THe
Farmers
"My grandfather used to say that once in your life you need a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman and a preacher but everyday, three times a day, you need a farmer."
-Brenda Schoepp
KELCY
EUBANKS
Veggie Team
Kelcy grew up on her family‘s farm in Southwest Colorado selling farm products and learning about farming practices that were good for the land and livestock. Her interests have led her to study a variety of subjects and she is continuing her studies in sociology with a focus on trauma and resilience. She believes caring for the land is a healing ground for the mind and that good stewardship of the land is the responsibility of all. In her off time Kelcy enjoys being in nature, reading, and going on adventures with her family.
ALEC
HIGGINS
Field Manager
After working as a musician during his twenties, Alec began looking for new challenges in environmental and economic regeneration, and found inspiration in permaculture and organic farming. Starting in New York City with urban agriculture, he soon moved on to a permaculture internship in Spain, followed by a year in Tanzania at a farming project that supported a center for vulnerable women and children. He spent a year in Missouri at Open Source Ecology, working on projects that included open source farm machinery, aquaponic greenhouses and chestnut/hazelnut agroforestry. In 2017, Alec started a small farm in the Nashville area, selling duck and quail products at farmers’ markets and to restaurants, and he also worked for Farm Nashville to assist in starting a cattle operation and market garden. He comes to Caney Fork excited about the breadth of agricultural opportunities here.
BETH
MASON
Delivery Driver
Beth grew up helping on her parent’s farm in Smith County, TN. She is the mother of two wonderful kids. She is certified as a CrossFit Level 1 and CrossFit Kids Coach. She enjoys personal training to help others reach their goals and believes nutrition plays an important part in any health routine. Beth likes to spend her free time on the river, hiking, collecting rocks and fossils, and listening to live music.
DYLAN
FISHBEIN
Sales & Marketing Manager
Dylan grew up on land originally stewarded by the Ramapough Lenape (Northern New Jersey), and graduated from the University of Maryland where he studied Environmental Policy and Sustainable Food Systems. After graduation, Dylan participated in the Food Artisan Immersion Program in Spring Green, Wisconsin, where he studied regionally-reliant food systems. He is interested in systems-level thinking, and loves to view the farm as a dynamic, interconnected space. Dylan also loves birds :)
JENNA
MARKELL
Livestock Manager
Jenna grew up in Campbell, a tiny town in upstate NY. As a child she loved helping out on her grandfather’s hobby beef farm, and throughout high school she enjoyed her time working on a dairy farm. Jenna majored in animal science at Cornell University, and eventually added minors in horticulture and in education to her degree to satisfy her diverse interests. After spending a summer interning at The Barefoot Farmer during college, she fell in love with Tennessee and felt compelled to become involved with local, regenerative food systems. She is grateful to spend each day alongside the livestock, managing their health and welfare.
SHAYLAN
KOLODNEY
Research Coordinator &
Livestock Hand
Shaylan graduated from Skidmore College with a degree in environmental science. After joining a research team led by Kristofer Covey at Skidmore, she spent the summers of 2019 and 2020 at Caney Fork Farms contributing to the creation of a soil carbon inventory across the farm. During her summers conducting research at the farm, she also participated in farming activities where she fell in love with working the land and tending to the animals. Now, as the research coordinator she is excited to be organizing research while still actively engaging in hands-on farm work!
TERA
ASHLEY
Vegetable Manager
Tera began her farming career as an AmeriCorps*Vista Member, serving for over two years as an organic, urban farmer for Trevecca Nazarene University’s J.V. Morsch Center for Social Justice. After participating heavily in Nashville’s local food and food justice movement, she decided that she would best serve the cause as a career organic farmer. She apprenticed here at Caney Fork Farms in 2016 and 2017 before going on to manage vegetable operations across Middle TN, including her own operation, Magpie Farm. Tera serves on the board of the Tennessee Organic Growers Association (TOGA) and is the founder and board chair of Sweet Radish, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides local CSA shares to refugee and immigrant families. She is currently earning her M.S. in Sustainability from Lipscomb University.
ASHER
WRIGHT
Farm Director
Asher has been working in regenerative agriculture since 2005, with a heavy focus on diversified crop and livestock systems. He loves all things related to agriculture and food systems. His career experience began at the agriculture program at Warren Wilson College, which led him to work on farms around the US and Central and South America. After his travels, he received an M.S. in Animal Science from Clemson University. While at Clemson, he researched forage-finished beef, studying both animal performance and the interface between meat quality and human health. Asher has a diverse career background working in both for-profit farm businesses and agriculture education. He is also an Accredited Professional with the Savory Institute. Asher is particularly excited about the role that Caney Fork Farms can play in the world and the opportunity to be a part of a team working to make a strong business case for regenerative agriculture through the integration of research and production agriculture.
