Sowing Scenes and Reaping Applause with Tannis Kowalchuk

1 day ago
2 min read

Most artists dream of building a stage. Tannis Kowalchuk built a farm, too. Long before she was directing original productions in the fields of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Tannis was captivated by performance. Theater offered a way to tell stories, connect with audiences, and make sense of the world around her. Then she met a farmer.

What began as a personal relationship eventually became a shared life and a shared mission. Together, Tannis and her husband Greg built Willow Wisp Organic Farm along the Delaware River, creating a place where agriculture and the arts could flourish side by side.

This week on HarmonyTALK, host Lisa Champeau sits down with Tannis to explore the unlikely path that transformed her into what we affectionately call a "PER-FARMER," part performer, part farmer, and wholly committed to both callings.

As artistic director of Farm Arts Collective, Tannis creates original productions inspired by the people, challenges, and stories that shape rural life. Her work invites audiences to think differently about food systems, community, climate change, and our connection to the land.

One of the most powerful moments in the conversation comes when Tannis discusses the realities of climate change and the growing uncertainty facing farms across the country.

"Climate change and new weather events are the talk of the farming community,” she tells Lisa. “First, these devastating events affect farmers, then they affect the eaters. And the eaters are all of us."

For Tannis, theater is not simply entertainment. It is an opportunity to bring people together, encourage conversation, and help audiences understand issues that might otherwise feel distant. The conversation also explores creativity, collaboration, resilience, and the importance of staying connected to the people who inspire your work.

This episode is about much more than farming or theater. It’s a reminder that some of life's most extraordinary stories grow from unexpected seeds.