On a wonderful Thursday morning an allotment of the Wilkes team headed down to Liberty Hill Farm for an enjoyable afternoon of  farm work. Liberty Hill Farm is run by our good friends the Matich family. Situated in Berryville VA they initiated this year into a full fledge agricultural enterprise. The enterprise is growing healthy, grass-fed chickens and taking them to farmer’s market to sell.

Moving the little chicksWe arrived to a bustling team of workers preparing for a  productive day. After some hardy greetings we helped move some 100 chicks or so from the coop to a mobile chicken shelter.

Next we moved to the The cone stationbutchering station. Here the Matich family had set up a very efficient system for butchering their  chickens. First they were placed into cones, and the main arteries along their neck were cut. After the blood had drained the chickens were placed into boiling water to prepare for the plucking machine. After a minutes or so in the steamer the plucker was turned on and four chickens quickly became featherless.

Mark - ready to catch a couple chickens for the cones Mr. Matich & Samuel were patient teachers

Adam manning the chicken scalder Ready to process the chickens - go Mark!

Taken from the plucker, Mr. Matich gave clear instruction on how the dressing of them should be performed. Carefully following his lead we dressed the first batch of chicken and prepared them for the “quality control” station. At this station, the chickens were meticulously studied for any possible parts which needed cleaning.

Chicken processing operation center

It was a wonderful process to take part in. By noon we had taken care of 50 or so chickens all ready for freezing and then selling. Liberty Hills Farm has a growing reputation for very clean and nicely butchered chickens. They clearly deserved this reputation based on their butchering of the chickens in a very meticulous manner.

At the end of the day, the Matich family graciously gave us three of their chickens. Since then I believe we’ve enjoyed at least one of them. Therefore I can honestly recommend that all those who enjoy the meat of a chicken if you can possibly fit it into your schedule please go to the Liberty hills farm website. There you’ll find the means of contacting the Matich family and possible reap the benefit of meat that is grass-fed, healthy, and wonderfully delicious.

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