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Warren Wilson College
Asheville, NC 28815-9000
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Amy
Major: Pre-Veterinarian Studies
Hometown: Port Allegany, Pennsylvania
Crew: Farm
Even the dairy cow at Warren Wilson gets treated to a natural and ecologically-safe bug spray when swatting flies with her tail proves unsuccessful. "We try to make her as comfortable as we can when milking," junior Amy Kunkel says of Katie, a Jersey dairy cow who looks on appreciatively.
The Port Allegany, Pennsylvania native joined the Farm Crew as a freshman and finds it rewarding because, as she says, "Everyday I learn something new about animals and agriculture." She also draws connections between her work crew and coursework. "It's cool to be able to say 'this is a round worm; this is its life cycle,' and then know how to de-worm these animals." Medicating the swine and cattle herds is just a small part of her work responsibilities -Amy and her fellow workers often stay busy longer than twelve hours a day with planting and harvesting corn, baling hay, grinding grain, repairing fences and maintaining equipment.
Amy appreciates her supervisors, Farm Manager Chase Hubbard and Assistant Farm Manager, Jed Brown, who are "extremely knowledgeable and supportive," she says. Amy offered this advice to prospective Farm Crew members: "Volunteer on the crew and really express how much you want to be a part of the farm. Once on the crew, you'll be taught everything you need to know."
When asked about the perks of working on the farm, Amy didn't hesitate: "Getting to be outside! Some of our pastures have the most beautiful mountain views. And there's the coffee in the morning with fresh milk from Katie." After two more years at Warren Wilson Amy plans to apply to veterinary school; if that doesn't happen, she's "just as happy to work on a farm."