Annual Farm to Fork Supper planned for April 11

Published 8:00 pm Wednesday, April 8, 2015

This year features a local food feast of pastured pork prepared by the award winning Mean Gene’s Grilling Team and cooked on a smoker provided by Mountain View Barbecue. The pork has been pasture raised at a new farm in Polk County owned and operated by Jon and Brittany Klimstra. They have made the gargantuan effort of starting a farm while raising three children, two of which are twins. They moved to Polk County from Maryland where Jon worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Bringing this meal together is Twisted Fork Catering and the efforts of countless volunteers. This event ensures the continual operation of the Mill Spring Agricultural Center, an entity unsupported by tax funds which makes it way through the year with fundraisers, donations, and earned income, all to the benefit of local food and farmers.

The Agricultural Center is embarking on several new big projects this year in conjunction with the Polk Agricultural Economic Development Office including a microfarm at low income housing and the Communities of Opportunities project, a USDA and American Farmland Trust project.

“Agriculture is here to stay in Polk and we aim to ensure that this area stays focused on food and farming as that is the mechanism by which we ensure a resilient community” says Ag Center Director Patrick McLendon.

Tickets are still available for the supper and this year’s music highlights include Ken Kallenbach on the fiddle, Layla Raess and Living Dog, and Saluda’s own Aaron Burdett. Lawn games, bonfires, and scrumptious food await all who are able to get tickets for the supper. For more information visit polkcountyfarms.org or call 828-436-0029.

– Submitted by Patrick McLendon