Washington State University researcher, soil scientist and teacher, John Reganold, was named the 2014 Food and Farm Educator by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Berkeley Food Institute on May 14. Reganold is one of four 2014 Growing Green Award winners from the two groups that include livestock, leadership, and polination awards.

Video about John Reganold by the NRDC.

More about Reganold’s award from the press release.

Food and Farm Educator: John Reganold, Washington State University (Pullman, Washington)

For Regents Professor John Reganold, the best classroom is a farm and the best textbook is a handful of dirt.  In a career spanning more than three decades, Reganold is regarded as an internationally renowned soil scientist and one of Washington State University’s most beloved teachers. He founded the first organic agriculture major in the United States and the nation’s largest certified organic teaching farm at WSU. Backed by academic research from more than a 1000 farms on four continents, he has bravely called upon students, scientists and policy makers to reimagine conventional farming in America. Reganold has helped train the next generation of sustainability leaders, with over 4000 undergraduate students in his classes to date. He stands at the frontlines of an educational movement, determined to transition farmland away from toxic chemicals and the marks of erosion, toward healthy soils and sustainable, abundant harvests.

“I urge students in my classes to consider soil science in the broader picture of American agricultural policy, because ultimately it’s not enough just to churn data — we have to apply it,” Reganold said.  “We have to stop judging a farm by the size of its yield and start considering the health of its soil, the happiness of its employees and the financial stability of its owners.”

The NRDC and the Berkeley Food Institute Going Green Award says the annual honor is given to “leaders who are advancing sustainable food and agriculture.” Learn more about the Going Green Award at their web site.