Photo by Darrin Phegley

The Stories of Four Local Farming Families

The Adairs: 

The Adair family, comprising Jay and Amber Adair and their children, Raecy and Mackenzie, transformed their farming passion into a vibrant lifestyle.

In 2019, they began livestock farming on their family property, “Rockin’ A Acres,” in Henderson, where Jay grew up. Raecy and Mackenzie are actively involved in the family farm, from raising sheep, pigs, and dairy goats, to participating in local and state fairs and selling pork and lamb at the farmers’ market. “That has just taken off,” Amber said.

The farm is a year-round commitment, with summer months filled with livestock shows and fairs, and the fall season dedicated to breeding sheep and goats. Pigs are bred throughout the year, and December to April is a “chaotic” period as they welcome newborn lambs, Amber said. 

Raecy’s dedicated care during lambing and farrowing seasons involves constant monitoring and alarm reminders, sometimes resulting in long nights. “It’s a lot of work,” Amber said. “And I will give them credit. Most girls their age would not get out there and do a lot of the heavy lifting. Raecy does.”

Raecy and Mackenzie are also involved in 4-H, with Mackenzie starting her first year of Clover Buds, and Raecy participating in Area Team Council and preparing country hams for the state fair.

While the family puts a lot of work and time into the operation, Amber said it is well worth it, especially knowing they are feeding their community and ensuring their animals are well fed and cared for throughout their lifecycle.

“I think for us, it’s kind of become a lifestyle, but it’s also kind of a pride thing … And it’s really a team effort,” she said.

The Bennetts: 

The Bennett family – Cassandra and W.A. Bennett, along with their three daughters, Madelyn, Anna and Paige – created a fun, family business through their love of raising livestock.

“The idea to get the girls started in 4-H and raising dairy goats,” Cassandra said, “stemmed from wanting to find an activity and hobby that the whole family could participate in.” So, in 2016, the family started dairy goat farming under the name, “Bennett’s Barnyard.”

“They all played softball when they were little. And [Madelyn] almost played travel ball, but her dad is such a homebody, and he wanted us to be together.” The operation expanded to include Black Angus cattle, Flemish giant rabbits, market hogs, ducks, and chickens.

Cassandra said the family quickly learned that, while raising and showing their animals was a great family activity, they had to somehow find ways to make a profit out of it too. With a surplus of goat milk, the family started making goat’s milk lotion and soaps, which they sell at local craft shows during fall months. The family also sells a unique range of other products including “Rabbit Dust,” a plant fertilizer made from rabbit droppings; bath salts, candied pecans, and more.

Each family member plays a vital role, from lotion and soap production to animal care. Year-round preparation includes milk production, inventory management, and livestock training for shows. “We all have to pitch in,” Madelyn said.

Madelyn and Anna’s participation and leadership roles in FFA and 4-H also nurtures their leadership and entrepreneurial skills, while Paige uses her livestock earnings for cheerleading.

“This teaches them, not only leadership, but they’re learning how to network,” Cassandra said. “What we do, it’s given them the ability to deal with real life things.”

The Fehds:

Heather and her daughter, Montana Fehd, share a passion for raising goats.

Montana’s journey began at three when they received two goats as a gift.

“I took one goat and her (Montana) to the fair. Pippi Longstocking … and her walked all over the place. They were everywhere. She was hanging from the rafters in there, but as soon as she went into the show ring, it was like you turned on a light switch,” Heather said. “Something clicked in her because she just fell in love with it.”

Montana, now 12, manages her goat herd under the name, “Cheyenne Acres,” with the help of her mother and father, David Fehd.

She joined the American Goat Society (AGS) in 2014 and the American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) in 2017. Her passion grew steadily, and by 2020, she became more invested in learning about breeding, genetics, and the overall development of her herd of 25 goats. Her daily routine involves milking, feeding, and health check-ups, with a challenging kidding season.

“Kidding season is one of the hardest parts of the year in maintaining the herd,” Heather said.

Cameras in the stalls ensure the family are present for every birth and able to assist the goats however is needed, including bottle feeding every newborn goat, Heather said. With a surplus of milk following breeding season, Heather said the family donates about 10 gallons a week to rehabilitating animals.

Montana’s involvement in 4-H, community service, and education complements her ability to build her goat herd. She hopes to achieve national champion status, and potentially become a certified judge in the future, though it could mean not showing her own goats as frequently as she would like.

As the end of showing months approach, Montana said she will start breeding her goats. Then, with the start of kidding season in April, she said that’s when she gets to do her favorite part – naming the newborns.

The Greens: 

The Green Family – Ana, Tyler, and their sons, John Tyler and Cole – began goat farming three years ago in Hopkins County.

“We just started with a couple goats a couple years ago and then it really snowballed,” Ana said.

Ana said she originally bought the goats because “they’re so cute,” but the family eventually purchased registered goats for John Tyler and Cole to show at fairs and have since expanded their herd to 19 goats.

John Tyler and Cole started showing their goats last year and participate in the Livestock Kids program in Henderson County, which is geared toward younger kids interested in raising livestock.

Though John Tyler and Cole are still young, Ana said the two help bottle-feed the baby goats and feed the adult goats on a daily basis, as well. “We had a couple of bottle babies we started with, so that was something fun they could do,” Ana said. John Tyler said he and brother Cole wake up early to help with feeding, but they also just like to hang out with the goats too. “The thing I like about the goats is they’re so calm. When you first get them, they’re not calm, but you have to teach them. It’s just like you have a kid,” he said.

In addition to goats, the family also sells goat milk soap and runs a greenhouse, selling annuals, perennials, herbs, ferns, and some cool-season crops during fall and winter months under their farm name, “JTC Farm.”

Right now, Ana said John Tyler and Cole are growing their own plants, including watermelons and carrots. “We got done selling spring plants at the end of May, and then the boys got to have at it and plant whatever they wanted, and they will help with putting the tags in the plants and all that fun stuff,” she said.