Alumni Feature Jordan Hinton
Jordan Hinton’s love for agriculture and animals laid a foundation for her current role as a local business owner. Jordan (McHenry) Hinton’s interest in agriculture and farming began years ago. As a teen, she helped raise pigs for the Douglas County Fair. At Douglas County High School (DCHS), her passion for farming led her to join the Future Farmers of America (FFA) club and take agricultural classes as an elective.
Jordan graduated from DCHS in 2007 and attended Northeastern Junior College in Sterling on a full scholarship. She then transferred to Colorado State University and studied animal science and agricultural business. She earned her master’s degree in Meat Science at CSU.
The Castle Rock native hasn’t wandered far from her roots. Jordan’s first job was with Where Food Comes From, Inc. She learned about the food we eat, how, where, and by whom it’s produced, and received training about food labeling. Next, she joined a local marketing agency that taught her how to reach consumers and market businesses. These work experiences, combined with her education, helped her gain the confidence to open her craft meat market, SALT, which she co-owns with her husband, Ralph, in downtown Castle Rock.
In addition to managing their business, Jordan and her husband have three young children. At their farmette in Elizabeth, they raise pigs to sell to local 4-H kids to raise for the Douglas County Fair. Jordan gives back to DCHS by helping with the FFA’s meat-judging contest. She also hosted an FFA field trip to SALT to teach students about different cuts of meat, pork, and beef. The DCHS FFA students placed among the top three in the state against all other Colorado high schools in the FFA Meat Judging Contest!
Reflecting on her time at DCHS, Jordan says Mrs. Jodene Kissler was a favorite teacher with a knack for making math enjoyable for her students. She was able to take a subject like calculus and make it easier to understand and less intimidating. “High school provided me a sense of direction, dovetailing what came easily for me,” said Jordan.
In October, Jordan will celebrate SALT’s first anniversary. She credits her business’s success in part to her dedicated staff, which includes students from both DCHS and Legend High School.
Salt naturally brings out the best flavors in food and served as inspiration for the new business. “We named our craft meat market SALT to bring out the best in the community with our interactions with those we serve, including the farmers and ranchers we partner with,” she said. “Our customers genuinely want to see us succeed. Many tell us about the butcher shop where they grew up. We’re thrilled to be a part of the community."