Hempstead County Farm Family of the Year

By Mark Keith, 06/11/19 4:55 PM

The Donald and BJ Hampton have been honored as Hempstead County’s “Farm Family of the Year” and on Tuesday welcomed judges to consider their farm for regional honors. A reception was also held for the Hamptons at their farm after the judging was completed.
Donald Hampton says farming is “in his blood”. He noted his family bought the family farm in 1956 and he grew up on the farm. At one point the Hampton family row-cropped but phased that out in 1987. The Hamptons’ farm is about 3 miles north of Hope in the Oakhaven community. Altogether the family farms 700 acres with a couple of hundred cows plus calves. The calves are pre-conditioned and weaned and then taken to the Oklahoma City Stockyards for sale. The Hamptons also haul cattle to OKC for about 100 other producers. They carry up to three loads to Oklahoma weekly. The Hampton culls are sold locally through the Hope Livestock Auction.
In addition to the Hampton’s cattle and hay operations, BJ Hampton works for AborGen, a company that operates a tree nursery in Bluff City.
The Hamptons attend New Hope Baptist Church. Donald is the president of the Farmers Coop Board and also is a board member for the Hempstead County Cattlemen’s Association.
Donald Hampton says it is an honor to be named “Farm Family of the Year” for 2019. His family also had the honor when he was growing up. Hampton said “I just want to thank everybody that turned out for the support”.