Griff Radulski ’14

Hi, I'm Griff Radulski, and I've started to preface every discussion of myself with, "I want to be a farmer and," which is a surprisingly versatile introduction. I follow it with: learning [ungulate anatomy, nutrient cycling, marketing skills] is probably relevant to my future. Or: ... I own two dozen laying hens and sell their eggs and the cheese I make to my friends in Oberlin. Or: a bachelor of arts in biology isn't the most practical degree I could pursue, but I'm too in love with Oberlin to leave.

Not that I won't ever leave. When I graduate this spring, I'm moving on to learn about draft horse driving and husbandry, and then who knows: Pennsylvania, or Virginia, or back to my homeland of coastal Connecticut, with its sunny, mild winters and its estuary views. But for now, I'm a true, proud Obie. Like most of us, I get way too busy as I struggle to balance schoolwork, life work, and fighting the good fight. I think I've found a patch of middle ground this semester, although I still stray: between drafting a lab report or plans for a new chicken coop, studying dogfish structure or feed protein ratios, researching carbon sequestration or the best way to soften homemade ice cream. I never have to wonder whether to wander with a friend, though. One thing I've learned: friends come first.

I'm an OSCAn expat (I live in a house now) and a member of the Ecumenical Christians of Oberlin, as well as a groundskeeper for the Department of Environmental Studies. I also attend every contra dance, contact improv jam, and ASL table. If you have questions about any of these things — or thoughts on chickens, or farming, or nutrient cycles, or land ownership and privilege, or cheesemaking, or the vast and impossible diversity of life — you should contact me!