The Evolution of Cog Hill Farm

By Betty Nylund Barr, Staff Writer

Jason Smith and his wife, Brooke, arrived at farming—emu farming, in particular—via a slow, purposeful process.

In 2004, on a small farm in Alabama, the couple began growing a variety of crops, later adding chickens to their roster, and naming their land “Cog Hill Farm” after the road on which they lived. From Cog Hill, they sold eggs and vegetables locally and, in time, became increasingly concerned about the quality of the meats they were eating. Their concern led to their acquisition of forest-raised meat chickens, which paved the way for adding pigs, quail, and ducks to the farm—all of which were sold to high-end caterers and restaurateurs in the Birmingham area.

As they were building their farm, Jason and Brooke started a YouTube channel, which allowed viewers a chance to be with them as the two tackled various issues in agriculture, including the upkeep of a farm. The channel also enabled viewers to learn about and interact virtually with the Smith animals…

Read the rest of the article in the fall 2024 issue of Emu Today
& Tomorrow.