Elizabethtown College Young Center Holds Trainings for NRCS Employees

The Elizabethtown College Young Center recently provided trainings for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA/NRCS) employees who work with or may eventually work with Amish or other Plain Community farmers.

The first of these trainings took place at the Young Center on Aug. 24 to 26, 2022, and the second on Sept. 14 to 16, 2022. A total of 43 NRCS staff members from Delaware, Illinois, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania came to Etown for the three-day training.

This multi-day training event introduces the culture and values that shape Amish and other Plain Church groups, as well as their approach to agriculture, technology, and working with government agencies. It also highlights specific elements of community structure and leadership that can impact communication bridges or barriers.

The NRCS first approached Etown’s Young Center in 2018 about developing these training programs. From there, the Young Center piloted the training for Pennsylvania NRCS staff in 2019.

“Based on the 2019 experience, we were able to finetune the training contents and offer it now for national participation, thus the attendees this time include folks from beyond Pennsylvania,” Director and Senior Scholar of the Young Center and Professor of History and Anabaptist Studies Steve Nolt said.

During the trainings, the employees sat in on sessions led by Nolt and Research Associate Edsel Burdge, completed field visits to Amish farms and homes, and engaged in panel discussions with other individuals from the Lancaster area, including Plain Community farmers and professionals who work with them.

Jamie Jones, Outreach Coordinator for the Illinois USDA/NRCS, said that the trainings provided much-needed education and awareness of the foundations and functions of the Plain Sect Communities.

“Steve Nolt and Edsel Burdge Jr., along with the Young Center, provided a welcoming and inclusive learning environment, gathering Plain individuals from around the area to provide first-hand insight and experiences,” Jones said. “I found the entire experience very beneficial. I have deep appreciation and respect for Plain communities, and thanks to this training, I feel better equipped to serve similar communities of Illinois.”

Nolt believes that hosting these trainings will help the Young Center continue to grow and reach wider communities.

“As the Amish population continues to grow and expand into new areas, the Amish are interacting with new neighbors in new places,” Nolt explained. “The NRCS staff very much want to help as many farmers as possible and to do so in effective ways that recognize and respect cultural differences. The Young Center can play a critical role in helping bridge these communities and in building greater cultural understanding.”