We are the Blalock family. Our farm has been in my family since my Great-grandfather Hockman moved to Fairfield from the northern Shenandoah Valley many years ago. Over the years, the farm has passed from my grandparents, John & Lois, to my parents, Francis & Ann. My dad still farms full-time and we take great pride in continuing the family tradition. Our son, Jordan, will be the 5th generation to farm here, and although he is only 14, he is playing a huge role in the direction we are heading. Jordan wants to stay on the farm when he grows up. We hope our efforts today will provide him that opportunity.

Chris and I both work full-time off the farm, but we have maintained a beef cattle operation for many years. Our herd consists of registered Limousin and Angus cows. The Limousin breed is muscular and crosses nicely with Angus to produce a leaner, but flavorful beef.

Our operation began to expand after Jordan came along. As a toddler, he demonstrated a huge love for the farm and today is responsible for many important chores. Jordan is active in 4-H and shows our Limousin cattle. In 2009 we were fortunate to have a heifer worthy of showing at the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, KY and at the National Western Stock Show in Denver in January of this year. Our county fair is held in July of each year, so we will be gearing up for a new show season shortly.

Our venture into poultry started as a project to keep Jordan busy over the summer. We purchased our hens as peeps, raised them through the winter and turned them out last spring. We keep about 250 hens and let them free-range in our pasture. At night the hens roost in mobile wagons which we frequently move to fresh, green grass. The wagons provide a safe place for the birds to reside at night and also have nest boxes for them to lay their eggs in during the day. Our free-range brown eggs are a hit at the local farmers’ markets. Currently we sell at markets in Lexington and in Nelson County with the help of Chris’ father. We also raise pastured broilers.

Pigs are the newest addition to our herd. Many years ago my dad raised pigs, and Chris also raised pigs when he was in high school. It’s odd that we didn’t add them sooner. This spring we had 20 piglets born on the farm. It’s not unusual to see them running loose in the barnyard. As cute and funny as they are to watch, it’s amazing how much pretty green grass they can destroy in a very short time.

It has been fun sharing a bit about ourselves and our operation. We hope you will support us in our efforts to continue the farming tradition by purchasing our eggs and meat. Please remember that our animals are never given grown hormones or antibiotics. Anytime you have questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.