It’s no secret that technology dominates nearly every aspect of our lives. From phones being seemingly glued to our hands to the rise of artificial intelligence altering how we perform daily tasks, there are many out there who simply want to be one with nature and return to an older way of living. Buckley Homestead Historical Facilities Programmer Joe Reed is certainly one of those people.
Growing up in Lowell, Reed developed a love for agriculture and animals through his father, whom he would regularly shear sheep with, before getting a part-time job at the history farm which ignited his love for the lifestyle and culture surrounding it.
After graduating from Lowell High School, Reed would go to Purdue University and receive a degree in natural resources and environmental science. Returning to the Region, Reed was then offered a full-time position at Buckley, something which has felt like a dream come true.
As the Facilities Programmer at Buckley Homestead, Reed is in charge of making sure all the park’s various events run smoothly. Additionally, he also runs field trips throughout the school year for schools across the Region in an attempt to teach children about the park and the benefits of agriculture.
“Everyone now is so far removed from where food comes from and how it’s grown,” Reed said. “We do field trips to show kids what life was like and where their food comes from.”
As a true outdoorsman who enjoys everything from taking care of livestock to fishing on the weekends, Reed’s main goal at Buckley has always been to better the community through his work in agriculture.
“I wanted to go into the parks because I really liked the idea of not working to make someone money; I’m working to make my community better,” Reed said. “Buckley was one of those things. A lot of it was second nature to me, especially with the animals.”
That community aspect is exemplified through the many different events that Buckley holds throughout the year. Its biggest event, Fall Fest, is one that holds a special place in Reed’s heart despite the admitted love-hate relationship he has with it.
“My absolute favorite event is Fall Fest; it’s kind of a love-hate thing because of how much it takes to set it up,” Reed said. “We are keeping the price as low as we can; we’ve kept it at $5 for years. I really like the idea that there’s somewhere in the community where a family of four can come out for $20 and have a full day of fun. It’s really nice when it’s done to see all the people who had a great weekend because of it.”
In addition to his work with events, Reed also runs programs to teach people about the basics of taking care of their own farm and other agricultural endeavors that one might want to pursue.
“Lately, there’s been a ‘back-to-your-roots’ trend with everyone wanting to start their own homestead,” Reed said. “We’ve had a lot of people come out over the last couple of years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. We teach the history, but we also teach the basics like ‘This is how you take care of your stuff’ or ‘Here’s what to consider if you’re growing a garden.’”
Ultimately, Reed is a man who loves nature and loves his community. Through his work with Buckley Homestead, the Lowell native has become a key member of the community, leading field trips for students, teaching the community about agriculture and spearheading a plethora of events for the public to enjoy.
To learn more about Buckley Homestead’s programs and events, visit its website here.