Our Board

Preserving Polk's Farms & Expanding Polk's Economy

Members of the Polk County Agricultural Economic Development & Farmland Preservation Board are volunteers appointed by the county's Board of Commissioners. All are long-time residents of Polk County with decades of experience on family-owned farms.

If you would like to support our mission,
contact Lynn Sprague about volunteer opportunities
or you can make a tax deductable contribution to:
The Office of Agricultural Economic Development.
Thank you.

Doug Harmon Chairman Tel.: 828-863-2104 With his brother, Alan, Doug runs Harmon's Dairy Farm, established by their parents in 1946. Doug is actively involved i... [Read more]

Dave Slater Board Member Tel.: 828-894-5113 Dave and Patty Slater own and operate Slater Turf Farm. Dave is active in turfgrass industry leadership, serving as pres... [Read more]

Evangelena Barber Board Member Tel.: 828-894-8705 Self-described "farm girl" Evangelena grew up on a Hereford cattle and tree farm in Alexander County, NC. She met her la... [Read more]

Bruce Edwards Board Member Tel.: 828-863-4338 Other than his time in the service, Bruce has spent his entire life in Polk County. His roots run very deep: both sides ... [Read more]

Bill Davis Board Member Tel.: 828-863-2528 Bill moved from to Polk County from Haywood County 31 years ago. He raises beef cattle, some small grain, hay, wheat, so... [Read more]

Willis "Bill" Holbert Board Member Tel.: 828-749-5421 Bill Holbert can prove his Polk County roots are deep: his Saluda P.O. Box is #2 and it's been in his family his whole l... [Read more]

Jeff Searcy Board Member Tel.: 828-625-2217 Jeff's family has lived and farmed in the Coopers Gap area of Polk County since the late 1800s. Jeff himself only left t... [Read more]