Dylan Knapp, better known as "Mitten_Master" on Instagram, is one of Michigan’s most passionate cannabis cultivators. His love for the plant, combined with years of experience, has made him a respected voice in the industry. Despite the market's ups and downs, Dylan remains focused on producing high-quality cannabis, maintaining the spirit of the early days when growing was more about passion than profit.
One of Dylan’s core beliefs is that no one in the cannabis industry knows everything. The constant ebb and flow of growing keeps him humble, and he remains open to learning. While Dylan has integrated modern grow tech into his facilities, he calibrates the readings of these tools to his own acquired “feel”—knowledge honed through years of being a hands-on grower.
For Dylan and his team, passion is of the utmost importance:
"The second that I don't have the passion for this, it's going to be directly reflected in the product. And the people that I know that have best weed out there, in my opinion, the best brands, those guys: you can see the passion gleaming off of them and their team."
Building a Strong Team
Despite the challenges of commercialization, Dylan has built a crew that shares his vision and passion. “It’s not about growing for money anymore. We upgrade everything, always trying to make the weed better and take care of the people around us,” he says. Dylan believes his facilities may be a bit overstaffed, but he prefers it that way, as it allows more attention to be paid to the plants. For him, it’s all about producing the highest quality cannabis.
“Persistency wins out in this game, 100%. Dude, you can be great for 55 days. You f*** up for 5 days out of that 55, you probably just cost yourself a crop in this cutthroat market."
His pursuit of perfect cannabis is relentless. Known for going the extra mile, he doesn’t rest when most growers would call it a day. His commitment extends well beyond typical working hours.
“You can ask my wife how many times I’ve gotten up like a vampire at midnight because something doesn’t feel right. I’ll go through my apps, and if I see something strange on a graph, I’ll make an hour-long trip just to walk a room at night. The nighttime is the unknown for me. You never know what’s happening, so I have to check."
This level of dedication isn’t just about keeping things running; it’s about constantly pushing for the highest quality possible. He approaches every grow with the same intensity, aiming to improve with every harvest. His blend of innovative spirit and old-school grit is rare in today’s industry, and it’s exactly why he’s earned such a loyal following.
Dylan is a great example of the attitude and approach that is required for cultivators to be successful in the modern commercialized cannabis industry. His journey shows that even in an industry driven by profit, the love for the plant and the pursuit of excellence can still thrive. Whether it’s through his meticulous attention to detail or his commitment to his crew, Dylan continues to set the standard for what cannabis cultivation should be: focused, passionate, and always evolving.
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