Farmer & the Dail

from SENC Magazine - Winter 2020

The legend the myth of Polly Slocumb

Old-fashioned treats — with a twist

Story & Photos By Abby Cavenaugh

When Stacy Dail Bailes and her husband Zachary Bailes started experimenting in their home kitchen, they had no idea that their “old-fashioned treats with a twist” would become so popular that folks would come from miles around to get a taste of their biscuit bombs, chew breads, fried pies, and specialized cookies and cakes.

“We started posting on Facebook about what we made at home,” Stacy recalls. “People liked it so much that we started a pop-up shop. We both worked fulltime jobs at the time, and now we feed a lot more people than I ever thought we would.”

In fact, now, on any given Saturday, the couple’s bakery, Farmer & the Dail in rural Greene County, serves up to 500 people before noon alone, with lines often stretching outside the door.

“We both enjoy baking,” Zachary says. “We always have. In fact, our engagement photos were taken in the kitchen.”

“Basically we still make everything we used to make on Sunday mornings, just on a larger scale,” Stacy adds. “I think it’s something that people appreciate, that everything is made from scratch.”

Zachary came up with the idea for the wildly popular biscuit bombs. One morning in the kitchen, he had the thought, “What if we just cooked the bacon and cheese into the biscuit dough?” And voila, the biscuit bomb was

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seasons,” Stacy says. “Everybody likes to visit and see what we have on Saturdays.”

On Fridays, Stacy posts that Saturday’s menu on the bakery’s Facebook page. It might be something with pumpkins in October and November, or strawberries and blueberries in the summertime.

“It’s all kind of old-school,” Zachary says. “We make new things, but we also go back to old influences.”

“I love thinking that we’re making things that people enjoyed that maybe their grandma made,” Stacy adds.

Farmer & the Dail is the only bakery in Greene County, the Bailes say. Stacy is originally from Snow Hill, and Zachary is a native of Kentucky.

“I decided if I was going to stick around eastern North Carolina, I wanted to make sure I’m helping the community,” he says.

And the bakery helps the community by bringing in people from as far away as Raleigh and Charlotte on the weekends.

“We know it’s out of the way, but it makes it a special experience,” Zachary says.

In fact, if you don’t know exactly where Farmer & the Dail is, you can easily miss it. Outside the small town of Snow Hill, it’s in a rural, agricultural area with a relatively small sign by the road. It’s behind a brick house that belongs to Stacy’s parents, and looks like a farm building from the outside.

LEFT PHOTO: The Farmer & The Dail specializes in unique takes on bakery mainstays like whoopie pies and scones. MIDDLE PHOTO: Zachary Bailes and Stacy Dail Bailes are the masterminds behind Farmer & the Dail. They’re shown with their 6-month-old daughter, Ruby James. RIGHT PHOTO: The goodies at Farmer & the Dail change with the seasons. For instance, these pumpkin cheesecake muffins were available in October and November.

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In addition to the baked goodies, Stacy also regularly hosts cookie decorating classes. Again, these fluctuate with the seasons, though they are yearround. The classes often sell out, and are a good way to have a mother/daughter day, or even do for a wedding shower, Stacy says.

Baking runs in Stacy’s family. Her mother Debra Dail used to have a restaurant in the building and now has a catering business.

“I learned baking at home from my mom,” Stacy says. “For us, it’s not just about making something and sharing it on Facebook. We also share the story behind it.”

“We do try to tell a story with our food,” Zachary adds. “Whether it’s on your table, or at a restaurant, food is part of the people.”

“At the end of the day, we’re always happy to see the line, but also happy to see each and every person,” Stacy says.

“It is very humbling,” Zachary says. “Eastern North Carolina has a lot of food that’s legendary, and I’m glad we get to share in that story in people’s lives.”

“Our customers share a piece of their lives with us,” Stacy agrees. “So, when you’re here, you’re treated like family.”

The Farmer & the Dail is located at 771 Middle School Road in Snow Hill. Weekly menus are posted on the Facebook page, and more information is available at the website, farmerandthedail.com. SE