Here's some good news in more ways than one. Dawn Maxon represents hope for the future of local farms and food because she left a degreed job that made her unhappy to farm and create. Dawn is among a growing number of young professionals returning to the farm with their education, business savvy, and tech skills that helps navigate the tricky American agricultural system.
Dawn and I met a couple of years ago at a Small Farmers conference held at Western Nevada College in Fallon. It was easy to tell even then that she would be successful in the pursuit of her dream. She's passionate, smart, talented, and loves people.
Learn more about her in the Lahonton Valley News article below.
Discovering the inner peace from land
Community invited to taste grower's dreams
BY STEPHANIE CARROLL, LAHONTON VALLEY NEWS CORRESPONDENT
When you receive a weekly fall basket from Dawn's Dream Acres, you're not just enjoying fresh picked chemical-free produce — you're tasting a little bit of owner Dawn Maxson's dreams.
Maxson, a science teacher in South Sacramento, was stressed, got little sleep, often was sick and not financially secure. Yet, when Maxson lost her best friend to skin cancer, she realized “the grind” wasn't worth it.
“It just got me thinking, life can be so short,” Maxson said, then asking herself, “what brings peace into my life? I love being in my garden, having time to do my artwork and having my animals around me.”
Maxson chose an area near family, quit her job and, in 2003, moved to Fallon to start an organic farm.
“I wanted to have more control over my own destiny,” Maxson said.
The property she purchased needed some work, so she took a job with the Paiute Shoshone Tribe while she prepared the land.
Unfortunately, Maxson's dreams were blocked again by an emotionally abusive relationship. After a grueling experience, Maxson successfully ended it in 2007.
“Some of the delay in starting my farm was absolutely due to recovering after I left, and to having a real mess of a life during the year it took me to leave him,” Maxson said.
A year later, Maxson was finally ready to leave her job and start farming.
“Quitting that job and when I finally escaped from my abuser — those were the two scariest things I've ever done,” Maxson said.
Now that Maxson has her farm, she can start sharing it.
“They were incredible. The best radishes I had in my life,” said Steve Hernandez, Slanted Porch owner. “They were just snapping fresh. They were very very tasty. She picked them that morning — big difference.”
Maxson's subscription service provides a fall basket on a weekly basis for two months. he provides variety by working with local farmers like Rick Lattin, Anna Bateman and Erica Behimer.
Maxson offers subscriptions so she can know her customers.
“It's really more of a relationship,” Maxson said. “A lot of it is about the experience. It's not just going to the store and buying bananas. It's having a relationship with a local farmer.”
This way, Maxson can meet her customers' tastes.
“If there are special items they want or if they want extra, I'll deliver it,” Maxson said.
In addition to her farm, Maxson pursued her dreams of Sriesian horse breeding and art. She co-founded the local Sage Brush Sisters Artist Cooperative, which holds an annual show in December, and donates a portion of proceeds to domestic violence intervention.
Maxson struggled for her dreams and now that she is finally getting started; all she wants is to share them with the community.
“That's fun — to work hard growing these things, to hear them say — oh my gosh! These are so good!” Maxson said. “This is my dream. It's exactly what I thought of when my friend died, and I thought what can I do to have peace in my life?”
An eight-week subscription is $200 and a shared subscription is $100. For more information or to order contact Dawn Maxson at 426-8215, dmaxso@gmail.com, www.dreamacredesigns.etsy.com or on her Facebook page.
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