The Halley Family Went from Raising Chickens for Slaughter to Growing Hemp and Rescuing Homeless Animals
At age 14, Texan Bo Halley began his career in chicken farming alongside his twin brother, Sam—they learned the ropes from their father. As contract growers, the Halleys raised six batches of chickens per year—192,000 birds per batch—for 30 years in 12 factory-style houses on their family farm in Cookville, Texas. They also maintained a herd of 175 cows. But when faced with mounting financial and health troubles from chicken farming, Bo and Sam decided to give up raising birds for good.
They teamed up with their sister, Devvie Deany, and her partner, Evan Penhasi, to switch to growing hemp. With the support of Transfarmation, they successfully completed their first hemp harvest.
12/1/2019
Began Work with Transfarmation
6/1/2020
Started Transition to Hemp
Sept. 2020
Harvested First Hemp Crop
11/11/2022
Awarded R&I Grant for Donkey Rescue
12/15/2022
Began Rescuing Donkeys
1,152,175
Animals Once Raised on This Farm per Year
We knew we couldn’t keep contract farming animals but didn’t know where to turn for help—what could we do with 12 empty chicken houses? Although we had stopped raising chickens and were extremely thankful to finally be out of the business, we still had bills to pay and a leftover loan. … I’d farmed crops before, but I’d never grown hemp, so I was just expecting new challenges and new things. We just decided to get into it and start with an acre.
The family experienced years of financial hardship as contract poultry farmers for Pilgrim’s Pride. When they began raising chickens, they had to take out a large loan to build their chicken houses. Once the chicken farm was up and running, they hoped to make enough money to steadily pay off that loan. Unfortunately, the income from chicken farming proved to be unreliable. The Halleys faced many unexpected costs. The chickens that Pilgrim’s Pride gave them to raise often had a variety of health issues, and the family had to bear the financial burden when these birds died. They also had to deal with the cost of managing the tons of waste that the farm produced. These additional costs, combined with the operational expenses of the chicken farm, made paying off their debt extremely difficult.
As they finally came close to paying off their loans, they received a terrible blow from Pilgrim’s: If they wanted to keep their contract, the Halleys would have to make upgrades to their chicken houses—which would require them to take out additional hundreds of thousands in loans. The family was stuck in the “debt treadmill” of poultry farming—a vicious cycle of debt created through contracts with corporations that leads to financial insecurity and even bankruptcy for farmers.
In addition to financial peril, Bo and Sam suffered injuries and health complications from working with chickens in the crowded houses. Even with masks, they felt unprotected from ammonia. On one occasion, Bo developed an infection from a chicken through a cut on his finger that landed him in the hospital for over nine days. The infection resulted in partial amputation of his finger.
These health and financial struggles terribly burdened the Halleys, who all felt trapped in the contract poultry system. They wanted to be free from the cycle of debt and the hazardous working conditions. After years of struggle and stress, the family decided that the farm was not a sustainable business and they had to give it up. Chicken farming was not worth all their hardship and suffering, which they had endured for long enough.
When it became obvious that the business was not something that made financial sense, we decided to ... eat the debt and shut down the chicken houses and look for a different option in order for the farm to make money, and, most importantly, to find some sort of a long-term, viable business that doesn’t include animal suffering.
Having decided to stop chicken farming, Bo, Sam, Devvie, and Evan began researching and exploring other uses for the chicken houses. They soon learned about Transfarmation and the opportunity to grow hemp plants.
We were so happy to have support from an organization dedicated to helping us transition. … Since our first phone call with them, we’ve known that they care and are invested in seeing us succeed. At every turn, people with expertise have been there to consult with, and someone from Transfarmation has checked in with us to make sure we have everything we need to succeed.
The Halleys would recommend transitioning to growing plants to any poultry farmer, not simply for the better financial investment and payoff but for the heightened quality of life on the farm.
Number one, don’t be afraid. I think fear holds us back from change, and we wind up getting stuck in something for months, for years, maybe for our entire lives, and we go through so much hardship and suffering that’s needless. If we just kick that fear to the side and be open to learning something new, and with the help of other farmers who’ve been through this before them, I would hope that other farmers would be open to change and open to growth and know that they’re not alone. They’re not alone. There are others who have felt that way before them, and we can all get through this together.
Devvie and Evan are also dedicated to providing sanctuary to animals in need. They have saved over 2,700 dogs in just three years through their rescue organization, Let Love Live. With a grant from Transfarmation, Let Love Live is expanding its animal rescue operation by setting up rehabilitation housing for donkeys on land formerly used as cattle pasture. Partnering with Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue, Let Love Live will house up to 150 donkeys while they are rehabilitated and socialized before Peaceful Valley permanently adopts them out.
Transfarmation™ Farmers
Halley Farm
The Halley Family Went from Raising Chickens for Slaughter to Growing Hemp and Rescuing Homeless Animals
Craig Watts
Craig Watts Is Repurposing His Former Poultry Farm
Tom Lim
Tom and Sokchea Lim Are Building Their Dream Vegetable and Mushroom Farm
Faaborg Family
How the Faaborg Family Is Changing the Future of Farming in Iowa
Paula & Dale Boles
Paula and Dale Boles Transitioned Their Poultry Farm to Greenhouses for Microgreens, Hemp, Flowers, and Specialty Vegetables
Barker Family Farm
Finding What Fits: The Barker Family’s Transition from a Dairy to a Vegetable Farm
Hamilton Farm
The Hamiltons Transformed Their Multigenerational Dairy Operation into a Mushroom Farm
