From Black Sheep to GOAT: Dee Strange-Gordon’s Second Act

 

For Dee Strange-Gordon, his identity has always been tied to a single, poignant phrase: “the black sheep.” It was a label he embraced as a smaller-than-average player in a world of giants, a fast-twitch infielder in an era obsessed with home runs. But now, in his post-baseball life, he is transforming that identity, not just for himself but for his community, with a new mission: to become the “GOAT,” the greatest of all time, in the agricultural industry.

Strange-Gordon’s journey from Major League Baseball to a full-time farmer and entrepreneur is both unexpected and deeply personal. Growing up in a farming community in Avon Park, Florida, he saw firsthand the challenges and opportunities of the industry. For him, baseball was never the end goal; it was a vehicle, a means to an end. It was the way he earned the money and the name recognition to pursue a higher calling, a different purpose that had been with him all along.

The culmination of this vision is “Black Sheep Farms,” a business and community impact organization in Fort Meade, Florida. At the heart of the operation is a 40-acre farm that utilizes hydroponic farming methods, a sustainable and innovative approach that grows leafy green vegetables with nutrient-enriched water instead of soil. This method allows the farm to produce fresh, healthy food all year long, and it uses 90% less water than traditional farming.

But Black Sheep Farms is about more than just growing vegetables. It’s a mission-driven organization that aims to create jobs, lift up the community, and provide opportunities for the next generation. Strange-Gordon has made it a priority to create full-time jobs for the people in his area, with a goal of boosting the median family income for his workers. This is not just a business venture; it’s a social enterprise, a way of giving back to the community that raised him.

The “Black Sheep” name also extends beyond the farm to a youth sports program. Strange-Gordon is sponsoring youth baseball and basketball teams with the vision of giving kids whose parents work at the farm the opportunity to play high-level sports without having to pay high-level prices. This is a crucial element of his mission, as it combines his passion for sports with his commitment to community development. He is using his name recognition and his resources to give children a chance that they might not have had otherwise.

In a world where many professional athletes struggle to find their purpose after their playing careers, Dee Strange-Gordon has found a new identity, one that is rooted in service, sustainability, and community. He has traded in his baseball uniform for a farmer’s hat, and he has dedicated his life to a cause that is bigger than himself. For a man who was once the “black sheep,” he is now a living testament to the fact that with hard work, effort, and discipline, you can turn yourself into the greatest of all time.