James Farmer has been described as "A skilled and entertaining speaker, he is truly a young and fresh voice for his generation. Whether he's teaching how to plan the perfect summer picnic, using everyday items to create exquisite tabletops, creating drop-dead gorgeous flower arrangements and wreaths or making his grandmother's skillet peach pie, Farmer masterfully guides his audience through the art of elegant garden living." Farmer will be the featured speaker for the 2016 Averitt Lecture Series set for 3 p.m. Sunday, March 6 in the Emma Kelly Theater inside the Averitt Center for the Arts.