By Maggie Edwards 

Mobile County’s Dillon Turk never outgrew his childhood nursery in Semmes. 

“I grew up playing out here,” said Turk, riding through his family’s wholesale container nursery. “This was my summer job. The older I got, the more serious it became. By high school, I knew this was what I wanted to do forever.” 

Turk’s passion to spend life in agriculture led to his newly elected position as the Alabama Farmers Federation State Young Farmers Committee chairman.

“It was always clear that Dillon had a dream to work outside,” said Bill Turk, the young leader’s father. “It wasn’t unusual for him to spend hours with his grandfather in the tractor or out in the nursery with me.”

Martin’s Nursery was founded in 1973 by Turk’s maternal grandfather, Buddy Martin. The family farmland, once a dairy, gradually shifted from an 8-acre nursery to its current 160 production acres in azaleas and other ornamentals.

Turk’s hard work and love for the outdoors helped him earn a horticulture degree from Auburn University (AU). Since returning to his roots, he has added 20,000 three-gallon native landscape trees to the nursery’s variety.

“Pop (Buddy Martin) never pushed me to come back, but he made it known I was welcome and had a place here,” said Turk, 29. “Now I get to share it with my wife, Hannah, and our three children, Marshall, 4, McLain, 2, and Lottie, 1.” 

Turk and Hannah, a Eufaula native, met at AU while she was studying supply chain management. 

“I love raising my family on the nursery,” said Hannah, 29. “Watching Dillon teach the kids is special. I’ve developed a love for this industry and the organizations we are part of.”

Those organizations include the Federation, which Turk became involved in following a trip with the Mobile County Farmers Federation (MCFF) to the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Georgia. 

That role as MCFF Young Farmers chair steered him toward a position on the Federation State Young Farmers Committee and a seat in Class V of Agricultural Leaders for Alabama, the organization’s elite leadership program. 

“After that, I was invited to a county Young Farmers meeting and was selected as county chairman in 2017,” said Turk, who now serves on the MCFF board. “Ever since then, I have been welcomed and embraced on the county, district and state levels.” 

“Every opportunity that comes up, I am eager to take,” Turk said. “Each step compounds on itself. It can be hard to balance work, family and Federation, but it’s worth it because of the help and relationships the organization gives me.” 

Turk’s leadership is a blessing, said Federation Young Farmers Division Director Hunter McBrayer. 

“It’s inspiring to see Young Farmers like Dillon be hands-on in a three-generation farm,” McBrayer said. “My granddaddy was my best friend when I was growing up. When I was small enough to ride behind his tractor seat, that’s what I did. It makes me happy to see Dillon share those values as he works with his dad and Pop.” 

While chairman, Turk will serve a term on the Federation state board, where he will develop an understanding of Federation policy and Alfa Insurance.

“I don’t know where I would be without my Federation involvement,” Turk said. “As chair, I am excited to help people learn and get plugged in just like I did. This is a chance to spend time and build relationships with experienced farmers while encouraging Young Farmers.”