Staff

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Nick Bauman, Sally Causey (Executive Director), Teddy Dabbs (site manager), Rhonda Hensley (Mobile Farmers' Market Manager), Gene Maddox (Assistant Program Coordinator), Paul Scala (Accounts Manager), Debbie Strickland (Farm & Food Teen Training Coordinator)

Biographys:

Nick Bauman leads children in summertime farm adventures at Farm DayCamp. Nick is a 2nd Grade Teacher at Mosheim Elementary and looks forward to spending his summers sharing his passion for all things farm. He graduated from Tusculum College. While at Tusculum, he volunteered for Rural Resources and was instrumental in beginning after-school gardens in two local neighborhoods.

Sally Causey loves teaching children of all ages how to milk Bella the cow and feels so lucky to do that as part of being the Executive Director of Rural Resources, the post she has held since 1996.  She has shepherded Rural Resources through many stages of program and organizational development including beginning the Mobile Farmers' Market and Farm & Food Training Program. Sally holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina and a MAEd. from Tusculum College.  Currently she participates on the Board of Directors of Appalachian Sustainable Development.  She is a 2004 Greene Co. Partnership Leadership Class graduate.

Teddy Dabbs manages the farm site at Rural Resources which includes caring for livestock on a daily basis as well as overseeing gardens, repairs and maintenance, etc. Teddy grew up on a Greene County farm and enjoys his time working once again in the country.

Dr. Weyman Fussell works with Rural Resources on contract to assist local growers in getting their Good Agricultural Practices (food safety) certification. He is a Certified Agronomist (American Registry of Certified Professionals in Agronomy) and has graduate degrees in agricultural science from Purdue University and the University of Tennessee.  He has spent many years providing technical assistance to small scale farmers including working with the USDA, Peace Corps, and ATTRA.  He lives on a farm in Grainger County where he produces blueberries, melons, and peppers.

Rhonda Hensley has served as the Mobile Farmers’ Market Coordinator for Rural Resources since January of 2005.  She received her Associates Degree inEducation from Walters State Community College in 1995 and attended East Tennessee State University. Prior to working for Rural Resources, Rhondaoperated a restaurant as well as a rural country store with a lunch counter. Working with local organic farmers and their produce has led her to have a passion for nutritional education.

Gene Maddox has served Rural Resources as the Assistant ProgramCoordinator since 2003. He provides coordination for the Four Seasons Grazing Club, assists with progam development, tracks volunteers and oversees office functions. Gene studied social work at East Tennessee State University.

Debbie Strickland has served as the Farm & Food Teen Training Coordinator at Rural Resources since 2008. She, with community trainers, teaches 50+ teens gardening, animal husbandry, cooking, business, and leadership skills. Prior to working with Rural Resources, she worked for Just for Girls, Manatee County Girls Club in Florida where she helped to develop class curriculum. She has a college background in Business Administration and Management, and comes from a family farm in Indiana.

Paul Scala is Rural Resources' Accounts Manager and long time organic growerand is passionate about composting with worms!  At Rural Resources he oversees all bookkeeping functions and works with the Finance Committee. Previously, Paul worked in Accounts Payable for a local industry. He holds a B.A. in sociology from Binghamton University.