It’s been a very busy month for Jackson County farmer Tom Hackman. He, his wife Ruth and their family own Hackman Family Farm Market near Vallonia in southern Indiana. Not only were they part of the Purdue Farm Management Tour on July 11, they are also the Featured Farmers during the Indiana State Fair on Saturday, July 29th.
“Who knew that we were such a bunch that needed to be talked to? We usually are the ones needing educated—not doing the educating,” says Tom Hackman with a laugh during the recent Purdue Farm Management Tour.
Hackman says his farm is unique for several reasons.
“We’ve somehow married large produce with large grain. We run 2,000 acres of corn and soybeans—and we run over 200 acres of produce at the same time.
He says specialty crops are a big part of his farm operation.
“Our number one crop is watermelons. We raise 180 acres of watermelons. We also raise cantaloupes, sweet corn, cabbage, cauliflower, and zucchini squash. It’s kind of like you walk into our market and you’re walking into your own garden, but without the weeds,” Hackman says with a smile.
He says you may find their produce at grocery stores across Indiana and throughout the U.S.
“We have a broker that we work with out of Florida. We also work with Kroger in Indiana and Kentucky—they’re purchasers of our produce. We are just so fortunate to have the things we do and have the soils that we have in Jackson County to raise the highest quality of watermelon that you can buy,” says Hackman.
“The other thing that we have been blessed with is the opportunity to have three of our children come back to the farm—plus one son-in-law—to work full time. We’ve found places for all of them and somehow, we’re still financially able to handle it,” says Hackman.
In addition, Hackman Family Farm Market began delivering fresh produce to their customers’ homes beginning last year with their Veg2Table vegetable subscription service that was started by Tom and Ruth’s daughter Jacquelyn Jasinski. Customers can pick a four-, six- or 12-week subscription and have the option to add fresh flowers. Customers can also choose a small or large box delivered weekly or every other week throughout the summer.
“You can order online it’s delivered straight to the house, so you don’t have to do anything except get the recipe out and start making some great suppers,” says Hackman of his daughter’s Veg2Table service.
He says he’s grateful for the opportunities through the Purdue Farm Management Tour and the Indiana State Fair to promote their family farm—but most of all, he’s grateful for the support from his many friends and neighbors throughout Jackson County and southern Indiana.
“In agriculture, you have your family, but you also have your community,” says Hackman. “Our community is so supportive of our farm. If it wasn’t for the people around us—our friends and neighbors—we couldn’t be here doing what we’re doing today.”
Click below to hear C.J. Miller’s radio news report for Hoosier Ag Today.
