Polk County Agriculture, November 1947

By F.H. Jeter, Extension Editor, N.C. State College, as published in the Hendersonville Times News, Nov. 13, 1947

Polk County may be small in size but it is large in progressive farming. The folks still grow cotton, but they still make good acre yields and usually plant just the amount that the family can handle.

Polk also has some excellent orchards, both apple and peach, and there is a decided trend towards dairy farming. In fact, 26 fine Jersey and Guernsey calves have been given out to Polk county young people in the endless chain foundation, and Paul Culbertson told me on a recent trip to the county that the boys are beginning to return calves to the chain.

Clarence Wilson of the Sunny View club delivered a beautiful 4-month-old Jersey heifer to the club the other day; and it, in turn, was presented to Phillip Dane Walker of the Mill Spring section.  Mr. Culberson said that the original heifer, given to Clarence Wilson, had been donated by the Tryon Bank and Trust Co. Last year, at the Western North Carolina Junior Cattle Show, this heifer placed first in her class and Clarence also won the blue ribbon in fitting and showmanship.

Polk County farm folks are seeding Ladino clover and grazing crops. They are using hybrid seed corn to produce heavy acre yields, and they have recently organized a unit of the artificial breeding association with E.L. Anderson of Saluda as president.

Polk County boasts much of its rolling hillsides where the cold air slips down the mountain sides and prevents the frost from forming in the orchards. They call it the Thermal Belt region, and it is this freedom from  frost, they say, that is so much responsible for the excellence of their apples, grapes, and peaches. It is a lovely little county and is the home of many retired and wealthy people who have found the climate suited to their wishes. It is not too hot in summer nor too cold in winter, and so there are many lovely homes built back from the highways. Most of these people spend the entire summer in the county, and Mr. Culbertson said that many of them take an active interest in the farming affairs of the county.

The immediate reason for my visit to Polk county was to have a part in the exercises of the fall Achievement Day held by the Home Demonstration Federation. The meeting was held Friday night in the Columbus High School building. An excellent supper was served and the women had their husbands as guests. Mrs. Frank Jackson presided, and a report of the various club activities was made by Mrs. J.L. Houser, secretary.

Mrs. Houser said that 260 farm families had taken an active part in the work of the Home Demonstration Clubs during the past year, and she told of much food produced and conserved. Community singing was led by Margaret Cline, the home agent, and despite the rainy night, there was an excellent attendance and a wonderful meeting.

Polk County grows no tobacco but, from the reports made in Columbus that night, they do grow most of their food supply and they do not depend upon trade with England to eat, and to eat well. Evidence of that was seen in the bountiful table loaded with home-grown products. Paul Culberson said that the county has a sizeable poultry industry and that much of the old cotton land is going into pastures and grazing crops.

A few beef herds are being added along with purebred dairy cows and nearly every farm family produces its own pork supply. Country hams cured over hardwood smoke make delightful eating up there, along with baked apples, excellent sweet potatoes, dried and canned fruit, canned vegetables, and plenty of butter, eggs and cream, all grown at home.