About Jhawk Farm
20 years and going strong!
Jhawk farms 250 acres of our own land 800 acres leased ground
We grow pasture-raised chickens Cornish Cross meat chickens antibiotic-free without vaccinations most of our own non-GMO feed
Our History and Philosophy
Welcome to Jhawk Farm, our home on the range!
My name is Garoleen Wilson. My husband Joe and I are Smith County, Kansas natives. In addition to pastured poultry, we run a small herd of beef cattle on about 400 acres of pasture, and produce hay and grain on about 700 hundred acres – plus we own a fiberglass manufacturing business.
We’ll bet you don’t know that the famous folk song “Home on the Range” was written in a log cabin near Athol, Kansas in Smith County, and the cabin still stands. I was an extra in the documentary movie “Home on the Range.”
Joe and I were farm kids and high school sweethearts. As kids, we both helped our parents and grandparents butcher chickens. Eventually, we married and raised two daughters as farm kids, too.
Since we married in 1982 we have always had all kinds of animals: show dogs, hunting dogs, hogs, horses, goats, cattle – and chickens. We have always kept chickens, mostly laying hens for eggs. In fact, our young daughters’ first responsibilities included feeding chickens and gathering eggs. Ironically, it was Joe who most enjoyed raising meat chickens for our freezer. While I like the laying hens, processing the meat birds is definitely Joe’s forte, not mine.
A few years ago, I was diagnosed with uterine cancer. After a hysterectomy I was deemed cancer-free. It was a turning point in my life. I now believe that cancer and many other diseases are based on an unhealthy lifestyle which is chock full of over-processed food and chemicals in our food and homes.
In 2016 I discovered two podcasts about pastured poultry and binge-listened to every available episode! Being an animal person, this concept appealed to me. Raising animals and birds in a way as close to nature as possible really made sense. Since I already believe that people are a product of the food we eat, it’s reasonable to conclude that the animals that provide our meat also are products of what they eat.
When we embarked on raising pastured poultry, we chose chicken feed rations formulated by Fertell and also use non-GMO corn and wheat we grow right here at Jhawk. The ingredients not grown on our farm, like roasted soybeans, are sourced as locally as possible. We use fresh whole grains that Joe processes on the farm rather than less expensive byproducts like soybean meal or distiller’s products.
It’s our choice to use the best feed, not the least expensive, so that we can enjoy the type of meat we want for our grandchildren. We know that many people don’t have the option to raise their own pastured poultry, so we hope they will enjoy Jhawk Farm chicken.
