Apr 19, 2022
Where and how did you receive your education as a farmer?
Today on the Thriving Farmer Podcast we’re joined by Blair Thompson, Farm Manager and agriculture expert at Warren Wilson College, located in Asheville, North Carolina. Blair spent over 15 years in a diversity of agricultural operations around the country before landing at Warren Wilson. He strives to help students become leaders who have an ecosystems-approach to agriculture that focuses on building farming enterprises suited to each landscape and community. Blair is committed to bringing the classroom into the field, so crew members are able ground their thoughts in the act of work and are prepared to take the lessons of the college farm into the broader world of food and agriculture. Check out today’s episode if you’re interested in how future farmers of America are learning to hit the field!
You’ll hear:
Types of farms Blair has dealt with throughout his agriculture career 1:38
Types of education offered at Warren Wilson College 3:54
Warren Wilson College’s work requirement 9:33
The different enterprises on the farm 11:34
How Warren Wilson conducts marketing? 18:59
What aspect of his position Blair most passionate about 26:01
What Blair’s views are for the future of the farm 33:48
What Blair sees as the future of agriculture 37:28
What Blair’s favorite farming tool is 39:44
About the Guest
Blair spent over 15 years in a diversity of agricultural operations around the country before landing at Warren Wilson College. It was while working on these farms that he encountered Warren Wilson graduates and knew the college farm was turning out skilled and passionate land managers. He strives to build students into leaders who have an ecosystems-approach to agriculture that focuses on building farming enterprises suited to each landscape and community. Blair is committed to bringing the classroom into the field, so crew members are able ground their thoughts in the act of work and are prepared to take the lessons of the college farm into the broader world of food and agriculture.
Resources
Website: https://www.warren-wilson.edu/about/land-innovation/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/warrenwilsoncollege
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warrenwilsoncollege/
The Thriving Farmer Podcast Team would like to thank our amazing sponsors!
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