Half-century in the hog business has taught the Barker Family a thing or two.
The Edison natives have spent nearly 50 years on their family farm, raising and selling hogs to customers from around the country.
In 1957, they established their swine centered, Barker Family Farms in Morrow County, first focusing their attention on feeder hogs.
It wasn’t until 2006 when parents Dan and Becky, along with their children Derek and Kayla Barker decided to switch gears, concentrating their business on show pigs. The Barker Family Farms had just two sows to begin their show pig venture but have grown their stock to a full 20.
The shift in livestock in 2006 coinceded with Derek’s first year of showing hogs at the Morrow County Junior Fair.
“Being successful doesn’t just happen overnight. We have put a lot of hard work into perfecting the genetics of each pig to get them where they are now,” Dan said. “It is a yearlong process breeding and raising hogs.”
A decade later and that hard work has definitely paid off. Among other numerous awards, Barker Family Farms has been awarded two time Grand Champion Hereford Boar at the Ohio and Indiana State Fairs.
They also were awarded the reserve champion bred and owned at the Ohio State Fair.
Barker Family Farms sells both show and feeder pigs throughout the year. They recently had their second annual open house and board pig sale, at which they sold 40 show and 40 feeder hogs.
So far, the family has sold to buyers from six different states and hopes to further their reach in the future.
“I really enjoyed growing up on the farm because it taught me to work hard and never give up” said Derek.
Barker Family Farms breeds Berkshire, Herefords, Spots, Hampshire, Poland China and Crossbreds.
