Steve Archer II is the Founder of Archer Farms in Englewood on Chicago’s South Side. A Chicago native, Archer received a BA in English from Rosary College at Dominican University, served in the U.S. Marines, and holds certificates as an Urban Farmer from the University of Illinois Extension, and in local Permaculture. He started Archer Urban Farms in 2023 to build community through urban farming and permaculture education. A board member of the Cook DuPage Beekeepers Association, he is a member of Cook County Farm Bureau and the Veteran Farmer Coalition, and was named the 2024 Illinois Veteran Farmer of the Year.