John Jorgensen is the third generation Executive Director of Hedgeapple Farm, having assumed this role in 2022. He holds academic degrees in archaeology (PhD from Duke University, MA from the Johns Hopkins University) and Classical Studies (AB from Duke University). John is married and the father of four children. Upon leaving academia and prior to assuming responsibility for Hedgeapple Farm, John and his wife owned  and operated a small farm in southern Frederick County, principally raising and direct marketing sheep, goats, and pastured chicken eggs. John spent much of his childhood exploring the fields, woodlands, and riverbanks of Hedgeapple Farm and developed a strong appreciation for the land’s natural beauty. As Executive Director overseeing the farm’s mission and ongoing operations, one of his goals is to ensure the balance between agriculture and the natural environment and to leave the land in a better state than when he received its stewardship.

Farm Manager

Chris was born and raised on a farm, with his family mostly raising and selling livestock. Since his late teen years, he has spent 12 yrs in the construction trade,  including 2+ years of project management before returning to his agricultural roots. As he has worked at Hedgeapple Farm, he has grown passionate about the connection between soil, animal, and human health. His passion also includes seeing rural America thrive again as people support their local farmers and ranchers. Together with his family (wife, daughter, and baby due in March 2025) it has been his absolute privilege to call Hedgeapple home. He has  enjoyed the land and raising the cattle from calving season to finishing season. He is excited about it all and looks forward to seeing Hedgeapple grow in the years to come.

Originally from eastern North Carolina, Seth Young joined the farm team as Assistant Manager in May of 2023. Seth Graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Natural Resources Management. While at Berea, Seth worked as Student Cattle Manager on the Berea College Farm as well as working with the other farm operations. Seth has experience in a wide range of regenerative farming operations from crops, to grass-fed sheep and cattle, to pastured pork and poultry production. Seth's passion is in sustainable agriculture and making agriculture work with nature and natural processes rather than against them. Seth's favorite things to do on the farm are sorting and working cattle and moving cattle to fresh pasture early in the morning and seeing how excited they get.