Alumni Spotlight: Samuel Cheeney

Sam is an entrepreneur and organic farmer in Milbridge, Maine who has recently created an organic fertilizer called The Green Kraken.

Home Town: Langdon, NH

Graduation Year: 2003

Major: Conservation Biology and Management

Please tell us a little about what you are doing now.

I produce an organic fertilizer made from invasive European green crabs. I haul traps by hand from my 14 foot skiff and I have caught 100,000 lbs total and over 2500 lbs in 2025 as of June 1st.

What is the most valuable thing you learned while at UMaine Machias?

I learned the value of objectivity—approaching the world without judgment and focusing on what the science tells us. I remember feeling discouraged by the state of the world and humanity’s impact on the environment. But my Conservation Biology professor, Ellen Hostert, patiently reminded me that there are people who care, who are reasonable, and who are actively working to make a difference—and that we, too, were part of that effort.

What advice to you have for current students?

Try to listen to your elders. Some may speak just to hear themselves talk, but the vast majority are saying things they wish someone had told them.

How did your time at UMaine Machias prepare you for what you are doing now?

There was a strong emphasis on biological taxonomy and systems analysis, covering topics from cellular chemistry and flora and fauna to ecosystems and global weather patterns. I’ve applied this knowledge to gain a deeper understanding and greater meaning in the work I do today.

How has UMaine Machias made a positive impact on your life?

UMM gave me a strong foundation in science and taught me to think more deeply, which inspired me to attempt to create change and make the world a better place.