Kevin Hobbs always imagined he’d grow up to run the family farm. As the fourth generation to care for his family’s land, he’s navigated a lot of changes over the years. Originally established as a sharecropping farm after the Civil War, the Hobbs family and their tenant farmers grew cotton, Irish potatoes, and sweet potatoes.
As the farm evolved away from tenant farming and cotton went by the wayside, they transitioned into the relatively lucrative business of raising tobacco, while continuing to grow row crops, raise hogs, and maintain a large market garden.
Today, Kevin and his parents, Delmas and Anne, continue a diverse operation. They produce their own fruits and vegetables, raise hogs outdoors on pasture for Firsthand Foods, grow corn, soybeans, and wheat in rotation, and raise broiler chickens under contract with an integrator. The farm is also home to some mature pecan trees that they harvest and share with friends and family.
Kevin raises his hogs outdoors on pasture according to Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) standards, using a variety of genetics including Berkshire, Yorkshire, Duroc, and Landrace. He runs a farrow-to-finish operation, overseeing all stages of his hogs’ development.
Kevin loves the farming lifestyle. “I appreciate being my own boss. I don’t punch the clock for anyone and I’m outside most of the day with the freedom to go hunting and fishing whenever I want.” His biggest challenge is finding enough labor. While he has two employees who have been with him for over 20 years, there always seems to be a shortage of help. He’s also aware that the weather is getting less predictable, with long periods of rain followed by drought. “It’s not without some worry and stress,” he admits.
