Ted and JoAnn Dawson combine years of business and horse experience, first as owners of Fairview Follies, a carriage and pony ride business in Newark, DE, then as managers of Carousel Farm & Riding Stables in Wilmington, DE from 1986 to 1998, when they opened Fairwinds.

JoAnn has a B.S. Degree from the University of Delaware in Animal Science / Ag Education and a Masters Degree in Education, and has taught Animal Science, Equine Science and Acting at both high school and college levels. She is a member of the Maryland Horse Council, the Cecil County Tourism and Equestrian Committees, Maryland Farm Bureau and a board member of the North East Chamber. She is a columnist for Cecil Soil Magazine and an instructor at Cecil College.  She is the author of the award-winning Lucky Foot Stable series for ages 8-12 and visits elementary and middle schools with her pony Butterscotch to promote reading and writing.

Through her membership in the Screen Actor's Guild, JoAnn (SAG name Jodi) works in film and television as an actress, wrangler, and animal handler. Best credits: The Sixth Sense, Oprah Winfrey's Beloved, 12 Monkeys, and Prince Among Slaves. She is also a motivational speaker at high school and college levels.

Ted holds a B.S. degree from the University of Delaware in Business Administration and Finance. He has an extensive farming background, including dairy, crops, livestock and fish farming.   He is a member of the Maryland Farm Bureau and teaches Equine classes at Cecil College.

The Dawsons have two sons, Zach, a consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton, and Nick, a sophomore at the University of Maryland. .