The Agrarian Foundation Welcome and Introduction

Hello To All Potential Agrarians!

Below is an edited letter previously written for someone else. I thought it laid out the basics for what we are about here. Hope it answers some questions. We know The Agrarian Foundation will not be the right place for everyone. Even though our roots are in the Social Conservatism of the Right, we increasingly have grown to see many problems with popular Modernism. Some of these views, suprisingly, are shared by those with roots in Liberal Leftism, though enunciated somewhat differently. So be it. Hopefully we shall carve out a responsible niche for those zealous for a Christian social theory and worldview that looks to building tangible and enduring solutions for problems which have heretofore been marginally critiqued but superbly belly-ached over!

Dear Potential Agrarian(s),

Thanks again for your kindness and willingness to look over my charitable foundation. Below I lay out succinctly what The Agrarian Foundation is and intends to do. Please do take complete liberty in commenting and counseling me in any area you believe needs extra thought or better presentation.

What IS The Agrarian Foundation?

The Agrarian Foundation is a 501(c) (3) Charitable Foundation operating under the administrative authority and tax I. D. (#58-2085326) of The National Heritage Foundation. Thus, all donations to The Agrarian Foundation are tax-deductible. Founded in 1994 by Mr. David E. Rockett of Monroe, Louisiana as The Southern League Foundation, the name was changed to The Agrarian Foundation for greater clarity. Donations should be mailed to, The Agrarian Foundation, 206 Rochelle Avenue, Monroe, Louisiana 71201.

Educational Activities -- The educational activities of The Agrarian Foundation focus upon the integration of: 1) The historic Agrarian Tradition in social thought, 2) Agrarianism implicit in historic Christian theology, and 3) The dominance of Corporate-Global Statism. The Agrarian Foundation will use its newsletter, The Agrarian Steward, pamphlets, tapes, seminars, and books (through Amazon for now) to promote the social vision of cultural Agrarianism. This all will be set in contrast to the Modern and Urban status quo. Our letterhead slogan, ‘…landed property, humane economy, & independent community’ sumarises the agrarian vision, which Thomas Jefferson, among others, thought essential for true and lasting liberty.

Agrarian Land Developments -- The Agrarian Foundation will assist (via low or interest-free loans), families committed to living the agrarian vision, by helping them settle in communities of landed property. This program potentially involves three categories. 1) Settling families on landed properties close to established agrarian communities; 2) Developing and settling families in urban and suburban areas upon more productive landed property, and; 3) Developing and settling families within Intentional Agrarian Communities. It is estimated that Rural & Urban Agrarian Developments should comprise no more than 65% of the operating budget. This all could easily involve us in Local Buying & Currency Programs, Community Assisted Agriculture Programs, Urban & Rural Self-Reliance Programs, etc…

Are YOU A Potential Supporter? Find yourself below?

The Agrarian Foundation will attract a significant mass of zealots in natural segments of society already warm to the above vision. Others are likely to exist that are yet to be identified and segmented.

1. Decided Agrarians -- already familiar with the ideals of historic Agrarianism.
2. Cultural anti-Modernists -- concerned with the directions and problems of Modern culture.
3. Anti-Globalists -- concerned with the dependencies of Modern Urban & Suburban living.
4. Conservationists -- and responsible environmentalists concerned with the abuse of Creation.
5. Communitarians -- already promoting Localism and Rural development.
6. Social traditionalists -- and conservatives concerned about the loss of individual
   and local liberty.
7. Economic Libertarians -- concerned about the dominance of Big Government
   and Big Business.
8. Senior citizens -- concerned about the disappearance of farming communities.

Below is a profile of The Agrarian Foundation Board of Advisors, an outstanding group of men who have graciously agreed to oversee my work with The Agrarian Foundation. Thank you for your consideration.

Abjuring The Realm,
David E. Rockett
Founder & Director

See our Four Agrarian Questions article for further clarification on Agrarianism.

Board of Advisors

Doctor Ralph E. Ancil is Professor of economics at Franciscan University in Stubbenville, Ohio and President of The Wilhelm Roepke Institute. Doctor Ancil is an expert on the economics of the German economist Wilhelm Roepke (and implicit agrarian!), and the social criticism of the late agrarian Richard Weaver. He has written extensively upon the inherent moral nature of economic systems, the humane economy.

Mr. Timothy Baker, husband of Bonnie Baker, is a professional Horticulturist in Southeast MO. Mr. Baker is also an Elder in the Presbyterian Church in America, and a cogent thinker applying the principles of Agrarianism to all areas of life – particularly food production, preparation and purchasing.

Mr. Wendell Berry, husband of Tanya Berry and grandfather of five, is a farmer, poet, novelist and essayist in Port Royal, Kentucky. Formerly an English Professor, Mr. Berry has won several literary awards championing the agrarian vision. Among his novels are A Place On Earth, The Memory of Old Jack, and Remembering. His essays include, The Unsettling Of America, What Are People For? and Home Economics.

Pastor John Thomas Cripps is a Presbyterian Pastor and farmer just outside of Wiggins, Mississippi. With a background in business, computers and accounting, Pastor Cripps has become a farmer as well as a studied and thoughtful Agrarian zealot. Pastor Cripps is also the founder of a young Agrarian community in his local area.

Mr. Robert Green is the editor and publisher of the Christian magazine Quit You Like Men, which champions the strong, gentlemanly manhood and chivalry of the Christian tradition. Mr. Green is also a budding Agrarian in both thought and application in nurturing a small homestead in Northeast Mississippi.

Doctor James E. Kibler is professor of English at the University of Georgia in Athens. An expert on the Southern literary tradition and William Gilmore Simms, Doctor Kibler has published broadly. His latest book, Our Fathers Fields: A Southern Story beautifully chronicles the history of Hardy Farm, his antebellum home place which he is in the gradual process of restoring in up-state South Carolina.

Mr. Daniel Krotz is a co-founder of The American Chesterton Society and Managing Editor of Gilbert! The Magazine of G. K. Chesterton. Mr. Krotz is also the Editor of Generally Speaking, a newsletter which promotes ideas on social credit, subsidarity, and small economies of scale – all implicitly Agrarian in nature.

Doctor Donald Livingston is professor of Philosophy at Emory University in Atlanta. Doctor Livingston has published extensively on the social and political philosophy of David Hume. His latest book is Philosophical Melancholy and Delirium, and he is now writing a book on the moral, legal, and philosophical meaning of Secession.

Doctor Thomas H. Naylor, Professor Emeritus of Economics of Duke University, where he taught for thirty years. A zealous defender of the small, Professor Naylor is co-author of the important book, Downsizing the USA. Heeding the call for localism and decentralisation, Dr. Naylor, his wife and son moved to Vermont from Richmond, VA in 1996 where he now publishes his newsletter, Vermont Green Mountains –
A Voice.

Mr. Franklin Sanders, husband of Susan Sanders and father of seven lives outside Memphis Tennessee. Mr. Sanders brokers physical investments in gold and silver, edits and publishes a monthly financial newsletter, The MoneyChanger, and has written four books including the acclaimed novel Heiland.

Mr. John Vinson is President of the American Immigration Control Foundation, and lives with his wife and children on a small Agrarian homestead in Virginia where he raises vegetables and chickens. Mr. Vinson has worked as an editorial writer for the Savannah Morning News, and the Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph.

About the Founder

Mr. David E. Rockett is the Founder and Director of The Agrarian Foundation and The Agrarian Steward. He is the husband of Debbie Rockett his high-school sweet-heart, wife of 23 years, and mother of their eight children, whom they have home-schooled. The oldest girls, Jennifer and Lisa, are students at Northeast Louisiana University (NLU) in Monroe. LA. The rest are still a joy around the home.

Over the past twenty years, Mr. Rockett became increasingly concerned for an integration of orthodox Christian Theology and Christian Social Theory which did not simply baptise the status-quo with a specious pseudo-christian credibility. Studying the Southern Agrarians of I’ll Take My Stand, Richard Weaver, the novels and essays of Wendell Berry and Gene Logsdon, and the economic writings of German Economist Wilhelm Roepke, has been a delight. It has led Mr. Rockett to champion a distinctively Christian, socially decentralised and earthy Agrarianism as the best and most workable social theory for true liberty and responsible society.

Mr. Rockett, originally from Moss Point, Mississippi, served in the US Air Force briefly before finishing a degree at Florida State University and moving to Jackson, MS. Mr. Rockett was a Broker and Financial Planner for 16 years but left to assume responsibility for his Mother’s Promotion/Specialty Advertising Business in 1997. Mr. Rockett has served as an Elder in two Presbyterian Churches (PCA) and he and his family are now active members of Auburn Avenue Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Monroe, Louisiana. ‘I’m serious about applied Agrarianism as a solution to our cultural wasteland – but don’t pretend for a minute to have all the answers. I’m still learning, and finding my voice in these matters. If you’ve warmed to my vision above, come along and help me think, build local Agrarian communities and ‘Abjure The Realm’. It oughta be alotta fun if nothing else!’

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