Humanities Symposium
Humanities Symposium Lecture
- Date: February 19, 2026
- Location: Parmer Hall, Calvin and Janet High Center for Worship and Performing Arts
- Time: 7:00 pm
- Cost: Free tickets are required for this event. To reserve, please contact Messiah University Box Office at 717-691-6036 option #1 or online at messiah.edu/tickets.
Christa Barfield: "Agriculture is the Culture: How the FarmerJawn Formula Equates to a Life Well Lived"
Christa Barfield, AKA FarmerJawn, is a healthcare professional turned regenerative farmer, entrepreneur, and advocate for food justice. Her work has positioned her as a national leader in the movement toward sustainable, organic, and regenerative food systems. Managing 128 acres across three counties in Pennsylvania, she is also the largest Black food grower in the state. Her mission extends beyond farming — she is reshaping the conversation around nutrition security, land stewardship, and the vital role of Black farmers in the food system. A James Beard Award winner, Christa’s influence reaches far beyond the fields. She speaks nationally on the intersection of agriculture, public health, and economic justice, advocating for policies that prioritize a Farm First approach to food production and healthcare. Her work is a living testament to the belief that Food is Medicine, and she continues to inspire a new generation of farmers, policymakers, and food industry leaders to rethink how food is grown, distributed, and valued.
Symposium Schedule
| Time | Event | Presenter | Location |
| 7-8 pm | Poetry Reading | Guest Poet: Julia Kasdorf |
Calvin & Janet High Center for Worship & Performing Arts, Recital Hall |
| Time | Event | Presenter | Location |
| 1-1:45 pm | "Eat, Pray, Resist: Ukrainian Food Scene as Cultural Defiance" | Faculty Lecture: Oksana Moroz (Language, Literature & Writing) |
Boyer 131 |
| 2-2:45 pm | "S.R. Smith and the Noodle Factory at Grantham, 1909" | Student Presentation: Sophia Snyder, Sponsored by Bernardo Michael (History, Politics & Intl. Relations) |
Boyer 131 |
| 3-3:45 pm | "Food Instruction in Family and Consumer Sciences as as Exercise in Nonverbal Communication" | Student (Grad) Presentation: Julian Costa, Sponsored by Ronald Carlisle (Grad: Education) |
Boyer 131 |
| 4-4:45 pm | "Food & Culture in World History: Stories of Culinary Agency and Innovation in Malayali Families" | Faculty Lecture: Bernado Michael (History, Politics & Intl. Relations) |
Boyer 131 |
| 5-5:45 pm | "Sharing the Table: How Food Builds Bridges Between Refugees and Host Communities" | Guest Lecture: Alex Swan of Church World Services Harrisburg, Sponsored by Robin Lauermann (History, Politics & Intl. Relations) A panel discussion exploring the role of food as a catalyst for connection, cultural understanding, and community-building. |
Boyer 131 |
| 6:30-7:30 pm | "Flavors From my Table: Memory, Nostalgia & the Immigrant Experience" | Department Sponsored Panel Discussion: Sponsored by Sara Myers (Murray Library) Panelist will reflect on a dish or food tradition from their culture that evokes nostalgia, belonging, or transformation. Through these stories, we'll explore how food serves as a bridge between past and present life experiences, and a way to preserve cultural identity in new environments. |
Murray Library |
| Time | Event | Presenter | Location |
| 11:55-12:40 am | "Starbucks, Barnes and Noble, & Coffee Shoppe Reading: The Power of Personal Reading Histories" | Faculty Teaching Workshop: Karen Harrington (Residence Life) |
Boyer 135 |
| 2-2:45 am | "Bridging Cultures Through Cuisine" | Faculty-Student Colloquium: Sponsored by Kaitlin Gill (Health Nutrition Exercise Science) Student planned interactive stations in the Nutrition Foods Lab. Participants would be able to walk through and participate in the stations at their own pace. |
Jordon 063 |
| 7 pm | "Agriculture is the Culture: How the FarmerJawn Formula Equates to a Life Well Lived" | Symposium Keynote Address: Christa Barfield |
Calvin & Janet High Center for Worship & Performing Arts, Parmer Hall |
| Time | Event | Presenter | Location |
| 11-11:45 am | "Infused Connections: Tea as a Cultural Catalyst from Personal to Global Levels" | Student Presentation: YiLi Smedley, Sponsored by Stella Ye (Language, Literature & Writing) |
Boyer 131 |
| 12-12:45 pm | "From Leaf to Life: A Journey Through Culture in Cups" | Student Performance: YiLi Smedley, Sponsored by Stella Ye (Language, Literature & Writing) |
Boyer 131 |
| 1-1:45 pm | "Wendell Berry's Great Economy" |
Faculty Lecture: Chad Frey (Education) |
Boyer 131 |
| 2-2:45 pm | "Who Gets to Eat "Right"? Understanding Food Elitism in Everyday Life: Why the Way We Talk About Food Says More About Power and Privilege Than Personal Choice" | Faculty Lecture: Amy Porto (Health Nutrition Exercise Science) |
Boyer 131 |
| 3-3:45 pm | "Pastoral Provisions: The Role of Sheep in Food Production and Culture" | Student Lecture: Kylie Smith, Sponsored by Bernardo Michael (History, Politics & Intl. Relations) |
Boyer 131 |
| 4 pm | "2026 Humanities Symposium Dance Concert: Dance Food Culture" | Dance Performance and Discussion: Sponsored by Gregg Hurley (Theater and Dance) Free Event, tickets required |
Poorman Black Box Theatre, Climenhaga Building |
| 5 pm | Closing Reception | C CFAC Upper Level Lobby |
| Time | Event | Presenter | Location |
| 8 pm | "2026 Humanities Symposium Dance Concert: Dance Food Culture" | Dance Performance and Discussion: Sponsored by Gregg Hurley (Theater and Dance) Free event, tickets required |
Poorman Black Box Theatre, Climenhaga Building |