Press release from Warren Wilson College:
The shared history between Warren Wilson College and Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church (WWPC) was on full display Sunday. In a nod to the College’s agricultural programs and products, the “harvest celebration” took over the chancel for the Church’s Thanksgiving service. From produce to livestock and products to tools, the display depicts the bounty of the harvests from the College’s farm and garden.
“We give thanks to the students on the farm, landscape, garden, fiber arts and blacksmith crews on campus for designing and building the chancel display,” read a note in the Church’s bulletin. WWPC Pastor Steve Runholt also offered his “sincerest word of thanks” to the students and staff members who created the display and are “keeping this grand tradition alive and well.”
The celebration dates back to 1933. Bernhard Laursen, farm manager when the College was known as Asheville Farm School, “felt that sharing the visual aspect of the harvest would add to the air of Thanksgiving,” according to WWPC’s newsletter. The campus had yet to build a chapel for the church congregation, so the first harvest displays were presented in Sunderland Residence Hall where services were held.
Upon his father’s retirement, Ernst Laursen, a 1949 graduate of Warren Wilson High School and a member of WWPC, took over the duties as farm manager and subsequently the harvest celebration display. Until retiring in 1996, Ernst Laursen and his students created vignettes that included corn shocks, wheat, barley, vegetables, farm equipment and live farm animals.
“I looked forward to it because I just enjoyed the fact we put the different things up there, and people seemed to enjoy it,” Laursen said.
Warren Wilson College students and staff have continued the tradition, which marks its 83rd anniversary in 2016. Among the College staff members creating the display this year were Farm Manager Asher Wright, Landscaping Supervisors Thomas LaMuraglia and John Odell, and Garden Manager Benjamin Mackie.
Ian Robertson, who retired as the College’s dean of work in June, played a pivotal role in creating the display in previous years. This time, he stepped back and admired the work of others.
“The tradition of bringing the bounty and gifts of the land into the sanctuary is in good hands,” Robertson said. “All the credit to a wonderful display goes to the crews and supervisors. I was an observer of the final product and just smiled. I [send] thanks to those who did the work.”
For more information about the harvest celebration, visit avl.mx/36o.
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