Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Rigdon Erik Heimark. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Maple Ridge Produce was established in 2015 by Erik Heimark and Jay Rigdon. What started out as a short-term rental of an old homestead in Aitkin, MN, has since turned into a small-scale vegetable farm that we own and operate year-round. We sell produce at our on-site farm stand, which is housed in a beautifully restored 1952 Spartan Trailer. In addition to our summer produce, the farm stand also features other local farmer’s goods, locally made soap, organic beauty products, local honey and maple syrup, as well as jams and jellies. Jay is also a stained glass artist who sells his glass art alongside other locally-made arts and crafts. In addition to our on-farm sales, we can be found from May-October at various farmers’ markets across the region. We strive for sustainability in everything we do, and we hope to continue to grow and thrive here in our small community in northern Minnesota. Be sure to stay up to date with all the exciting happenings of our farm by following us on Facebook and Instagram.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Farmland prices have become astronomically expensive, which made it very difficult to locate property suitable for a specialty crop farm. The twenty-acre farm we eventually settled on, while very beautiful, has its challenges. The three acres of tillable land the farm came with quickly proved to be too small for our needs. Therefore we had to be creative with our expansion. Our very kind and generous neighbors agreed to rent us several acres of their hay field that allowed the business to grow, while also being kind to our tight budget.
Minnesota’s very short growing season also makes it challenging to bring in enough produce and profit before the snow starts to fly in October. Through the years, we’ve experienced torrential rain storms, harsh drought, unseasonably hot or cool summers, a pandemic, and traffic-slowing road construction. All of which brought their own challenges to our farm business. Through it all, we’ve learned to be flexible and adapt to each year’s unique growing conditions while maximizing profit and efficiency.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
While our farm consumes the majority of our time during the warmer months, we also dabble in other careers.
Erik was a high school agriculture instructor for several years. But, he’s recently taken on a new position as a Farm Business Management Instructor for Central Lakes College in Staples, MN. He travels around to farms similar to ours, helping farmers find solutions to various obstacles that arise with their own farm business.
Over the years, Jay has worked as a chef, baker, and even a carpenter. But, today, when not too busy with farm work, he enjoys making and selling stained glass pieces for his art business, Rigdon Glassworks. You can purchase his work at our farm stand, our farmers market booths, as well as through his Etsy shop and Instagram @RigdonGlassworks.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Erik grew up here in Aitkin, Minnesota, just a few miles from where our farm is located. He enjoyed being outdoors on his parent’s cattle farm, playing in the woods, dreaming up fantasy stories with his friends, and excelling at school work. After spending several years as a young professional in Minneapolis, he got the itch to move back home and pursue farming as a career. That was nine years ago, and he’s never looked back.
Jay grew up in southern Illinois, not far from St. Louis, Missouri. While he comes from a large farming family, he never really had an interest in farming as a career. The son of a professional artist, in school, Jay excelled at anything creative and artistic. After spending several years bouncing from career to career, state to state, and even thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2013, Jay finally met Erik, and they decided to pursue a more self-sufficient, sustainable lifestyle. Today, Jay has found a balance between pursuing his stained glass art career in the winter, while working hard growing and selling produce in the summer months.
While their life today is not quite what they imagined it would be, and it provides many challenges. They’re very grateful for a simple life of peace and quiet in the country.
Contact Info:
- Website: mapleridgeproduce.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carrotsandwheat | https://www.instagram.com/rigdonglassworks
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MapleRidgeProduce
Image Credits
Jay Rigdon
