At Fischer Family Farms, agriculture runs deep, with roots stretching back to 1953 when Kenny Fischer’s father, a Korean War veteran, purchased the land. Today, the farm remains a hub of activity and innovation, embracing traditional and modern farming methods.
“We do a little of everything,” said third-generation farmer Laura Dalton. “Row crops, cattle like we’ve always had. But now we’ve got greenhouses, shrimp, microgreens … it’s all part of our operation.”
One of the farm’s more unique ventures is raising Pacific white leg shrimp, a relatively new addition. The shrimp, sold directly to the public, continues to increase in popularity.
“Our next batch is coming due at the end of September or early October,” Laura’s mother Becky Fischer said. “We take down names and make appointments. When the shrimp are ready, people show up.”
The farm’s diversification didn’t happen overnight.
“For 20 years, we grew tobacco,” Laura said. “We kept begging Dad to get out of it. Finally, when it got frustrating enough, he said, ‘Find us a replacement,’ and that’s when we moved to greenhouses.”
Kenny remains deeply involved in the day-to-day operations, handling much of the manual labor. Laura, her uncle Oren Minton, and Kenny work together on the row cropping and cattle, while Becky and her mother manage the microgreens.
“We’ve got four generations helping out,” Becky said. “My mom, son, daughter-in-law, and even the kiddos are all part of the team. We put everyone to work … that’s how we bond.”
Horses and equestrian lessons have always played a major role at the farm, but due to a series of unfortunate events, they’ve had to cut back on them. Two years ago, they faced a difficult decision when Becky dislocated her shoulder and Laura sustained an injury within 2 weeks of each other.
“We had to close the stables for the season,” Becky said. “We started working with the horses again the next spring, but after another injury, we decided it was time to shut it down. Still, we can’t get rid of the horses — we’ve had them since Laura was 4.”
Despite the challenges, the Fischer family remains optimistic and grateful.
“We wouldn’t be able to do this without the community’s support,” Becky says. “Word of mouth and consistently good produce have been key. The community sells it for us.”
The Fischer family’s connection to the community is critical to their success. They are also grateful for all the Owensboro Regional Farmers’ Market has to offer.
“We are so thankful for the Farmers’ Market,” Laura said. “It’s an amazing outlet for selling, and the vendors are phenomenal. If you’ve forgotten anything, you can trust they’ll help you out and treat you like family.”
In addition to producing produce, the Fischers also sell honey from Jeff Haney, a fellow farmer whose son and daughter also help out at the market. The honey is all Kentucky-certified, which means it’s inspected regularly to ensure the entire process transpired in the Commonwealth.
As the seasons change and the farm prepares for the next shrimp harvest, the Fischer family continues to blend tradition with innovation, nurturing a legacy that began more than 70 years ago.
This story is sponsored by Independence Bank.
