Loran Shallenberger – Farm Manager
Loran manages the day-to-day operations of Red Wiggler’s fields; managing soil fertility, crop rotations, cover cropping, and organic certification. Additionally, he is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the farm’s buildings and equipment.
Loran Shallenberger was born and raised in the Cornbelt town of Mahomet, IL. The basics of vegetable production and appreciation for fresh local food were ingrained at an early age; tending to the family garden was one of the most coveted household chores. After high school, Loran served for two years in Washington, DC with the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC), and was selected as a Team Leader after his first year. Loran worked as a Field Assistant at Red Wiggler during the 2007 growing season. Before returning to Red Wiggler for the 2011 season, Loran worked for two years as a timber framer and construction foreman while continuing to farm part-time, and a year managing an organic sheep and goat operation.
Loran holds a bachelor’s degree in Culture, Ecology, and Sustainable Community from the New College of California, and has also spent time working on organic farms in Central America and running an individual fundraising campaign for a Habitat for Humanity home while hiking the Appalachian Trail.
