Ouachita Stories

The Nell Mondy Lecture Series, coordinated by Ouachita Baptist University’s J.D. Patterson School of Natural Sciences, will host Joel Salatin on Monday, Feb. 3. Salatin, alternative farmer and owner of Polyface, Inc., will present “Folks, This Ain’t Normal” at 7:30 p.m. in Mabee Fine Art Center’s McBeth Recital Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

The Nell Mondy Lecture Series focuses primarily on the fields of chemistry, food science and nutrition. “The purpose of the lectures is to enrich the learning experience of students, faculty and other professionals through providing speakers from diverse geographic and educational backgrounds,” said Dr. Sara Hubbard, assistant professor of chemistry.

Dr. Detri Brech, professor of dietetics, added that Salatin’s “work is relevant to our campus, community and world. His message is to use the resources we have to protect the environment; he will inspire us to be better caretakers of the earth.”

Salatin will visit several classes throughout the day and will participate in two question and answer sessions. At 8 a.m. he will present “The Essence of Pig” in Jones Science Center (JSC) room 334, and at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. he will present “Nativized Survivor Genetics” in McClellan Hall room 100. The first Q&A session, targeted specifically for members of the community, will begin at 1 p.m. in Young Auditorium in the Hickingbotham School of Business. At 2 p.m. Salatin will present “Subjective Science” in JSC 125, followed by the final student Q&A session at 3 p.m. in JSC 334. All of the lectures are open to the public.

Salatin is a full-time alternative farmer for Polyface, Inc., or “The Farm of Many Faces,” in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. According to its website, Polyface, Inc. “services more than 5,000 families, ten retail outlets and 50 restaurants through on-farm sales and metropolitan buying clubs.” The Salatin family farm has been featured in numerous media outlets including National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine, Gourmet and ABC World News.

Salatin earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Bob Jones University and has since authored eight books, including “Pastured Poultry Profits: Net $25,000 In 6 Months On 20 Acres”; “Holy Cows and Hog Heaven: The Food Buyer’s Guide to Farm Friendly Food”; “The Sheer Ecstasy of Being a Lunatic Farmer”; and “Folks, This Ain’t Normal: A Farmer’s Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World.”

The Nell Mondy Lecture Series Endowment was established in 1991 by late Ouachita alumna Dr. Nell Mondy. Dr. Mondy was a worldwide consultant on food chemistry and nutrition and served as professor of nutritional sciences, food science and toxicology at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.

For more information, contact Dr. Detri Brech at [email protected] or (870) 245-5543.