Spoon River College graduates are everywhere, including at the local farmers market. Connor Taylor graduated this past spring with his Associate in Applied Science degree in Agricultural Business Management as well as certificates in Agricultural Production and Agricultural Precision Technology. He’s putting that knowledge to use as he continues a dream that was started almost 40 years ago.
In 1985, Connor’s grandparents Scott and Cheryl Webb established Greengold Acres, an organic farm outside of Hanna City. It was a dream they lived until 2006 when Scott passed away at the too young age of 50. Connor was only two years-old when his grandfather died, but his grandmother brought him to life for Connor through pictures in the family photo album and the stories she has shared. “Connor came across those pictures and was fascinated, always wanting to hear more about his grandfather, and about the farm,” Cheryl said. And so began Connor’s own love affair with Greengold Acres. In the spring of 2020 when he was 17, Connor began the work of reviving the farm to continue his grandfather’s mission of “an unconventional small, self-sustaining farm that has been feeding families and benefitting the environment since 1985.”
Throughout this summer, Connor, Cheryl, and Connor’s mother Becky have spent their Saturday mornings at the Canton Main Street Farmers Market in Jones Park, offering a variety of homegrown produce, baked goods, homemade jams and jellies, dried seasonings, honey, fresh eggs, pork, beef, and more, all produced on the land that his grandfather loved. The small farm also specializes in custom hay baling and has hay for sale year-round.
During the spring commencement ceremony, Connor was honored with a Student Achievement Award, which is given to a student who shows initiative, personal development, achievement of goals, as well as participation and success in extra-curricular college activities. His nominator noted Connor’s engagement in the classroom, his dedication to learning along with his enjoyment of educating others on the importance of small, local farms, and his endless energy as he balanced school work with the work on the farm.
Somewhere in a green pasture up above, a grandfather’s heart is filled with pride.
Support your local farmers market. Love is the first ingredient those producers add, and that makes everything taste better.
