Today we’d like to introduce you to Carroll Zittrouer.
Carroll, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a 3rd generation farmer. I started farm on my own in the early 90’s. However, I have always farmed with my Grandfather (Frank Zittrouer) and father (George Zittrouer). In the early days of farming on my own I had a full-time job with Georgia Power and farmed. I was farming about 500 acres of row crops, hay, and cattle. In 2008 I decided that running cattle and growing hay was the direction that our operation should go. Since then, we have grown the cattle herd and the hay business to where it is now. We have added selling beef by the 1/4,1/2, and whole beef processed and ready for the freezer. In 2020 after 39 years, I retired from Georgia Power. I have 2 brothers Grady, and Glenn Zittrouer that farm as well. We all 3work together helping each other with the daily farm activties of each farm.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it has not been easy. As farmers you are always at the mercy of the weather. It seems that it is either to dry or to wet. This was the reason for leaving row crop production in 2008. With row crop production the window that your crops need rain to produce a crop is smaller. You borrow money to farm with and then the rain doesn’t come, and you lose most if not all of your investment. With hay and cattle production, the weather is still a concern but not as time sensitive as row crops. The other concern is input cost and commodity prices. Both of which the farmer can’t control.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Zittrouer Family Farms?
Zittrouer Family Farms is a business that grows and sell hay. We also raise beef cattle. We sell beef cattle to our local cattle sale barn and also sell Beef processed and ready for the freezer. Our cattle are grass fed and grain finished. We do not use any type of hormones in our cattle. We only treat an animal if it is sick. Our animals are raised in a very caring and gentle environment as possible. Stress free and happy cows are much easier to work with than crazy and mean cattle. This was instilled in me at a young age, and we practice that process with our cattle every day. The hay we produce is a quality coastal, Alica, and Russell types of hay. All of the hay we sell, and feed is rain free and barn stored hay. We sell 48 inch by 54 inch round bales and we also have small square bales for sale. If you buy beef or hay from us, you can bet that we would feed that same beef to our own families and our cattle also.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Our farm is actually located about 1 mile outside of Springfield Ga. Springfield is a small town that still has the small town feel to it. I think that the local government likes it that way and strives to maintain that concept.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.zittrouerfamilyfarms.com
- Facebook: Zittrouer Family Farms
- Youtube: zittrouerfamilyfarms
