Hancock Farms Inc.
Wilbert Hancock

Wilbert Hancocks father Jack started Hancock Farms in 1949 in Franklinville, NC. Cattle and poultry have been the main commodity produced from the beginning. In 1954, Wilbert graduated high school and as a summer job, he went to work for Millikan Sausage Co. before starting college in the fall. Mr. Millikan decided to drop his line of cured hams. As Wilbert traveled his truck route, he saw the demand from customers for country hams. In 1959, Wilbert left Millikan Sausage at the age of 22 to start Hancock Hams.

He and his wife, Shirley, produced cured hams from their home until building their first packing facility next to their home in Franklinville. For the next 20 years, Hancock Hams was the largest producer of cured hams in the world, running 58 trucks covering 36 states. Wilbert sold the Hancock Hams company in 1975. He continued to work with Hancock Hams until 1982 when he left to farm at home full time. In 1982, Hancock Hams was still the largest producer of cured hams. Today, the company is owned by Smithfield Foods.

As for the Hancock farming operation to-date, Wilberts capacity is 600 head of feeder cattle. He also grows 50,000 broiler chickens for Mount Airy Poultry. The farm is family operated with one full-time and several part-time employees.

Mr. Hancocks goal is to produce consistent, quality load-lots of cattle that perform, also to establish relationships with repeat buyers as well as to continue to grow his reputation as a cattle producer. He is very active in the national and state cattlemens organizations, constantly striving to improve the beef industry.