At The Hitt Family Farm, raising pigs has brought plenty of learning, some happy milestones, and some difficult days. We’re building a small herd while learning what works for our animals, our wooded property, and the two of us.
Four Gilts, One Pen, One House
Our pig journey began on October 31, 2024, when we picked up four gilts from a farm and brought them home to one pen and one pig house. We chose these first four pigs because we THOUGHT we wanted Kune-Kune or mixes because of the friendliness, ease of raising and the amount of lard they produce. We learned that some of the qualities that first attracted us weren’t the best fit for our pork-raising goals, and that experience helped us rethink our future herd.
During that first year, we learned the everyday work of raising pigs—feeding them, caring for them, and making improvements as we went. We eventually butchered three and kept Molly to breed.
From that small beginning, our pig operation has grown into the shelters, paddocks, and breeding plans we have today. It has taken work, adjustments, and lessons we couldn’t have learned until we were doing it ourselves.
Meet Molly and Boris
Molly is our Kune Kune–Meishan sow and one of those original four gilts. She enjoys being brushed and has been at the center of our first experiences with breeding, pregnancy, and caring for newborn piglets.
Boris is our Hampshire–Tamworth boar. He joined the farm as an eight-week-old piglet in September 2025. Watching him grow has been another part of learning how to feed, house, and manage pigs through different stages of life.
Their first litter together arrived in October 2026. It brought the excitement of new life alongside losses and hard lessons about farrowing and keeping small piglets safe.
What We’re Working Toward
Our plans are evolving as we gain experience. We’re considering a future herd with more Berkshire and Hampshire influence, with attention to temperament, mothering ability, sound growth, and suitability for raising pork.
For now, our work centers on caring for the pigs we have, improving their shelters and paddocks, and meeting their changing feeding needs. Future plans will develop as our space, resources, and experience allow.
The Story Behind the Herd
In our Homestead Journal, we’ll keep dated accounts of breeding observations, feeding changes, shelter improvements, piglet growth, and everyday life in the pig pens.
We want to preserve what actually happened—including what we weren’t sure about at the time. When something works, we’ll share it. When something goes wrong or our plans change, we’ll record that too.
These are our experiences as we learn, rather than a claim that we have all the answers.
