. During the summers, I would work and go to church in Tulsa where I made a friend that I would see from time to time. When I graduated with a degree in Computer Science, I began my career as a Software Engineer in Texas thanks to my Tulsa friend who helped me get the job. I met my husband on my first day of work. My husband and I had two wonderful children and we were led to build a house in Lucas, TX. During our search, I had said that I would never move to Lucas. but God clearly had other plans. After moving, I was driving to Garland to work and feeling the pull to stay home with my children. It was a hard decision. My identity was wrapped up in being a software engineer and I was proud of that accomplishment. However, I quickly adapted to being a full time mom. When the boys entered school, I became a volunteer. I had a hard time saying “no” so I volunteered in many organizations and became the leader…PTA president, Cub Scout pack commissioner, and many more. I finally had to narrow down my activities and would carefully pray for guidance. I ended up leading Bible studies and becoming heavily evolved with the educational foundation in our school district. When it came time to enter the work force 10 years later, I had no idea how to do that. I told my friend one day that I needed to find a job. The next day her husband called to say that a potential job where he worked had just come available and to send my resume. The job was for an office manger in Dallas. I was very hesitant but my husband encouraged me to write a skills based resume based on all of the skills that I had acquired through my volunteer work over the years. I got the job! It was for a non-profit organization which gave me more opportunity to expand my knowledge and skills of non-profit finances and management. A few years later, I was hired as the Executive Director of the educational foundation of my school district and I have been in non-profit work since then. I never would have thought when I graduated high school in Oklahoma, that I would end up living in Texas, working as a software engineer, having such a wonderful life with many friends and family, having two great boys, and end up working as a director of a non-profit, which I love! God is good and had a plan for my life that was way better than I could have ever asked or imagined. What I’ve learned is that it is important to work hard, with a good attitude wherever we are placed. Everything that we are exposed to and learn will be useful in our future endeavors. Life is an adventure. Enjoy the ride!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We live in Fairview and our city is McKinney. We would have to go to Rick’s Chophouse and Harvest Kitchen which are my favorites. Also, Gloria’s in Fairview. I would take them to the McKinney Roots farm, of course. Klyde Warren park in Dallas because I worked on the project and I think it turned out so great. I love live music especially outdoors, so we could go to the Grandscape or Barnhill Vineyards. Top Golf. Golf at Heritage Ranch in Fairview.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Rick Wells has a passion for giving back to his community. Rick formed the Seed Project Foundation (SPF) to help him do just that. McKinney Roots is one of the major programs of the SPF. It was volunteering in non-profit work that introduced us and we have worked together as friends for many years. Rick asked me to help him form the Seed Project Foundation, which I did, and later joined the board of directors. When the SPF had the opportunity to bring McKinney Roots under our umbrella, I was blessed to be able to join the team as the director of McKinney Roots. With Rick’s support and leadership we have grown the farm into what it is today. Together we will continue to strive to help our community be the best that it can be.

Website: mckinneyroots.org

Other: spftx.org