Education Advisory Committee Spotlight: Joy Pullmann
Farming for the Future Foundation’s education advisory committee is dedicated to teaching young generations about agriculture, food and growers. To help children and families gain a better understanding of food production and meal time, the FFTF education committee is a team of teachers and professionals with experience in school systems who are creating lesson plans and connecting with schools and teachers to integrate engaging agriculture-centered lessons into classrooms.
Get to know Farming for the Future Foundation: Spotlight on Education Advisory Committee Member Joy Pullmann
Joy (nee Pavelski) Pullmann was born into a legacy of potato and vegetable farming. Raised on the family farm outside of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Joy’s earliest experiences impressed on her strong ties to the land and an appreciation for the industry that feeds the world. After leaving the family home and land to start her own family and career, Joy continues to incorporate these early lessons into her life and career in journalism and education.
Although on the young side of life, Joy has served in many roles, including mother of six, daughter and sister among seven, teacher, journalist, editor, author, and researcher. She is currently sitting on the board of a start-up classical school that integrates extensive nature study into its curriculum, and she serves as executive editor of a leading political media outlet.
Joy also brings to the Farming for the Future Foundation’s education committee 30 years of experience in the education field with proven success in developing educational systems and curriculum, including advising numerous schools across the country and testifying before approximately 15 different state legislatures. She views her work on the committee as an opportunity to reunite with her roots and help more people understand this vital industry.
“As a kid growing up, I could just walk out my door and see what the farmers were doing,” Joy said. “Almost nobody, statistically speaking, lives like that now or has that background and understanding of all the work that goes into keeping them fed. I hope that, through Farming for the Future Foundation, we can pass on this gift that I received though my childhood, of loving the land and understanding the important work being done on farms, to more people.”
As Farming for the Future Foundation expands into classrooms and develops a space to explore food and farm, Joy’s professional experience as well as love of the land will be an asset to learners of every age.
“For me, sitting on the education committee is a way to connect with my family legacy as well as a way for me to help steward the earth,” Joy said. “I care deeply about both of those issues.”
A little more about Joy:
Favorite way to enjoy a potato: This is a very difficult question. I like almost every possible way, I think—mashed, twice-baked, baked with all the toppings, with chili on top, chips (thick and thin), Texas fries, everything. I guess which one I’d pick would depend on what else I was eating it with.
For memories, I’ll probably never be able to replicate my dad making me a fresh potato chip from a potato he’d grown on the family farm with a fryer right in a farm HQ meeting room.
Piece of technology I couldn’t live without: Books.
Favorite place to be: Anywhere outdoors that is beautiful..
Mantra to live by: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind; and love your neighbor as yourself.
