Ag development director helping Polk County re-establish its roots

Dawn Jordan seems quite at ease as she literally jumps out of a hefty Ram 3500 diesel farm truck.

On this morning, she’s visiting Jason Craig’s Once Upon a Cow Micro Dairy in Green Creek, one of the farms she’s helped as the agricultural economic development director for Polk County.

It’s obvious she’s become a favorite of the Craig children, as a couple of Jason’s kids gather around her before she heads out to see some cows. The cows also seem excited to see Dawn and Jason, as the small herd heads over to check them out.

Perhaps they wanted a handout or to photo bomb a picture, but in the end, the cows were thrilled to be moving to a new patch of pasture.

It was Dawn who helped Jason and his family manage this move to Polk County. Jason had never farmed a day in his life, but was ready to make a lifestyle change. It was his lucky day when he encountered Dawn, who beams as she describes the process of helping Jason and his family become Polk County farmers.

It’s her job, she says, to help farmers “connect the dots” so they can be successful in a job that isn’t easy.

“Farming,” as Dawn says, “isn’t for sissies.”

Farmers, in her opinion, are the smartest people on earth.

They’re entrepreneurial; they have to be think three, if not 10, steps ahead.

There’s a different challenge every single day.

They have to keep their mind thinking ahead all the time to “stay on top of this profession.”

Another big part of Dawn’s job is to help farmers find new ways of marketing their products, and that’s part of connecting those dots. Times have changed in farming, and it’s important to look into the future and plan for that.

Her position was first held by Lynn Sprague, who Dawn refers to as the person who woke up a sleeping giant in Polk County.

It was Lynn who started many of the programs Dawn helps oversee today, including the popular Polk Fresh Farm Tour and the Friends of Agriculture Breakfasts, held monthly September through May at the Green Creek Community Center. Sixty to 90 farmers and friends of farming come to those breakfasts to learn more about their vocation and be motivated by an invited speaker. The local branch of Farm Bureau sponsors the breakfasts.

A little over a decade ago, the county passed the Farmland Protection Plan, which led to the adoption of the voluntary agricultural district ordinance. This helps landowners voluntarily place some or all of their property in protective easements.

Polk County was one of the first counties in the state to pass the law, and Lynn was hired as the first agricultural economic development director.

Dawn took over for Lynn about five years ago, and is a one-person shop, though she has assistance from AmeriCorps program service members from time to time.

She is perfect for the position. Dawn knows the county from edge to edge, and what seems like most of the people in it.

She grew up in Polk County, and went to high school at Polk Central. Dawn was away for several years when she first got married, and returned with her husband, Terry, to become farmers and entrepreneurs.

The job as agricultural development director was a natural fit for her skill set.

Dawn sees herself as a relationship builder, and is helping bridge the old with the new as young people consider the move into farming. It’s Dawn’s passion to help keep farming alive and well in Polk County.

Dawn’s office is a powerful resource to help rekindle the farming lifestyle for people looking to come here or stay here, and start small and build a successful agricultural enterprise.

Dawn mentions several area farms that are carving out a niche. She talks about a farm in Saluda that grows microgreens and is on just a quarter acre, mentions another farm producing greens hydroponically, talks about a farm that is growing garlic, one that has an intensive apple orchard that uses a trellis system, a sprout farm that’s one of the biggest on the East Coast, another that specializes in Jerusalem artichokes, and then we’re back to farmer Jason’s Once Upon a Cow Micro Dairy, whose milk is converted into drinkable yogurt.

All of these farmers have come to rely on Dawn as not only a friend but as a link to their success. She’s helping them connect the dots to go from idea to product to market, and to keep up with current trends.

There’s a definite move afoot for restaurants and some stores to want to source locally — and Dawn helps that happen.

Dawn has some advice for anyone thinking about making the move to farming: do your research, start small, pick one or two products and get really good at those, and find ways to add value to your product, such as turning that milk into drinkable yogurt, like Jason does.

The future of farming in Polk County looks bright, and a big part of that is thanks to Dawn Jordan.

For more info, check out PolkCountyFarms.org, or contact Dawn at djordan@polknc.org or 828-894-2281. •

Mark Levin has recently retired from a career in education and, along the way, has had a lifetime of experiences, earning a buck as a photographer, videographer, author, musician and camp director. You can follow his blog about people and places in the Foothills at FoothillsFaces.com or on Facebook.