This spring, we’ll be getting our hands dirty as we start the first growing season at the Gulf States Region Demonstration Farm, and NCAT welcomes Sam Humphrey, who has been hired to manage this new project.

A native of Jackson, Mississippi, much of Sam’s childhood was spent playing in the outdoors (i.e., following the great southern tradition of being kicked out of the house every day in the summer to play with friends in the neighborhood), which inspired in him a love of nature. It wasn’t until he spent time in Costa Rica in college, though, that he became interested in sustainable agriculture. Once that passion was sparked, he pursued it with devotion. He attended Warren Wilson College in North Carolina, where he worked in the college’s 6-acre garden and managed the laying hen flock—all while conducting research and completing his coursework. After graduation with a B.S., he worked for White Oak Pastures in Georgia, managing their laying hen operation.

The demonstration farm Sam will be managing is located 20 miles south of Jackson at The Piney Woods School. The purpose of this demonstration farm is to give hands-on training to farmers and producers in the region as well as the students of Piney Woods about ecologically sound and profitable production practices, marketing, business planning, and more. This demonstration farm is part of NCAT’s large, multifaceted food justice project which is working to improve access to healthy, culturally appropriate food for historically disadvantaged communities throughout Mississippi. This project is funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.

We are excited to have Sam aboard, and look forward to seeing the demonstration farm take shape this year!