PATRICK MITCHELL I SMALL FARM AMBASSADOR I EAT! DIRECTOR
Patrick Mitchell is the Program Director, Farm Ambassador and Lead Instructor for the EAT! Cultural Center & Farm, and represents the fifth generation of his family to work in American Agriculture. He is the author of two books and more than a dozen peer-reviewed and popular articles.
Patrick has 20-plus years’ experience in ecological horticulture and land-based education and has managed public parks and natural areas, resort landscapes, historic sites and horse ranches.
For the past decade, Patrick has taken a hands-on role in various market scale farm operations including growing and marketing culinary herbs, citrus, diversified vegetables and specialty crops. Patrick is a scholar of the relationship between nature and culture, and believes deeply in the transformative power of putting one’s hands in the soil.
CHRIS FAUCHER MA+MS I FARM HAND I DIRECTOR OF CTE
Committed to Teaching Hearts, Opening Minds and Transforming Lives, Chris has worked with diverse populations and age groups during his career. Inspired by the dynamic synergy between Education, Transformation and Transition, his path has taken him on a journey through teaching, curriculum development, organizational leadership and community outreach.
Whether creating programs for young-adults on the road to personal recovery, innovating programs for system-involved/impacted adults transitioning back to their communities, or challenging college students to go beyond themselves by combining academics, global exploration and aid work, Chris is driven by a passion to creatively connect ideas, people and experiences.
Chris holds Master’s Degrees in Organizational Leadership and Education, and has been the Southern California Director of Career Technical Education at Five Keys since 2014 where he currently specializes in Apprenticeship-Readiness, Agriculture and Wellness Programs.