Meet ROBIN POLLARD

We recently connected with ROBIN POLLARD and have shared our conversation below.

Hi ROBIN, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?

I was instilled with a strong work ethic early on in life from my parents, Oren and Kathleen Pollard. Mom and Dad were Midwest farmers who grew a successful farming business over the span of 60 years. It was their grit, hard work, and determination that taught my two sisters and me the importance putting in the necessary time and effort to achieve the desired results.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

My roots run deep in agriculture coming from several generations of farmers. So, I guess it was my destiny to end up where I am today, living on an acreage in rural Vashon Island Washington, with a garden, pigs, chickens and ducks, fruit trees and a pantry full of canned goods.

After a long career in state government, having served as State Tourism Director, Executive Director of the Washington Wine Commission and Assistant Director of Economic Development, I decided it was time to fulfill a dream of owning my own business.

It started with Pollard Coffee, a specialty coffee roasting company. Largely self-taught in the the art of coffee roasting, I started the business in 2012. I was the sole employee doing the roasting, packaging, marketing, fulfilling orders, and bookkeeping until my son and daughter in law joined in 2018. I am so proud of what we have built, especially the fact that it is a family run business. We pride ourselves of high quality coffee and we high customer driven ethic. We offer custom roasts, custom blends, and quick turnaround to our customers located throughout the U.S.

Next Came Pollard Vineyard. My partner Chris Camarda who is a notable winemaker in the national and international wine circles, encouraged me to plant a vineyard and make wine. In 2014, I planted Pollard Vineyard in the Upper Yakima Valley of Washington and I now make wine under the Pollard Vineyard label and sell my grapes to other vintners. With the vineyard, I set out to use the latest in technology and innovation in the planting and management of the grapes. The vineyard was certified as sustainable under the Sustainable WA program in 2023. I also recently planted several acres next to the vineyard in native grasses and pollinator flowers to provide a habitat for bees, butterflies and wildlife.

Both enterprises are a tribute to farming — its stewardship and the people who labor in the fields, as well as to family. It has been important to me to retain the family name in honor of my parents and grandparents and to leave a legacy for my sons and grandchildren.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The three skills that I believe contributed to my journey were a sense of curiosity and adventure, fearlessness, and listening to advice.

I believe most things can be learned if you are willing to invest the time and effort but its important to trust one’s instincts and not be afraid of making mistakes. One should also seek out mentors who can have a positive influence and serve as a guiding lights and always treat others with kindness and dignity.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

Teach me independence, pride and being there for me in good times and bad.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://pollardperse.com
• Instagram: pollardperse
• Facebook: Pollard Per Se