Hunter Farms, Inc

Hunter Farms, Inc. was established in 1937 by Mollie and John Wesley Hunter, Sr. John and his family were able to transform fifty acres of land and a few farm animals into a 1000+ acre farming operation. During John Hunter Sr's reign, Hunter Farms produced cotton, peanuts, corn and various other row crops, but specialized in beef cattle. John Sr. worked closely with conservationists, as a land steward, to help maintain the integrity of his land. In 1956 he received the Georgia Merit Farmer awarded by the Macon Telegraph and news in conjunction with Fort Valley State College for excellence in farm management and soil conservation methods. He was also recognized by Ebony Magazine in 1972 for his accomplishments as an African American farmer in an article on page 90. Hunter Farms, Inc. is now a multigenerational farm. Currently, John and Mollie's children maintain Hunter Farms and hold administrative positions allowing them to keep the farm intact for decades despite economic shifts and changing times. Excellent animal husbandry skills strengthened the vitality herd and elevated the farm's animal welfare standards. Throughout the decades, Hunter Farms was able to maintain a closed herd of cattle with genetics dating back to John and Mollie's original herd. Within the last couple of years, Hunter Farms has made some changes. The farm is in the process of transitioning its beef operation from a grain based operation to a more environmentally sustainable pasture system. Using this system, cattle will have constant access to pasture and a diet of grass and forage throughout their lives. Hunter Farms' cattle are certified by the American Grassfed Association, Animal Welfare Approved, and the Global Animal Partnership. All which have a high concentration on humane treatment and restricts the use of antibiotics and steroids. Hunter Farms no longer applies synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides to its pastures--they are certified organic. The farm works closely with the Natural Resources and Conservation Service and Georgia Organics implementing conservation practices such as soil conservation, soil quality, water quality, rotational grazing and cover crops which benefit both the land and the animals. Hunter Farms, Inc. is going green!