We started our farm animal adventure many years ago. Our boys joined Northampton County 4-H and so our adventure of showing and selling our animals began.

Our sons Larry, Matthew, and Daniel have all shown chicken and pigs. We started with the boys showing laying hens. Those first birds never left our house and we had to create special housing for them to live out their lives. Every year the boys have been able to choose their breed, raise them out, and sell them at our county fair’s auction in August. We have tried many breeds and have our favorites. The chickens we choose depend on what we are looking for at that time. Do we want eggs, pretty birds, or dual-purpose birds that are used for eggs and meat? From there the choices are endless. The boys have had champions and reserve pens of chickens over the years. We love our birds.

We also decided to raise broiler chickens. Having a son with food issues, it became necessary to raise our own food and we have never looked back. We raise most of our own chicken every year for our family to eat. It is amazing that in 6 weeks you can have a full-sized 5 – 8 pound bird. The boys have shown broilers at the county fair and have raised champion and reserve broilers every year.

Our next adventure was pigs (swine). Our oldest son Larry was determined to raise and show his own pigs. With help from our Aunt and Uncle we were able to house our first 4 swine on their property. Over the years Larry obtained his goal of raising numerous champion and reserve champion pigs that were sold at the county fair. He even convinced his brothers to show pigs right along with him.  Larry is now working in the poultry field.