NATCHEZ — When Jordan Farmer’s mother asked him to serve as the Natchez Garden Club king during the Historic Natchez Pageant, she already knew the answer.

Farmer said the question was more ceremonially than anything else because he has always participated in the Pageant — something he definitely doesn’t regret.

But despite his years of Pageant experience and his mom’s dedicated work with the Natchez Garden Club, Farmer was still a bit surprised to be asked to serve as king.

“I always wanted to be on the court with my friends,” Farmer said. “Being king is more than I expected.”

He may not have expected to be wearing the gray and gold general’s uniform, but when he circles the floor of the City Auditorium during his reign, he will be using his years of experience gained through participation in multiple tableaus including Little Maypole, Big Maypole, Fisher boy, The Picnic, Raising of the Flag, Polka, Wedding of Jefferson Davis and Soiree Lead.

Complimenting his uniform will be a replica sword that was a gift from his parents. The sword is a reproduction of an 1866 general’s confederate sabre. His parents also gave him a replica of a Confederate States of America belt buckle.

“Since my uniform was borrowed, I wanted to have something that was my own,” Farmer said. “Now, with the sword, I can look back on all the memories of being king.”

Farmer is the son of Henry and Marla Farmer of Natchez. He is the grandson of Margaret Lonigro Searcy and Wade Martin of Natchez and the late Henry and Barbara Farmer of Natchez.

He also has one sister, Madison who is a junior at Cathedral and enjoys participating in Pageant as much as he does.

“She loves it,” he said. “She loves everything about it.”

The 2006 Cathedral High School graduate said dancing Soiree was his favorite tableau because it is a transition from childhood to young adulthood for Pageant participants.

“Soiree was the first grown-up dance you could do,” Farmer said. “I guess that meant they finally trusted us.”

But while he said he enjoyed the dances he learned during Pageant and has been told he’s a good dancer, Farmer said he would much rather be outside.

He enjoys running and lifting weights, watching sports at LSU, hunting and fishing.

He is an avid golfer and has won many championships since picking up his clubs in eighth grade. He was a member of the 2003-2006 Cathedral golf teams that secured three state championships along with four district championships. He was also a member of the Cathedral football team. He has won four junior city golf championships, one city championship and one Beau Pré championship. Farmer was also a member of the Delta State University golf team where he received the Most Outstanding New Golfer award his freshman year.

Though Farmer started his college career at Delta Sate, he has since transferred to LSU in Baton Rouge. Farmer said he enjoyed the golf team at Delta State, but that Cleveland never felt like home so he transferred to LSU to complete his degree in business. He is also seeking a minor in marketing and communication.

“I grew up and LSU fan so going to LSU just felt right,” Farmer said.

Attending school at LSU also meant Farmer was able to stay close to many of his high school friends. But he has also been able to make new friends, who he said love Natchez as much he does.

“Whenever (my friends) hear someone is coming to Natchez, they always want to come too,” he said. “Natchez is a fun and unique place.”

After completing his studies, Farmer said he hopes to begin a career as a pharmaceuticals sales representative.

Farmer said he intended course of study after high school was nursing but soon discovered he didn’t have the stomach for the field.

“My mom is a nurse so I thought I would be able to handle it, but I couldn’t,” he said.

But, he said, his new course of study definitely fits his outgoing personality.

“I’m a people person. I like to talk to people and meet people,” Farmer said.

He said working in the business field might also help improve his golf game.

“I know that in pharmaceutical sales you meet a lot of doctors, and a lot of doctors like to play golf,” he said.