Soil Stewardship Round Table
Donovan Coughlin & Renew Farm 58
Donovan Coughlin is the founder of Farm 58, a faith-driven ministry dedicated to transforming the lives of men through work, discipleship, and biblical principles. Under his leadership, the farm provides a structured, hands-on environment where participants engage in agricultural work that mirrors lessons from the Bible, cultivating personal growth, humility, and faithfulness.
Through Donovan’s vision, Farm 58 houses up to 20 men at a time, offering a distraction-free space for spiritual and personal development. Graduates of the program transition to Renew Ministries in Chattanooga, where they receive continued support with employment, housing, and community integration. The program is offered at no cost to participants or their families and is sustained entirely through donations and community support.
Donovan Coughlin’s work with Farm 58 reflects his commitment to creating meaningful change, blending hard work, faith, and service to positively impact the lives of men and their families.
Panel 1: Evading Accountability When Pesticides Harm
Moderator: Amy Miller (Director of States, MAHA Institute)
Rep. Monty Fritts (Tennessee State Representative)
Rep. Monty Fritts is a Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, representing District 32, which includes parts of Loudon and Roane Counties. A native of Kingston, Tennessee, he is a husband, father, and grandfather. Fritts is a carpenter by trade, enjoys antique automobiles and motorcycles, and holds degrees in Business, Chemistry, and Theological Studies.
He assumed office in 2023 and serves on the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee. Fritts is a strong advocate for limited government and fiscal conservatism. In 2025, he announced his candidacy for the 2026 Republican gubernatorial nomination, emphasizing individual liberties and reducing government overreach.
Sen. Janice Bowling (Tennessee State Senator)
For 13 years, Senator Janice Bowling has represented Tennessee’s District 16, serving on multiple committees, including chairing the Commerce, Labor, Transportation, and Agriculture Subcommittee. A steadfast conservative, she champions faith, family, freedom, and farmers—addressing threats like soil contamination, harmful chemicals, and dangerous food dyes. She is committed to preserving agriculture, protecting land, and supporting MAHA’s mission to Make Tennessee Healthy Again.
Attorney Leila H. Watson (Cory Watson PC, Birmingham, Nashville and Memphis)
Leila has practiced law for 41 years, licensed in Alabama and Tennessee, specializing as a plaintiff trial lawyer. She has led major legal organizations, including the Birmingham Bar (2017) and Alabama’s American Board of Trial Advocates (2023), and chairs the Alabama Pattern Jury Instructions – Civil Committee. Active in nonprofits supporting children, education, and health, Leila lives in Birmingham with two grown children working at Cory Watson.
Bernadette Pajer (TN Director and State Policy Advisor, Stand for Health Freedom)
Bernadette Pajer serves as Tennessee Director and State Policy Advisor for Stand for Health Freedom. A wife, mom, and champion of informed consent and scientific integrity, she advocates for MAHA’s key issues, focusing now on preventing state legislation that grants liability shields to pesticide manufacturers.
Dr. Meryl Nass
Dr. Meryl Nass, an Internal Medicine and Functional Medicine physician, gained international recognition for uncovering the use of biological warfare in Rhodesia’s 1978–1980 anthrax epidemic. A consultant to global health agencies and a six-time congressional witness, she has long championed transparency in public health. Founder of Door to Freedom and the Save Our Food and Farms coalition, Dr. Nass continues her mission to protect medical integrity and national sovereignty.
Panel 2: Accumulation of Evidence- Industrial Agriculture & Human Health
Moderator: Amy Miller (Director of States, MAHA Institute)
Howard Vlieger
Howard Vlieger, a third-generation farmer and “student of the soil” since 1989, advises farmers on transitioning from chemical-based farming to regenerative and organic methods. An internationally recognized educator on GMOs and soil health, he coauthored a landmark study comparing GMO and non-GMO feed in pigs. Howard collaborates globally with researchers and views soil stewardship as a divine calling.
Don Huber, PhD
Dr. Don Huber, Professor Emeritus at Purdue University and COL(Ret) U.S. Army Medical Intelligence, has over 60 years of research in soilborne plant pathogens, microbial ecology, and nutrient-disease interactions. A former Associate Director of the Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Center, he has authored over 300 scientific works and six books, serving as a global consultant, reviewer, and educator in agriculture and plant health.
Resource: Impacts of Glyphosate on Soil, Crop, Animal, Human, and Environmental Health
Dr. John Fagan
Dr. John Fagan, CEO and Chief Science Officer of Health Research Institute, applies molecular research to link farming practices, food quality, and health. A Professor of Molecular Biology at Maharishi International University, he studies consciousness and how Transcendental Meditation aids PTSD recovery. Pioneer of GMO testing and certification, his earlier work explored cancer biology and toxicant impacts on cellular function. Dr. Fagan earned his Ph.D. from Cornell University.
Panel 3: The Soil Solution- From Pesticide Dependence to Soil Health & Resilience
Moderator: Amy Miller (Director of States, MAHA Institute)
Adam Daugherty
Adam Daugherty, with 23 years at NRCS, has spent the past 13 helping producers shift from long-term no-till row crops to high-functioning agro-ecological systems. He works with farm operations to manage dynamic, healthy soils and guides specialty crop producers through transitions, sharing lessons from his own farm. Adam believes any land, with sunlight, can be restored into a thriving ecosystem for diverse production.
Ray Archuleta
Ray Archuleta, featured in Kiss the Ground and Common Ground, is a Certified Professional Soil Scientist with over 30 years at NRCS in multiple states. A former Peace Corps Livestock Specialist in Guatemala, he founded Understanding Ag and the Soil Health Academy after retirement to teach regenerative farming principles. Ray manages a 155-acre farm in Missouri with his wife and family.