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When my family first discovered the tender, flavorful chicken that had come from King’s Poultry Farm in Bradford, I had no idea at the time just how unique was the product we were savoring.

The King Family, with parents William and Marilyn as well as the two youngest sons, Levi (30) and Reuben (26), raise chickens year-round, along with pastured turkeys for Thanksgiving, strictly feeding Non-GMO grain. Interesting enough – but more importantly, they also own and operate King and Sons Poultry Service Inc, one of only TWO federally inspected custom chicken processors in the state of Ohio!

Not only do they raise the birds on their farm which they sell in a wide variety of cuts, but they also process the birds themselves and create the recipes for their seasoned brats and sausages… an unparalleled local story of one family’s hard work, perseverance, and determination in a difficult but oh so important industry.

What better way to control the quality of your product than to manage its care all the way from the raising to the final frozen package. I was blown aware by the shear uniqueness of their operation – only one other family in Ohio can say they raise and process their own flock in their own federally inspected plant. In addition, they process 1,900 other poultry flocks each year, from local farmers to folks in Indiana, North Carolina, West Virginia and Pennsylvania… a total of over 150,000 chickens and 12,000 turkeys in 2017! To think they operate in our own backyard is astounding!!

How did they get their start? Parents William and Marilyn King had been raising and butchering their own chickens since 1983. By 1994, they were looking for a business the family could operate together that would keep their five young sons occupied and fulfilled, so established King’s Poultry Farm. From the original modest 20×30’ building to a more than 7000 sq ft facility where today, ten chickens are processed in one minute, the King’s business has continued to grow and thrive – even amidst such horrific losses as the barn fire in 2015 when they lost 4000 birds in a 10,000sq ft barn. Did I mention perseverance?

Very in tune with customer demands, they made the switch to exclusively feeding Non-GMO grain in 2015. When a customer suggested a brat made with apple, the resulting Chicken Apple Bratwurst quickly became a favorite that you simply must experience. And an additional niche is their plant becoming Certified Organic in 2001, enabling farmers who raise organic poultry to have their birds processed according to the National Organic Program.

Many of the small family producers in our area soon become well acquainted with both the state and federal requirements they must adhere to when they raise, package, market, and sell food in Ohio. Simply wading through the regulations can be daunting when you’re starting or scaling up. Learning more, however, about the intricacies of the King’s operation gave me both a deeper respect for them personally and a greater appreciation for their business sense and products. A 13 month wait to have a new label approved? Perfect knowledge (earned by research and experience) of what it takes to legally make a claim such as Non-GMO? The list goes on and on, as my appreciation of what it takes to run the King’s operation grows dramatically. :-)

It has been a pleasure to meet this family, and I’m grateful for everything I’ve learned. When I initially visited William, Levi and Reuben at their plant, I was surprised by the scale and efficiency of their operation, as I toured with the most gracious hosts to be found. Savvy businessmen, and one of the most popular vendors on the Virtual Market, Miami County Locally Grown, Levi in particular has continued to answer my questions logically and thoughtfully – readily sharing exact numbers off the cuff, and strategizing with an analytical mind for the greater good of both his own business and the Virtual Market as a whole.

Levi, lovely wife Jacqueline and adorable 5 month old Matthew (their youngest of four children), surprised customers who came to pick up their Virtual Market products on Tuesday with samples of Tomato Basil Chicken Patties, and Sweet Italian Chicken Sausages. The tempting aroma and savory samples were delicious crowd pleasers – and the good news for customers is the King family will be back with their popular products (and samples!) for the Winter Farmer’s Market on Tue Feb 13th!!

Even more exciting news to share – the King’s intention to host a Tour of their processing plant this Spring!

The idea of a successful, family-owned and operated local business may seem idealistic and charming, but in the case of King’s Poultry Farm, that idea is both very real and utterly inspiring.