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Farm
Staff |
 Spence,
Founder & Director
Spence was born on a farm and has
gardened and worked with animals his whole life. He
began horseback riding before he was 10 years old
and has had extensive training with many different
styles. He can train horses like a horse whisperer.
Spence has been working with children and teaching
for more than 45 years. He has extensive training in
personal development including solutions for people
with addictions. Spence also enjoys teaching
woodworking, gardening, drumming, photography,
riding, driving, forestry management, cooking,
canning, pruning and farm management. |
 Ila,
Program Director
Ila Berkley is a woman of many
talents and credentials, none more impressive
than her joie d’vivre and natural gift with
children of all ages. However, she also has over
20 years of diverse professional work experience
and numerous advanced degrees to bring to bear
on her work at the Farm, as well. She is a
certified K-12 teacher, a B.S.Ed. from
Wellesley, and an M.Ed. in special education
from Northeastern University. She is a licensed
nurse practitioner, and certified as an EMT and
an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter and
instructor. Prior to joining Spence’s Farm, she
worked for the Hospice of Wake County,
specializing in pain management and end of life
care for babies and their families. Miss Ila
relishes the chance to hang out, get her hands
dirty, keep the kids hands clean, and experience
the joy of being with our Farm KIDS every day,
including her own, Jonah, aged six.
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 Didi,
Office Manager
Didi McGuire was raised in rural Maryland and
moved to Chapel Hill at the age of 14. She now
lives in Hillsborough with her husband Pat and
their 12 year old daughter, Kelly. Prior to
joining the Spence's Farm Family, Didi was a
legal assistant for 13 years. She also spent
many years in the restaurant business and worked
at Charles House Adult Day Care Center. When not
at the farm, she reads, cooks, gardens and loves
to relax at the beach or mountains with her
family. |
 Stephanie,
Garden & Livestock Manager
Stephanie Stewart grew up in Catawba, in the
beautiful foothills of NC. She attended UNC-CH and
studied English and Spanish. Her first experience on
a farm was the summer of 2007 when she lived on a
small horse farm in
Västerås, Sweden. After
graduation, Stephanie moved to Seattle, WA where she
volunteered with AmeriCorps as a Middle School
Tutor. In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys
traveling, writing music, hiking, cycling, yoga and
hip-hop dance.knm |
 Kate,
Horsemanship Instructor
Kate Medlin was born and raised in rural Maine, and
moved to NC at age 10. She started horseback riding
at 7 years old and teaching lessons at 16. Kate
worked in many barns in Maine and NC and started
competing in Hunter Jumpers, Eventing, and Dressage.
In 2007 she was married and welcomed a new son,
Logan, to her family. |
 Kelly,
Horsemanship Instructor
Kelly was born in Syracuse, NY. She started riding
horses at the age of 7 and showing at the age of 10. She
started riding Hunters and Equitation, and by the age of
15 she was riding in Medal /McClay classes. Kelly moved to New
Jersey in 1992 and
then to North Carolina in 2006. She has been managing farms and
giving horseback riding lessons since 1996. Kelly has 2
horses of her own named Ganymede and Dainty Roo that she
loves to ride and train. In her spare time she loves to
go hiking, camping, fishing, ride her 2 horses, and listen to Bluegrass Music. |
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