To the editor:

I learned [March 30] that Lynn Sprague has accepted other employment and will be leaving Polk County as our agricultural development director. What a huge loss to Polk County and our local farming community.

I first got to know Lynn as I shopped at the Columbus Tailgate Market on Saturday mornings soon after we moved here.

It was a tiny market then and only took a few minutes to traverse the few vendor’s stalls. I still enjoy shopping at the market, seeing Lynn with his friendly personality and taking nearly an hour to peruse all the 50 or so vendor’s stalls. The growth of the market is entirely due to Lynn’s unflagging efforts to promote healthy eating in Polk County.

Later, when I was program chairperson of AAUW, I invited Lynn to speak to our group to explain what he was doing and hoped to do to build the agricultural success of Polk County. At that point, he had been instrumental in repurposing the Mill Spring school and starting the ag center. He was continuing to help local farmers enhance their efforts and promote their products. At that time, also, Lynn was being courted by several other counties and asked to come to work his magic in their fields and at their markets. I have never forgotten his answer when he was asked if he was considering moving to do his work in another county.

He said: “No, my loyalty is to Polk County.”

It is with such great sadness that I learned yesterday that Polk County’s loyalty has not been to Lynn Sprague. What a sad day for all of us.

– Priscilla Yeager, Columbus