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| Steve Carlson (Image Credit: Practical Farmers of Iowa) |
Some people will tell you that they want to make a positive impact on the people and communities they live in and/or work with. This is a noble goal, and it is also one that can be achieved through various means. Many may immediately think of some more traditional ways of accomplishing this, including becoming a law enforcement officer, social worker, or doctor, but there is more than one way to make a positive impact. Today’s blog post will address that very topic by discussing the work of applied agricultural anthropologist Steve Carlson, who is currently the Membership and Office Manager of Practical Farmers of Iowa.
Carlson earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology from the University of Northern Iowa, where he also minored in Marketing. He went on to pursue his Master of Science in Applied Anthropology from the University of North Texas. Carlson stated that he pursued his graduate studies to gain a better understanding of how external social pressures (e.g., political, economic, and social) affect modern agricultural practices and impact environmental health issues. He also wanted to work directly with farmers to find culturally appropriate solutions that increased their use of environmentally and economically sustainable agricultural practices. Ultimately, he combined this interests with his thesis work that focused on documenting Appalachian apple farmers’ opinions of climate change and how that effected their cultivation practices.
While working on his Master’s thesis he was employed as a Coordinator at Southern Seed Legacy out of the University of North Texas. In this position he was responsible for managing events, composing articles, public outreach and communication, overseeing the seed bank operations, and maintaining the organization’s website and social media. He moved on from this position to one at Seed Savers Exchange where he was the Communications Coordinator. In this position he was the public relations representative, responsible for communicating orally and through written communication. In his current position at Practical Farmers of Iowa in 2014 he oversees communicating with members and soliciting donations through various fundraising activities.
At the forefront of all Carlson’s work is his drive to take a farmer centered approach. He does this by utilizing a variety of anthropological methods throughout all his previous and current positions. He relies on the interview method to survey his clients’ and informants’ needs, assesses the data he collects through both qualitative and quantitative methods, followed by using this information to create programs to meet the needs of his clients. He employs cross-cultural communication practices to ensure what he is saying is conveyed appropriately by his audience. This method also heightens his awareness of picking up on cultural communication cues to enable him to better understand what his clients are communicating without directly saying it. Overall, Carlson’s anthropological background has set him on the right path to assisting farmers across the United States, thereby making a positive impact for them and others who rely on farmers and agriculture to sustain their way of life.
Works Cited
Carlson, Steve. "Anthropology & Agriculture." Conference Poster. n.d. Print.
Carlson, Steven. LinkedIn Profile Page. n.d. Electronic.
Practical Farmers of Iowa. "About Steve Carlson." n.d. Practical Farmers of Iowa. Electronic. 10 February 2023.
7 comments:
I like that Steve Carlson was trying to make a positive impact in the agricultural industry. He helped the farmers by getting their opinions about how they felt about climate change causing problems with how they work now. And also started a donation fundraising for them.
By Kerriauna Johnson
I love that Steve used all of his knowledge that he learned through anthropology to help farmers. I loved how this blog started off! It goes into talking about different professions but then goes on to say how those are not the only ways to make positive impacts on society.
Christa white
This article was very informative to me, I love how the article discusses how making a positive impact on people and communities can be achieved through various means, including non-traditional ways like applied agricultural anthropology.
Sace' Anderson
I've never thought about how external social pressures can impact agricultural practices. It’s nice that Carlson's work positively impacted the Appalachian apple farmers.
-Alondia Gray
This article expresses the need for unique ways to positively impact our communities, and how an anthropological background can aid in that. I liked how this article notes that there are more ways to accomplish this than by just the traditional ways. I like that he places the importance of communication and feedback of these communities in high regard. Promoting the voices of these people that may not otherwise have been heard is a very important factor in creating change.
In the post Carlson has demonstrated his practical understanding and hands-on approach to working with farmers and communities via his involvement with groups such as Practical Farmers of Iowa, Seed Savers Exchange, and Southern Seed Legacy. He may immediately apply anthropological concepts to practical circumstances and improve farmers' lives as well as the sustainability of agricultural techniques by actively participating with these groups.
I really enjoy how this blog post provides an inspiring account of Steve Carlson’s journey as an applied agricultural anthropologist, highlighting his commitment to making a positive impact on communities through sustainable agricultural practices.
-Ahmesha Johnson
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