Farm ID: HRSB

The Showalters

Tell the world where you got your chicken!

Like Father like daughter

Just ask Sylvia about her Dad, Harry Lee. "The ole boss and me? He threatens to fire me daily, and I threaten to quit at least every other. "

Farming is a Way of Life

It's important to work hard, but having fun makes it so much better, and the Showalters definitely do.

Sunshine-y Day

Chickens pour out into the sunshine, but always have access to shade it if they get too warm.

3 out of 5

The two eldest siblings are busy with their own families now, so these three, Susanna, Sylvia and Isaac helped hold down the fort at home, with the help of some farm pups.

Welcome Wagon

Shade structures come in all shapes and sizes, and as long as they do the job, they meet our certification standards.

Opening the Doors

Harry Lee manually opens the access doors to let the chickens out when the whether permits.

Named for a gnarly curve in the road, Horseshoe Bend Farm overlooks the gorgeous skyline of Bridgewater, Virginia.

Farmers Harry and Michelle Showalter both grew up on Shenandoah Valley farms and bought their current property in 1993, where they set to work raising 5 children in addition to chicken, corn, and cattle. Michelle helps with general inspections of the property and birds while Harry makes sure the water, feed, and ventilation systems are all working properly. The two youngest Showalter kids who are still on the farm, Sylvia and Isaac, help check on the birds throughout the day and chase the chickens back into the houses each evening. Sylvia especially likes mowing the property in the summer and chopping wood for the winter. In their spare time, the family enjoys hunting. They also spend a week on the beaches of Nag’s Head, North Carolina each summer.

According to Harry, partnering with Farmer Focus is like “turning back time” to the farming of the 50s and 60s. Partnering with us has allowed him to earn more money growing 30% fewer birds—so on cold or rainy days, the relaxed-density houses have plenty of room for these free-range chickens.

Harry switched to Farmer Focus because he likes the innovation of the business model—in particular, owning 100% of his farm. He still has to adhere to certain standards and regulations, but they’re ones he agrees with—standards that are healthy for the animals, the planet, and the customers.