The 47th Annual Conference of the Society of Ethnobiology at the University of the South, May 20–23, 2026

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2026 Field Trips

Additional Field Trip details (e.g., fees, dates and times) and registration will be posted at a later date. Watch this space for updates!

Fungi Fare: A tour of Midway Mushroomery

Date and Time: Wednesday, 20 May, 2026 - 13:00 to 15:00
Primary Organizer: Celeste Ray
Organization/Affiliation: University of the South
Additional Organizers: Pledger Schaefer owner of Midway Mushrooms https://www.midwaymushrooms.com/
Maximum # participants: 20
Fee: USD$25.00

A quick hop from Sewanee's central campus, Midway Mushrooms grows several varieties of oyster, shitake, and lion's mane mushrooms in addition to specialty cultivars and also supplying wild-foraged mushrooms. At the 3,200 square foot facility, mychophile growers oversee the production process from substgrate supplementation and sterilization to culture inoculation, mycelial incubation and painstakingly calibrated fruitbody initiation. Featured on the Food Network, this mushroomery also offers mushroom extracts. Our guide will explain production at the facility.

 

Sewanee Owl Prowl

Date and Time: Thursday, 21 May, 2026 - 20:30 to 22:30
Primary Organizer: Richard Tate
Organization/Affiliation: Sewanee: The University of the South
Additional Organizers: Jason Reynolds
Maximum # participants: 20
Fee: USD$0.00

NOTE: This will be an evening field trip offering on Thurs., May 21st. It will be within walking distance of on-campus housing options.

The mysterious and magical ways of owls have captivated humanity throughout history.
Living in our cities today, we are a bit more removed from how our ancestors lived and
interacted with the natural world. Despite this, the owl still holds a powerful mystique in
our minds. Join us on a mini-expedition through campus to find our nocturnal neighbors
and get a glimpse into their interesting lives.


We may be walking a short distance on uneven terrain so bring appropriate footwear.
Flashlights are provided but if you have a red flashlight you are encouraged to bring
one.

Buggytop Cave Tour

Date and Time: Saturday, 23 May, 2026 - 09:00 to 13:00
Primary Organizer: Richard W Tate
Organization/Affiliation: Sewanee: The University of the South
Additional Organizers: Jason Reynolds
Maximum # participants: 10
Fee: USD$28.00

Join Tennessee Park Rangers in a caving adventure! The karst topography of this area is internationally recognized for its caves. Lost Cove Cave, affectionately known as Buggytop, is the wild cave that we will explore on this exciting half-day experience. The total trip is a very strenuous five miles and participants should be prepared to crawl, wade, and hoist yourself up at times. The exit is an uphill walk. Helmets and headlamps are provided. Lunch is included but brining extra water and snacks is advised.

To protect the health of local bat populations that call the cave home, protocols against White-Nose syndrome will be followed. Participants will need to bring a full change of clothing. 
https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/static-page/decontamination-information

Russell Cave National Monument and Red Wolf Conservation

Date and Time: Saturday, 23 May, 2026 - 09:00 to 17:00
Primary Organizer: Celeste Ray
Organization/Affiliation: University of the South
Additional Organizers: Brian McCray
Maximum # participants: 24
Fee: USD$50.00

The tour would begin with a guided visit to Russell Cave National Monument (a rock shelter with archaeological evidence spanning 10,000 years across the Archaic, Paleo, Woodland and Mississippian periods).https://www.nps.gov/ruca/index.htm  Leaving Bridgeport, Alabama, we drive to Chattannooga for a walking tour of the  300 acre campus of conservation body “Reflection Riding”  https://reflectionriding.org/  This group is known for its native plant nursery and endangered Red Wolf breeding program. They also rehabilitate opossums, bob cats, and birds of prey.   https://reflectionriding.org/save-the-red-wolf ).

Participants can opt to be dropped off at the Chattanooga Airport or downtown Chattanooga (which is in the Eastern Standard Time Zone). Those opting to return to Sewanee for the night will have time to visit the downtown area for supper.

Tate Point at the Appalachian Conservation Institute

Date and Time: Saturday, 23 May, 2026 - 09:00 to 13:00
Primary Organizer: Kristen Cecala
Organization/Affiliation: University of the South/Appalachian Conservation Institute
Additional Organizers: Rick Huffines & Quentin Miller
Maximum # participants: 20
Fee: USD$35.00

Leonard Tate lived on the brow of the Cumberland Plateau and wrote poetry about human-nature interactions. The Appalachian Conservation Institute honors his regional impact by renaming a significant prominence "Tate Point". From Tate Point, you have a fully unimpacted view of the South Cumberland Mountains where coyotes, bobcats, and eagles visit to see their domains. Take a guided ~2 flat mile hike to visit Tate Point, hear competing coyote packs, and learn about the restoration work being performed by the Appalachian Conservation Institute whose vision is "to ensure a future of protected lands, thriving biologicaly - where aspiring conservationists are allowed to explore untrammeled".

Box lunch included.

Tennessee Whiskey Tour with Lunch at Miss Mary Bobo's

Date and Time: Saturday, 23 May, 2026 - 09:00 to 17:00
Primary Organizer: Celeste Ray
Organization/Affiliation: University of the South
Maximum # participants: 24
Fee: USD$90.00

This tour begins with a tour at Jack Daniel's Distillery in Lynchburg. The tour cost is $35 per person and includes 6 samplings (educational tastings in an otherwise dry county). Participants should be able to walk a mile and go up and down stairs in the facility. The tour is followed by lunch at Miss Mary Bobo's which is a set menu acommodating vegetarians at $35 per person. Following lunch and free time in downtown Lynchburg, the tour visits  "Southern Pride" distillery ($5 per person) also in Lynchburg and a small scale, local-oriented producer of whiskey and moonshine using only on-site spring water and locally-grown corn. Time allowing, the group will stop at a park with a short walk to a waterfall en route back to Sewanee.

Tennessee whiskey must follow the same requirements for bourbon, meaning it must be a distilled spirit that uses at least 51% corn in the mash bill, it must be aged in new, charred oak barrels, and it must be bottled at a proof point of at least 80. What separates Tennessee whiskey from bourbon is that, prior to barreling, Tennessee whiskey is filtered through sugar maple charcoal. This filtration is known as the “Lincoln County Process.” 

 

Field Trip to Lost Cove Farm: Bison, Botany, and Geology

Date and Time: Saturday, 23 May, 2026 - 13:00 to 16:00
Primary Organizer: Richard Tate
Organization/Affiliation: Sewanee: The University of the South
Maximum # participants: 20
Fee: USD$20.00

Join us for a half-day excursion to a working farm in the historic Lost Cove, just outside Sewanee, where participants will explore the rich ecosystems of the Cumberland Plateau. This immersive field trip offers a rare blend of ecology, history, and natural beauty, perfect for nature lovers  and anyone curious about the land that surrounds Sewanee. 

Highlights include:

 -Up-close encounter with a managed bison herd: Attendees will stand safely inside a viewing enclosure while the bison roam freely, just meters away, in the surrounding pasture. This is an extraordinary opportunity to observe these majestic animals at close range in a picturesque woodland environment.

 -Agricultural insights from local landowners: Lizzie and Emmitt will share stories of their experience in sustainable farming and the historical, ecological, and cultural significance of bison in the region.

- Wildflower botanizing and birding: Enjoy ample opportunities to observe native flora and fauna throughout the scenic, biodiverse landscape.

- Visit to the “Big Sink” (time permitting): Witness the dramatic site where Lost Creek vanishes underground into Tennessee’s second-largest sinkhole, a marvel of the local karst geology.

Please note: This field trip takes place on private property that is not open to the general public. Access is granted exclusively for this event, offering a rare opportunity to explore a site that is typically off-limits. The hike to Big Sink is via an unimproved trail; participants should expect a hike of ~1.5 hours roundtrip to the Sink and back (this will be time permitting). Participants should wear sturdy shoes, and may want to bring a sunhat. Sunscreen and bug repellent will be provided. Lunch is not included be sure to pack water and snacks (if desired). 

Handicap and wheelchair access for the bison viewing portion of the field trip may be possible but will require some special considerations. The hike to Big Sink is not wheelchair accessible. Please email rwtate@sewanee.edu for more information.

A Place on the Plateau: 200 years of Land-Use Change and Forest Ecology at the King Farm on the Domain

Date and Time: Saturday, 23 May, 2026 - 14:00 to 17:00
Primary Organizer: Dr. Jon Evans
Organization/Affiliation: Department of Biology, The University of the South
Additional Organizers: J.T. Michel
Maximum # participants: 20
Fee: USD$10.00

Small abandoned farms dot the Southern Appalachian landscape where current ecological communities often reflect unique trajectories of past human land-use. This presentation traces the complex natural and cultural history of a 30 acre parcel on the southern Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. Located within the current boundary of the University of the South, this tract, known locally as the “King Farm,” was the location of one of the first homesteads in the Sewanee area in the early 1800’s. The study reveals a 200 year progression of different land-uses that occurred at this improbable place and addresses three questions: 1) why was this remote place chosen as a site for these different land-uses? 2) how were these land-uses sustained given the location and poor soil conditions? 3) how is the current forest community a product of the ecological legacies generated by this land-use history?