1950s

In the 1950s, contract farming had become the standard industry model. Hickman provided chicks, feed and a market; farmers supplied housing and labor.

In 1951, Hickman and George Koon Sr. built eight broiler houses in Gordo, Alabama, with the goal of processing 5,000 chickens a week. In 1953, Hickman helped form the Pickens County Poultry Producers Association and served as president. By 1955, Hickman’s brother, Clark, joined as hatchery manager and began building a feed mill to supply their 25 contract growers at the time.