Just off highway 82 in northeastern Oklahoma, there is a green metal barn housing one innovative poultry business. The flock of chickens cared for there is among the healthiest possible, and is produced with several all-natural methods.
Starting in August of 2009, the DARP processing center was converted from an old horse barn, and operations began under the leadership of CEO Raymond Jones and farm and plant manager Bryan Hostick. The goal was to naturally raise a flock of Hubbard broiler chickens while also providing their neighbors with a center to efficiently slaughter their own flocks in a safe and clean place. The DARP processing center, which is funded by the DARP Foundation, a drug and alcohol rehab and prevention group, also looks to help the community by rehabilitating people with histories of drug and alcohol related problems. This relationship with the community is essential to the goal of the DARP Processing Center, because at the root of natural farming techniques is the concept of looking out for the good of the local community.
Poultry waste is a hot topic in Oklahoma, but the DARP processing center is able to use all of the waste and byproducts produced by their flocks.
“We have access to several hundred acres of ranch land,” Bryan said. “We don’t have any problem putting to good use everything we produce.”
The waste is composted and used as fertilizer for the pasture at the ranch. Raymond and Bryan are quick to brag about the quality of their flock, along with their green practices.
“There’s very, very little fat on these birds,” Raymond said. “If you fry one of these birds you will have to add grease to it.”
The birds are not only healthy themselves, but support a healthy diet for the customer. This is partly because the DARP Foundation has four conventional poultry houses which are normally suited to house around 20,000 birds in each house. The DARP Foundation, though, holds their population to around 15,000 to 20,000 in all four of their houses combined. This helps prevent the spread of disease through the flock, and results in an all around healthier flock.
A popular belief about natural or ‘green’ methods of agriculture is while the end product has a great level of quality, the cost and efficiency of production make it difficult to support.
“We are having no trouble selling exactly what is on our label,” Bryan countered. “Free range, natural, locally grown and hand processed chicken.”
The progress of the flock and the young business has actually exceeded Bryan and Raymond’s expectations.
The quality of the DARP Foundation’s chicken has not missed the eye of the consumer either, already gaining a strong clientele from all over Oklahoma. Helping the community, producing a local product and advancing the all-natural poultry movement has been their goal all along.
