Jenna Bacon, Campus Carrier arts and living editor
On Friday, Sept. 13, a group of Berry College students joined Visiting Assistant Art Professor Dennis Ritter on a trip to harvest clay for the ceramics studio. The group met in the ceramics studio of the Moon Building and carpooled to go harvest clay at Mountain Mama Farms.
Mountain Mama Farms is located on property belonging to the Scoggins family. It is operated by Stacie Marshall, a fifth-generation descendant and the first woman farmer of the Scoggins family. Upon moving her family to the farmhouse Marshall had inherited, she began to research her family history. While she was sorting through some of her grandparents’ belongings, she came across a copy of a county slave schedule that was from the year 1860. Upon uncovering the knowledge that her family had actively participated in the institution of slavery, Marshall began to pursue anti-racism work. She aims to confront and acknowledge her family’s history while building community through open dialogues about Southern history and race relations.
Hester’s Heritage, named after a woman who was enslaved by the Scoggins family, is a foundation Marshall began with the goal of promoting equal justice in the preservation of black history. Hester’s Heritage has been involved in the historical preservation of burial grounds of enslaved individuals. Hester’s Heritage also hosts an annual community dinner to build connections and provide a safe space for productive discussions on race, historical preservation, and black farming initiatives.
This is not the first time that Berry students have harvested clay from Mountain Mama Farms. According to senior Allie Patterson, this is the second year that a group of Berry students has harvested clay from Mountain Mama Farms.
“We did this project last year, and it was so fun, and people who attended the Hester’s Heritage community dinner got to observe the pieces that we created for the event,” Patterson said. “I’m pretty sure the money that we raised through that went back to the Harris Heritage fund. So, that was really awesome.”
Marshall later shared that those funds were used for preservation.
“Last year, with those funds, we were able to bring in two Historic preservationists who specialized in enslaved cemetery preservation work,” Marshall said. “Part of the why we are specifically focused on the slave burial grounds is because there have not been preservation efforts historically to those cemeteries, so a lot of the grave markers have been misplaced or lost.”
The preservationists used geothermal equipment to locate 47 unmarked burial plots within the cemetery. According to Marshall, she hopes to continue to partner with Berry college students to raise money for a monument that will mark those burial spots.
There is significant symbolism behind taking the clay from this land and using it to create works of art that community members get to enjoy. Senior Autumn Bennet shared why she enjoys the hands-on process of harvesting clay from Mountain Mama Farms.
“I guess what you’re doing feels more important when you’re taking something from the land and you’re giving it back to a part of the community that really needs it,” Bennet said. “So, it feels more significant in a way because you’re digging with a purpose you’re building with a purpose.”
A group of student volunteers harvesting clay for the Berry ceramic studio
This is not the first time that Marshall has been involved with the Berry community. Beginning in 2018, Associate Professor of Anthropology & Environmental Studies Brian Campbell used Marshall’s farm as a field site for one of his anthropology classes. Throughout the next four years, he and his students documented a lot of Mashall and her family’s experiences through video interviews. In 2022, a documentary film called “Her Name Was Hester” was released, produced by Campbell and his students.
According to Marshall, she’s also had Berry students come to volunteer at Mountain Mama Farms.
“We also have partnered with the Berry College volunteer services, and they have served at our dinner,” Marshall said. “And we also partner with them during the MLK service day for the historic preservation.” The collaboration that has taken place between Berry College and Mountain Mama Farms so far has been successful. As students continue using their artistic abilities to support a noble cause, they will continue to foster a sense of community. There will be undoubtedly be future collaborations between Berry College and Mountain Mama farms in the future.