“Meet the People Behind the Work”
Matt Stearns: A voice, a purpose, and a place to grow
Meet Matt Stearns, Lead Plant Operator at LF1, one of the people behind the work at LF Bioenergy (LF). For Matt, joining LF was about more than a job. It was a chance to come home to Louisville, work near the family and community that mean everything to him and be part of something that makes a real difference. He was drawn to LF by its culture, commitment to farmer and renewable energy, and its excitement about building something that helps both the environment and the local community—including support for local organizations and businesses in the area. That combination of purpose and people made LF stand out immediately.
Matt’s background in aluminum plants in Indiana and New York made LF’s operating environment feel like a natural fit, but what he found here was different. At LF, he has a voice. He is trusted with ownership of the site, encouraged to help shape operational excellence, and treated as more than just a number. That sense of ownership has helped him grow in confidence—particularly in electrical work, vendor coordination, and collaboration across the team.
Matt is proud of the daily teamwork it takes to keep a site running well. “Manure management is a never-ending process, and even one small change can throw things off.” Success depends on close coordination between LF and the farm every day—from maintaining the right water consistency to refining proven practices that protect digester performance. He has seen meaningful progress through hands-on innovation, including equipment upgrades and operational improvements that strengthen performance. For Matt, that fine-tuning is what operational excellence looks like: a team that keeps learning, keeps improving, and “keeps each other’s backs.”
At the core, Matt values family, friends, and community. He grew up surrounded by relatives, with families looking out for one another and spending time together whenever they could. Today, that same spirit still guides him. He values working with close friends, then heading home to his wife and kids—”exactly where he wants to be.” That same pride shapes how he leads tours at LF1, engaging visitors and sharing what LF does with confidence. Matt’s story reflects what’s possible when people are heard, trusted, and connected to a greater purpose, “they do their best work.”
