Copyright M Live Michigan
JACKSON, MI – A Concord man is asking community members to help fund new pasta-making equipment, promising to repay loans while feeding those in need. Justin Fairchild, known as The Kilted Farmer, received an approval in October for a grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development‘s Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program, which supports the development of Michigan’s local food systems. The funding will help purchase equipment including a ravioli maker, pasta extruder and pasta dryer box. Rather than seeking a traditional bank loan to match the grant, Fairchild is asking community members to pledge money for the $71,000 investment through what he calls a “good deed loan.” “My idea behind that with anything we do, is try to focus on the community first,” Fairchild said. “How can we give back? How can we support the most people? That’s how the world should work to me. So, if I can find an unorthodox way to get what I need to continue to do good for others, that’s what I’m going to try to do.” This won’t be a donation, however, Fairchild said. Pledges will be repaid over two years as Fairchild receives grant reimbursements. In exchange, he will donate pasta each week to local food banks, Blessings Boxes and shelters until it’s repaid. Fairchild will occasionally give handmade pasta to those who contribute as a thank-you. Fairchild plans to use the grant to pay for new pasta equipment, including a ravioli maker, a pasta extruder and a pasta dryer box. The new equipment will allow him to produce pasta at a much quicker rate, meaning he can sell it at a lower price point, and he can make extra products to drop off at blessing boxes and local food pantries. Fairchild with his wife, Jess, can now produce around 100 packages of pasta in 12 hours. The new equipment could increase production to around 100 pounds per hour. The two could also make additional pasta shapes, aside from fettuccine or lasagna, like penne and campanelle. To determine which shapes to prioritize, he plans to poll the community about their preferences So far, they have received just over $10,000 toward the $71,000 goal, with a Dec. 1 deadline for pledges and a Dec. 15 deadline for equipment purchase. If the goal isn’t reached, Fairchild said he will pursue a traditional bank loan. Melissa Ball, an attorney from Mason who specializes in estate planning, is volunteering to draft contracts for the Good Deed Loan. She went to high school with Fairchild’s wife Jess and reconnected with them when he began a produce box delivery service during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I think it’s fantastic, and I think it’s something that could get more people involved in local businesses,” Ball said. “They’re getting something back from it if they put the money in; they get to see the business grow and they get pasta out of it.” Fairchild is known as The Kilted Farmer in Jackson County. He sells produce, makes pasta and bee keeps. Since 2020, his Kilted Santa Project has delivered presents around the area to families in need. This year he also launched a new project called Breaking Bread, and he bakes sourdough for local pantries and blessing boxes. Those interested in contributing can find a donation form on The Kilted Farmer’s Facebook page.
