By Angie Wotton
This time last year, Sara Williams was working as a landscape designer in the Washington, D.C. area, planning and building tiny backyard paradises for those who could afford them. It was also during this time that she made the decision to move back to Linneus and begin farming with her father Matt on his certified organic farm and mill, Aurora Mills. Almost before she knew it, she went from working in the affluent Virginia suburbs to sitting on a tractor in northern Maine, tilling 60 acres for spring wheat planting.
When I asked Sara how she was adjusting, she did admit that it was quite a change from getting up on a Saturday to go to brunch with friends to spreading chicken manure.
Contributed photo
RETURNING — Sara Williams has made the decision to move back to Aroostook County from the Washington, D.C. area and begin farming with her father Matt on his certified organic farm and mill, Aurora Mills on the Burton Road in Linneus.
But it’s a change she is relishing, not least because she is working with her father who not only is a farmer, but worked at Cooperative Extension for 30 years as a small grain specialist. Noting that Aurora Mills was the first certified organic mill and the only farmer-owned mill in the state of Maine, Sara wants to expand their market with their value-added products of whole wheat flour and rolled oats.
Currently, Aurora Mills products are distributed through Crown of Maine Coop and Farm Fresh Connection to markets in the southern part of the state. She pointed out that both distribution companies are run by County-born women. Sara is also a passionate believer in Aroostook playing a major role in being the bread basket for Maine. Not only does she want to put a face to their farm and mill, but on a larger level she wants everyone to know what grains come from The County and make that connection.
When I asked Sara about people’s reaction to her new adventure, she said that most have been supportive and want to see her succeed. She does, however, get the occasional “Are you crazy?” and one concerned girlfriend in D.C. wondered where she would be able to wear her city outfits. Sara seems fine trading in skirts for flannel shirts and has jumped in on the farm work and milling process, learning things from the bottom up. She arrived in Linneus in time for spring wheat planting and is now readying to harvest winter wheat. This involves routine mechanical work which she admits she finds intimidating, especially when working with people who have done this their whole lives and find it to be second nature.
She told me that one day when she was working with her Dad on the combine, he asked for a tool that was unfamiliar to her so she quickly Googled an image of it and nonchalantly handed the right one to him.
Personally, I think Sara’s enthusiasm and business ideas will help her succeed and create an additional niche for their mill’s products. She is actively looking to expand their acreage through land purchase or rental and has the benefit of already having a market that is able to absorb such an expansion. In the meantime, she is working side by side with her Dad each day, learning as much as she can (including tool ID) so that one day Aurora Mills grows to her vision.
For more information, go to www.auroramillsandfarm.net.
Angie Wotton loves her work as district manager for the Southern Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District. She also raises pastured pork and vegetables with her husband on their small West Berry Farm in Hammond. She can be reached 532-9407 or via e-mail at angela.wotton@me.nacdnet.net.
