Picture this: you’re walking around campus seeing people, considering the lilies of the field, and you realize you’re Senior English Major Jordan Walker. How good is life? The sun is shining, your beard is red, your pants have the stylistic flair of the artist formerly known as Prince, what more do you need? Nothing. You’re Jordan Walker. And that’s pretty “cussin’” fly.

Jordan is not just your average senior. “Jordan has the exact right amount of sass. If he were to be an animal, he would be half bunny, because he is playful and rambunctious, and half owl because he is a hoot, ”Senior Dan Shimek said.

But behind his outward flair and penchant for social interaction, Jordan is also a deep thinker. Building a personality from a wide variety of life experience, Jordan’s trip to India in 2009 is one experience in particular that has left a lasting impact.

“It made me realize how connected our world is, and it’s exciting because you can see some scary things, like how the things you do have consequences in the world. But the flip side is true too. You can make a positive impact as easily as a bad one. Everyone should get out of the country sometime,” Jordan said.

Along with his world traveling, Jordan is involved in the Gustavus Choir and Big Hill Student Farm. Hailing from what he refers to as “stinky little” Madison, S.D, he has learned to keep an open mind regardless of where you’re from or where you’re going. “I’ll always remember the wonderful opportunities to try [a variety of things] at Gustavus. There are so many different groups on campus, and if it doesn’t work out, you can try something new,” Jordan said.

Besides Big Hill Farm and the Gustavus Choir, Jordan has been involved in theatre, performing in Urinetown, the Shakespeare Perforance Showcase, and the social justice theatre group I Am We Are, as well as the Sauna Society.

Jordan found his true calling, however, with Big Hill Farm, the all organic, student-run farm on campus. His mark on the face of Gustavus can been seen everyday in the work he’s done with the farm. Every Gustie can taste the fruits of his labor. Literally. “We get a list from the Market Place of vegetables and stuff they want, and we produce it … booyah!” Jordan said.

The produce generated by Big Hill Farm was at an all-time high this year. Jordan was instrumental in this rise. “Big Hill Farm is something that will stick with me forever. I would love to see it keep expanding on campus.”

Jordan began interning at the farm after working the summer following his first year with an environmental non-profit. “I just got interested in the environment and sustainability,” Jordan said. Due to his interest, he became connected with the founders of Big Hill Farm, Cat Wiechmann ‘09 and Eliza Swedenborg ’09, to become one of the first interns for the program.

Jordan hopes to continue his love for sustainable farming even after he graduates. He plans to work for an organic sustainable farm for a few years before eventually going to graduate school.

Jordan’s impact on the Gustavus community reaches far beyond his involvement at the farm. His friends say he brings much joy, too.“There have been more times than I can count or could ever ask for when he’s brought me, and everyone else in the vicinity, to their feet, dancing for joy. He’s always there for me to help in whatever way he can.” Jordan’s roommate and Junior Environmental Studies Major Dan Enright said.

These sentiments don’t belong to his roommates alone; many students across campus share these feelings and are eager to show them. “Jordan has an unmatched ability to make you literally drop anything and go hang out with him because you know you’ll have so much more fun with him than whatever it was that you were previously doing,” Sophomore Communication Studies Major Lydia Benge Briggs said.

According to his friends, Jordan exudes a humor all his own. “His energy and pizazz light up a room like no one else can,” Senior Theatre Major and fellow Big Hill Farm intern Kimberly Braun said.