Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 73

he was invited to come back the next year.
In 2011, he landed his first fulltime NPS
position at
the Selma to Montgomery
National Historic Trail in White Hall,
Alabama. In addition to interacting with
the general public and school groups, he
often helped out with maintenance, mowing
the grass, trimming the shrubs, even
assisting contractors when they installed
exhibits in the visitor center.
" In Selma, it was a slow park. We
only had about 7,000 visitors per year, "
Smith recalls. " It was just a very rural
kind of farmland, very open area. "
In 2015, he returned to the Smokies,
a region that presented a stark contrast
from flat Alabama and coastal Jacksonville,
where he'd grown up.
" The mountains and the curves were
something that I had to get used to, and
the wildlife was another aspect. I was
more comfortable around alligators and
maybe even sharks, being from Florida.
But here it was black bear or elk, large
land critters versus the more water or
amphibious type of wildlife. "
Two of his main responsibilities at
the GSMNP are serving as coordinator
of the Mountain Farm Museum next to
the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee
and working as liaison to nonprofit
associations that support Mingus Mill,
the site of a historic, water-powered
gristmill a half-mile away. Mingus is currently
closed for major repairs.
At the Mountain Farm Museum,
Smith oversees a barn, apple house,
smokehouse, working blacksmith shop
and other historic log buildings gathered
from other parts of the Smokies and
mostly built in the late 19th century. The
on-site Davis House was constructed of
American chestnut wood before a sweeping
blight decimated the species nearly a
century ago.
He also cares for the museum site's
resident chickens and pigs, having never
outgrown his love of animals, including
his menagerie of " nontraditional pets "
at home. " We have fish. We have a cat.
We have a dog. We have a rabbit. We
have a goat. We have a horse. We have
a mule. And we have about nine or 10
chickens. The goat is the only one that
really does [a chore] for us-weed and
shrub control. "
Without question, interacting with
park visitors has been a much better fit
for his personality than delivering bad
news to pet owners as a veterinarian,
says the ultra-friendly Smith.
" Basically, I equate my job as an interpretive
park ranger as like being an
elementary school teacher. I know a little
bit about a lot of things in the park, but
I don't dive deep into any of those. Normally,
I'm just using that to tie in a bigger
concept of why all of this is important
and why we should protect it. I feel like
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2025 73

Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025

Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - Cover1
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - Cover2
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 3
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 4
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 5
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 6
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 7
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 8
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 9
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 10
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 11
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 12
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 13
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 14
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 15
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 16
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 17
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 18
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 19
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 20
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 21
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 22
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 23
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 24
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 25
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 26
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 27
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 28
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 29
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 30
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 31
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 32
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 33
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 34
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 35
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 36
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 37
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 38
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 39
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 40
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 41
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 42
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 43
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 44
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 45
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 46
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 47
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 48
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 49
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 50
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 51
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 52
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 53
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 54
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 55
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 56
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 57
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 58
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 59
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 60
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 61
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 62
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 63
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 64
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 65
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 66
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 67
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 68
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 69
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 70
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 71
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 72
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 73
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 74
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 75
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 76
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 77
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 78
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 79
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 80
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 81
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - 82
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - Cover3
Blue Ridge Country Jan/Feb 2025 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-march-april-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/brc-jf-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-nov-dec-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-sept-oct-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-march-april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-november-december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-sept-oct-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-march-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-november-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-september-october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-july-august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-may-june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/BlueRidgeCountryMarchApril2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/leisuremedia360/leisure/blue-ridge-country-january-february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/BRCND21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/BRCSO21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brcja21
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2021_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_11_12
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2020_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2019_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2018_0102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_2017_0304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/leisure/brc_20130708
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com