Folks in Polk embrace their agricultural roots

• Polk County Agricultural Economic Development (PPT)

By Jason King
Assistant Communications Director

Polk County leaders didn't have to look far to come up with a plan to build a sustainable economic base for the future. They just needed to give it a pat on the back and a push forward to help it realize its full potential.

The county's identity is rooted in its agricultural roots – so much so that a survey showed that citizens were more concerned with preserving the county's rural, agricultural nature than with anything else the county could be involved in. An eight-year endeavor to develop a countywide strategy for agriculture included the creation of a county office that is likely unique to Polk: Agricultural Economic Development.

Lynn Sprague, hired in 2008 to the new position of agricultural economic development director, told attendees at the April 2 district meeting in Cleveland County that his role is that of "a connector" to "empower a community that was ready to be empowered."

"There's a lot of people across the state doing similar activities, but this is the first county to point-blank say this is this important to us," he said of his position.

Agriculture is the county's primary economic engine, and Sprague estimates it to be a $25-$30 million business.

"In this county there was not an area that was not connected to agriculture," he said. Agriculture feeds into the county's real estate market (the county was voted one of the top 10 places to live in rural America by The Progressive Farmer) and tourism industry (equestrian shows and wineries are among the top attractions).

Part of Sprague's job is to enhance existing agricultural operations and start new enterprises, and he pointed to the county's equestrian industry as ripe for growth. The industry accounts for roughly $2.2 billion in the state annually, he said, and a study has found that there are more horses in North Carolina than in Kentucky. In Polk, he estimated equestrian-related business to be about $15 million.

One of the ways the county is reconnecting the community with agriculture is through community gardens. Sprague said that the gardens can re-energize a community by essentially giving everyone a part-time job.

Sprague likened the county's four farmer's markets – a fifth is in the works – to the neighborhood grocery, and said that buying locally is more important to consumers than buying organic.

Since he has come onboard, Sprague said the county has recruited and nurtured new farmers, increased the vegetable crop by more than 20 acres, boosted the quality of crop production by more than 50 acres, saved 30 acres of apple orchards, and brought in $150,000 in grants that have gone directly to farmers.

To learn more about this initiative, contact Sprague at (828) 894-2281 or lsprague@polknc.org.