Vermont's Table Speaker Series Presents: Fred Kirschenmann

Sterling College is proud to announce that award-winning author, farmer, and philosopher Fred Kirschenmann will be presenting on campus. His talk “Practical Strategies for Anticipating Future Food and Agriculture Challenges” will be given on Wednesday, April 22, at 6 p.m. in Simpson Hall, Classroom 3. This talk is free and open to the public as part of the Vermont’s Table Speaker Series. 

Kirschenmann has been recognized widely for his work. He was one of the first 10 recipients of the James F. Beard Foundation Leadership awards in 2011 and received the 2012 Sustainable Agriculture Achievement Award from Practical Farmers of Iowa. Other awards include Leader of the Year in Agriculture by Progressive Farmer, the Seventh Generation Research Award from the Center for Rural Affairs, and the first Medal for Distinguished Leadership in Sustainable Agriculture from the Glynwood Center in New York. 

Kirschenmann shares an appointment as Distinguished Fellow for the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University and as President of Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in New York. He also continues to manage his family’s certified organic farm in south central North Dakota. In April 2010, he published a book of essays, Cultivating an Ecological Conscience: Essays from a Farmer Philosopher, that traces the evolution of his ecological and farming philosophy over the past 30 years. 

“Fred Kirschenmann is one of the world’s leading voices for a resilient, sustainable agriculture and food system,” said Sterling College President Matthew Derr. “His advocacy for land ethics, soil health, and biodiversity in agriculture inspires the entire Sterling College community. We look forward to his presentation.”

The Vermont’s Table Speaker Series was launched in 2013 to bring accomplished individuals in the fields of sustainable agriculture and food systems to the Sterling College campus and the greater community. Past speakers have included Sandor Katz, Marion Nestle, Gary Nabhan, and Alice Waters.

For more information on the College and its mission of environmental stewardship, please visit www.sterlingcollege.edu.