WATERTOWN, Tenn. (OSV News) — For the second year, a group of Diocese of Nashville seminarians spent their summer assignments on a working farm, growing in spirit, community and agrarian know-how.
The nine seminarians, all of whom are in the propaedeutic stage of formation, spent their summer assignment under the guidance of Deacon Chris Simpson and his wife, Suellen Simpson, owners of Field of Dreams Farm in Watertown, which is about 40 miles east of Nashville.
Joined by Father Luke Wilgenbusch, diocesan director of vocations, and Father David Lee, associate director of vocations, the seminarians stepped away from smartphones, fast food and the daily comforts of urban living to work the farm and live in tents during two of Middle Tennessee’s hottest months.
Deacon Simpson and Suellen Simpson began their dream of owning and operating a farm in 2010 and grew Field of Dreams Farm from five acres to 115 acres. The farm produces pastured eggs and non-genetically modified poultry and livestock, including chickens, ducks, turkeys, pigs and grass-fed cattle.
Wanting to make impact on food industry and more
“We knew since we started the farm that we wanted to make our little impact on the food industry because it’s so bad,” said Deacon Simpson, who is assigned to St. Luke Church in Smyrna. “This is just our way to make whatever impact we can. But there was another aspect we still needed.”
“We feel like God has called us to do more than just farming,” added Suellen Simpson.
Deacon Simpson and Suellen Simpson first opened their doors to seminarians, as well as students from local universities who were a part of University Catholic — a college campus ministry for the Diocese of Nashville — in 2023. The seminarians and students often made day trips to the farm to work with their hands and pray in community.
“We fed them breakfast, we worked, we prayed, and they had a ball,” said Deacon Simpson. “Then it just became this continual thing.”
Deacon Simpson said that during one of those day trips, while chopping wood, seminarian Tyler Marcum made a joke to the first group of propaedeutic seminarians, saying, “‘Knowing my luck, this will be my summer assignment next year,'” the deacon recalled.
Planning for inaugural farm experience in 2025
Father Wilgenbusch overheard it, and within a few months, he reached out to Deacon Simpson to start planning the inaugural farm experience in 2025 for several seminarians in the propaedeutic stage of formation, which is a foundational year that emphasizes human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral development.
This first year allows the young men to remain rooted in the life of the diocese while beginning their academic preparation prior to entering seminary.
“(Father Wilgenbusch) asked me, ‘What do you think about hosting 10 seminarians for about six weeks on your farm?’ Suellen and I told him that we didn’t need to think about it because we’ve been praying about this for a while, and so the summer farm experience was born,” Deacon Simpson explained.
During the summer assignment, which lasted from June to the end of July, the seminarians lived amid the elements, sleeping on cots in tents through rainy and humid nights. In July, the average high reached above 90 degrees.
During long days working the fields, cleaning troughs, cooking meals outdoors and processing food from farm to table, they separated themselves from the busy world to grow close with nature, their brother seminarians and God.
‘Everything has been just amazing’
“It’s been a great experience,” said seminarian Mary Augustus Ndubuisi. “We know where our food is coming from and life tends to be slower here because we are not using any technology. I have been able to read more, pray more, and everything has been just amazing.”
The experience allowed seminarians, some of whom have never been to a farm before, to learn how to work together and pray together.
Most days, the seminarians began with morning prayer in the St. Isidore Chapel — named after St. Isidore, an 11th-century Spanish farmer who is the patron saint of farmers and day laborers — which Deacon Simpson built in a room above the barn. Farm work followed, which lasted from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Afterward, they would prepare and eat lunch in silence while Father Wilgenbusch read a book aloud. Later in the afternoon, the seminarians prayed a Holy Hour before Eucharistic adoration and attended Mass in the chapel.
“The farm is peaceful and has allowed me to deepen my prayer life by spending time in nature and among God’s creation,” said seminarian Jason Koenemann.
‘It has strengthened our community life’
“I think we all have become comfortable being ourselves because the farm strips down any wall or pretense that you have about yourself,” he continued. “It has strengthened our community life.”
Deacon Simpson and Suellen Simpson agreed that being able to be a part of these young men’s formation is a gift and, when the assignment is over, they miss having them around.
“When the guys left last year, I was probably a little depressed for a couple weeks just because my prayer life dropped off,” said Deacon Simpson. “Even though Father Wilgenbusch leads them most days, you feel compelled to be part of that community.”
“We really love having the guys here, especially adding the spiritual aspect to our days,” added Suellen Simpson. “There is such a sense of community. Even though I’m just the property owner, being able to pray with the seminarians and go to Mass with them in our chapel, it feels like a monastic community.”
‘Building up their common sense’
Deacon Simpson said that being a teacher to these seminarians in formation has taught him patience.
“Part of the experience here is building up their common sense,” he said. “I take for granted what I know, but having them here, teaching them basic things with mechanics and what not, I learn to be patient and help them through mistakes and learn how to fix them.”
The seminarians said that having Deacon Simpson not only as a farm guide but also as a spiritual adviser has been a blessing. Every day, he taught them how to feed and care for the animals, while at the same time, teaching them a lesson in faith by connecting the natural life and the spiritual life.
“We’ve had the opportunity to learn so many things from Deacon Simpson,” said Koenemann. “There have been so many moments where he ties the work we do back to the faith. On the first day we were here, the lambs got loose, and we had to try to shepherd them back into the pen, which was a huge ordeal. But then we sat down afterwards, and he related our situation to the Good Shepherd and the 99 sheep and leaving your flock. He provided us with wisdom in connecting the Gospel to being a farmer.”
“Deacon Chris is a very good instructor,” added seminarian Griffin Gartner. “He’s a good teacher and a patient man. It’s really nice for our Holy Hours. To have a deacon present means a lot, especially since we pray all of the Liturgy of the Hours. It feels very monastic out here, and I think that’s part of the point.”
Simpsons grateful forchance to serve God and diocese
After year two of the farm experience with the seminarians, Deacon Simpson and Suellen Simpson said they are grateful for the opportunity to serve God and the diocese in such an unique way.
“We’ve always loved our seminarians and have always been extremely supportive,” said Deacon Simpson. “But to be a part of their formation, whether it’s working on the farm or sitting on the back porch in the evening, talking philosophy and theology, it is an honor and a privilege.”
“I feel blessed that God called us to do more,” added Suellen Simpson. “We raised six children, and I felt I was always serving. I feel like God has called me to just keep serving, like this is my mission.”
Steven Boero is associate editor in the Diocese of Nashville’s Department of Communications. This story was originally published by the Tennessee Register and Nashville Catholic, the diocese’s online news outlets and distributed through a partnership with OSV News.
To learn more about Field of Dreams Farm and its mission, visit fieldofdreamsfarmtn.com.
