Farm Manager
William Ritter is a dedicated farmer, fiddler, and seed-saver from Bakersville, North Carolina. He feels deeply called to the work of rural community development and to the continuation of traditional folkways such as ballad singing, storytelling, and traditional dance. William holds a masters degree in Appalachian studies from Appalachian State University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in scenic design from Western Carolina University.
For several years, William has been drawn to sustainable and regenerative agriculture, and is thrilled to be joining the Patterson School Foundation as the Farm & Cultural Resources Manager. In this position, William will work closely with the school’s incubator farmers and kitchen lease chefs, and aid Program Director Michelle Dineen in creating programming that highlights NC’s rich regional and traditional Appalachian arts. Additionally, he will prepare and enrich the old baseball & soccer field plots for future organically managed plantings, supervise the Kistler plot, and maintain and improve the campus orchards.
William believes that we can create a more beautiful and just world by coming together—around the table to eat, the garden to plant, and the porch to play some tunes.