Welcome to our website and thanks for taking the time to read and visit with us. In an effort to offer as much information about Hickory Hill Farm as we can, we feel it is just as important to know the people behind the HHFF prefix as it is the cattle. I have managed the Hickory Hill cowherd since the summer of 2006 and a member of the Red Angus Association since I was 8 years old, since 1988 for those counting. As a kid my parents saw my interest in cattle and wanted to pursue it by buying two Red Angus show heifers for me to have in 4-H. Those heifers were just the beginning of a lifelong love for not only Red Angus but the entire beef industry. Growing up I was very lucky to have parents that were able to help me in my endeavor of showing cattle as well as other Red Angus breeders who encouraged and carried me around to some of the major shows. I had the opportunity to show cattle across the country including raising and exhibiting a past National Junior Show Champion heifer along with twice winning the National Junior Showmanship contest. It's hard to explain the thrill of tagging a heifer when she is born and be on the halter when she wins on the national level, especially as a 16 year old.
Showing cattle hasn't been the main focus of my tenure in the Red Angus breed. It was an honor to serve on the National Junior Red Angus Board of Directors from 1998-2002 and be elected President in '01-'02. The National Junior Association shaped me in more ways than I could possibly mention and to this day I utilize lessons learned from being on the Board. It was also an honor to be named Outstanding National Junior Member of the Year in 2001.
I am a 2003 graduate of Tennessee Technological University with a degree in Animal Science, with a double minor in Biology and Commercial Marketing. Really that's a lot of degrees that just mean I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up! However, I think I have found my calling as the manager of this exciting cowherd. I am lucky and honored to work for a family that trusts me enough to make the decisions needed to carry this farm to the level we want to reach. We have made great strides since teaming together and I am really excited as I feel we are really ready to start to make a huge impact on the Red Angus breed, not only in the Southeast but on a National level as well.
As you look through our site it is hard to not mention the elite donors we have working for us. They are some of the most impressive females, representing some of the greatest cow families in the industry. On paper they offer unmatched pedigrees and EPDs, however and most importantly when you look at them in the pasture they are even more impressive to look at. We know the importance of EPDs and pedigrees but we also want to enjoy looking at them every day in the pasture.
While mentioning our donors it is hard to overlook our senior herdsire, SLGN Solution. He is a Perks Advance 121R son of the triple crown winner, Feddes Blockanna 807. Solution was the lead bull in the Solution Genetics class winning pen of bulls at the 2007 NWSS and has since been quite competitive including twice winning the TN State Fair along with the Mid South Fair. Phenotypically Solution is hard to fault, yet on paper he offers tremendous maternal, performance, and carcass EPDs. Most importantly however his progeny are following his footsteps being extremely thick, clean fronted, long bodied, and sound. Also exciting is his full sister, our foundation Blockanna donor, who as a first calf heifer raised the top seller of our Legends of the Fall sale, averaged 12 embryos in two flushes and only backed up one month when she rebred. She was also went on to be the Reserve Champion Female at the TN State Fair and her heifer calf went on to win the Mid South Fair. Not too bad for a first calf heifer!
Another part of our program that is hard not to mention is our partnership on several donors with Atkinson Reds. They are great partners and friends and we couldn't be where we are without them. We also appreciate the confidence Solution Genetics has shown by partnering with us on some donors as well as our Joint Production Sale the "Legends of the Fall."
Once again we thank you for taking the time to visit our site and learn more about the HHFF prefix. Please look for us at shows and sales throughout the US and contact us for any questions you may have about our program.
Sincerely,
John Carter, Mgr.
Hickory Hill Farm |
