A group including, from r-l, Dennis Warnecke, Keith Nantz, Ty Meyer, and Ryan Slabaugh, at Walla Walla Community College.
WALLA WALLA, Washington—Notice to the universe: A small college in Washington state is on the brink of something mighty.
Last week, ranchers, farmers, biologists, and marketers with decades of collective experience in sustainable-regenerative-organic agriculture gathered for an academic program review at Walla Walla Community College in Walla Walla, Washington. Leaders at the college are committed to updating their agriculture curriculum to focus on modern biology, soil health, and regenerative practices, and helping transform the region’s agriculture culture and systems.
After two days of program review, the consensus was clear: the curriculum was solid, but context matters … almost more than anything. The discussion, led by Alan Raeder and facilitated by Think Regeneration, revolved around an idea of a college producing a soil health manager who understands the economics and financial structures of their work, who understands the social values they are expressing or depressing in their community, and who understands how to work with others. Graduates who enter this evolving space are not in the position to inherit a fully formed business model in any aspect, from farm to input company to nonprofit, so adaptability is a key strength. In fact, building leaders capable of managing dynamic changes is exactly the skill set to develop—with some soil biology and chemistry, of course.
Which brings us to Walla Walla, Washington, where their community college is actively adopting a farming bachelor’s degree that focuses on non-toxic, regenerative practices. Agriculture program director Alan Raeder has done his research—even sourcing Jerry Brunetti’s Farm as Ecosystem—and his cohorts want graduates who can manage complex systems that involve inter-cropping, livestock, testing, and perennials. They are way ahead of the curve, but right on time. They want farmers prepared to return home to their rural communities and help them detoxify, focus on health, and rebuild communities.
Special thanks to Alan Raeder, Cristie Crawford, Joseph Montoya, Carly Larkin, Lindsey Williams and Heather Davis at Walla Walla Community College for their leadership and organization.
Anyone interested in learning more about the program can visit about their Bachelor of Applied Science in Agricultural Systems online, or reach out to Cristie Crawford, BAS Program Coordinator, 509-527-4260, [email protected].
Joining us were:
• Dennis Warnecke, Tainio Biologicals: Dennis represents 40 years of experience helping farmers and ranchers build biologically efficient systems. His work in the Pacific Northwest aims at supporting farmers’ input reductions and establishing more profitable systems.
• Keith Nantz, Nexus Beef: Keith has years of experience building vertical enterprises around beef cattle ranching in healthy, native pastures. His aim is to build a beef supply chain that creates healthy outcomes for land and people.
• Eric Popp, Carnation Farms: Eric is the director of regenerative agriculture at Carnation Farms in Washington, where he manages the integration of farming systems and profitability goals. His work is helping establish Carnation, a nonprofit, as a community leader in healthy food distribution.
• Ty Meyer, Spokane Conservation District: Ty Meyer is the director of the biological farming program for Spokane Conservation District. He builds peer-to-peer learning programs that support the business development of his farmers around reducing input costs, building more efficiency on the land, and establishing higher quality products in the region.
• Denise Nicol, Think Regeneration: Denise Nicol is the director of strategy for Think Regeneration. She is currently leading our prescription food pilot startup programs, building new distribution enterprises, and organizing national educational events.
• Ryan Slabaugh, Think Regeneration: Ryan Slabaugh is the founder and executive director of Think Regeneration. His work involves supporting program development and launching new ventures to support regenerative farmers.
The facility at Walla Walla Community College’s Water & Environmental Center.
The group inspects equipment used by students in the John Deere Tech Center program.
A good sign of life shows up on the working farm.
Alan Raeder, with his hand out, talks about their in-field education with the group, including Eric Popp of Carnation Farms (black jacket).
Indoors, we explored the courses’ curriculums and established the need for an entrepreneurial and financial context for soil health education.
Source: https://thinkregeneration.com/f/a-study-of-agricultural-change-at-walla-walla-community-college