Local agribusiness owner Jim Gilles was surprised to find himself as the featured success story on the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy social media accounts.
Gilles is the owner of Hill View Farms Meats, getting his start selling custom meat at the Owensboro Regional Farmers’ Market. He opened his brick and mortar storefront at 5024 Lee Rudy Rd. in 2016. During his first year of business, he only sold beef in small box bundles. As sales increased, Gilles offered individual cuts of meat as well as boxes that contained a variety of cuts. He also diversified his products by providing pork and poultry products in addition to beef, as well as sauces and other culinary compliments.
It was the grant program through the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy, the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, that helped Gilles open his location nearly three years ago. Gilles said he was required to match the $12,000 in funds he received, and that total amount helped him purchase equipment to establish the now thriving store.
“Every day is different than the next, but we grow a little each day,” Gilles said. “My customer base began at the farmer’s market, but it’s growing to more than that.”
Daviess County Extension Agent Clint Hardy said Gilles is just one of many early career farmers and agribusiness owners to utilize a portion of Daviess County’s allocation of the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund. The grants, Hardy said, are used to invest in innovative projects that increase personal net farm income for the farmer or business owner.
“Jim is discovering new ways to add value to Kentucky agricultural products and developing new opportunities that is benefiting his farm now and other Kentucky farms in the future,” Hardy said.
