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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 change 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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Heather, Office Manager
Heather Davis joined the Spence’s Farm family in
June 2008. She grew up in Cary, and attended Peace
College, earning her B.A. in Anthropology. After
college she went to work at the Duke Lemur Center as
the Education/Tour Coordinator. She is a mom of two
daughters, who keep her on her toes. Her spare time
is spent enjoying the outdoors and teaching her
children about our wonderful Earth. |
 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. |
 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. |
 Wayne,
Woodshop Instructor
Mr. Wayne was a mechanical engineer for over 30
years, working for such giants as Rockwell and
Cummins Engine. He lives in Durham with his wife
of 40 years and has one daughter. He grew up
around farms in his family, but this is the
first time he has actually worked on one!
He has taught young people in the past in Math
and Machine Shop at Alamance Community College,
and welcomes the opportunity to work with the
young people at Spence’s Farm. He enjoys the
kids, they enjoy him, and Mr. Spencer says he
has realized that Farm life is really very
special. |
 Erin,
Pottery Instructor
Erin Whitman is a
gifted potter with technical skill, creativity
and a very holistic approach the entire process.
She began her education in pottery at Central
Carolina Community College and studied under
master potter Joyce Bryan of Stone Crow Pottery.
She helped create the Pottery Program at
Spence’s Farm almost ten years ago and has been
welcomed back as a distinguished “alumni.” Erin
believes pottery is both an art and a science
and is a wonderful medium for children because
it teaches eye-hand coordination, patience, and
the yin yang of discipline and free thinking.
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