This past week was a big one for us, marking our very first sweet corn harvest here at Dawson Family Farm. We’ve talked a lot about planting and growing, but seeing that corn finally ready for picking was a different kind of excitement. It was a whirlwind of activity, all hands on deck, from field to customer, and we learned a lot along the way.
From Field to Farm Stand
It all started in the field. Four of us, the core crew of Dawson Family Farm, geared up for what felt like a truly monumental task: getting our sweet corn out of the ground and into people’s hands. We’d spent months tending these rows, and now it was time. We picked corn by hand, row after row, in the early mornings while the air was still cool. It’s hard work, but there’s a real satisfaction in pulling a perfect ear of corn right off the stalk. Each basket filled felt like a small victory.
Once we had a good haul, it was time to get it ready for sale. Our simple roadside farm stand, located right at US-223 and Plank Road, became our hub. We built it ourselves, just a straightforward setup, but it quickly turned into a convenient spot for our neighbors to stop by and pick up fresh corn directly from the farm. Stocking it up each day, making sure everything looked good, was another hands-on job. It was a simple idea – good corn, easy access – and seeing folks stop by made all the early mornings worthwhile.
Hitting the Road
But our reach went beyond the farm stand. We knew we wanted to get our corn to as many local folks as possible, so we loaded up the trucks and hit the road. This meant making deliveries throughout the communities where we farm. We drove our corn to local restaurants, small businesses, and directly to customers who’d placed orders. It was great to connect with people face-to-face, bringing them a taste of what we’d been growing. We ended up getting our sweet corn to homes and kitchens in Ann Arbor, Plymouth, Adrian, and all the surrounding areas.
A Real Local Effort
Looking back at Harvest Week, it was a blur of activity. We were picking, hauling, sorting, loading, delivering, restocking – and then doing it all again the next day. There was a bit of controlled chaos, a lot of figuring things out as we went, and plenty of laughs along the way. What started as just a field of sweet corn became a real local farm-to-community operation, built on hard work and the support of our neighbors. It felt good to see our corn become a part of so many local meals.
We want to extend a big thank you to everyone who bought our sweet corn, to the restaurants that served it, to the folks who shared it with their families, and to everyone who just stopped by our stand to say hello. Your support means the world to us as we get this farm off the ground. We’re already looking forward to next year.
