2009 Alumnus of the Year
Joel Salatin
Joel Salatin has served the Lord in the agricultural business world for over 25 years. Joel graduated from BJU in 1979 with a BA in English and initially took a job as a newspaper reporter. A third-generation alternative farmer, our honoree returned to the family business in 1981.
His family’s environmentally friendly farm services 2,000 families, 10 retail stores and 35 restaurants through metropolitan buying clubs and on-site sales. Polyface, Inc., located in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, applies sustainable agriculture and marketing techniques that make its products healthier and safer for consumers. Our recipient is most noted for popularizing the American pastured poultry movement where chickens are raised on fresh pasture. He passionately defends small farms and local food systems.
Joel has been the recipient of many awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association, Bioneer of the Year, and the Eco-Agriculture Achievement Award. His farm has been featured in Bon Appetit, Gourmet, National Geographic and the Smithsonian magazine as well as numerous other publications. In 2007, the New York Times bestseller The Omnivore’s Dilemma popularized his “grass farming” as an alternative to industrial farming. He serves as guest lecturer at several universities and is a much sought-after conference speaker around the world. In addition, our recipient is the author of six books, a columnist for agriculture publications and the cofounder of two associations.
In addition to his work on the farm, he currently serves as an elder and Sunday school teacher in his local church. In recognition of his outstanding accomplishments, devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ and loyalty to the principles of Bob Jones University, the Alumni Association Executive Committee is pleased to present the 2009 Alumnus of the Year Award to Joel Salatin.
