When Thomas Whiting left the
University of Georgia in 1982 with his master’s in poultry
science,
few knew how high he would let his education fly.

Today, Whiting is president of Whiting
Farms in Delta, Co. where more than 100,000 chicken pass
through
each year. But none make it to the processing plant, and he
doesn’t
raise them for eggs.

The Secret’s in the
Feathers

Whiting raises chickens just for their feathers. And fly
fishermen
across the world are glad he does.

Called hackles in fly-fishing circles, the feathers are used
to make lures. The farm raises specially bred chickens for their
fly-tying feathers. He also raises a few black-meated meat
chickens,
some Junglefowl and about a half dozen pheasant species
crosses.

Through breeding, selection and other scientific methods,
feathers
are created that resemble the colors and textures of insects that
attract fish.

Genetics is the Key
to His Success

After graduating from UGA, Whiting went to the University of
Arkansas and earned a doctorate in poultry genetics. He then
founded
the company that allows him to combine his education and his
passion
– big business.

The farm casts out more than 2,200 different types of fishing
products each year. Current sales are just under $4 million and
growing. "I expect continued steady growth," Whiting
said, "maybe up to 250,000 birds per year in five
years."

Worldwide
Hackles

In April 1989, Whiting hatched out his first Hoffman chicks,
from which Whiting Farms "Hoffman Hackle" has risen
to be the best and dominant hackle in the world market.

In addition, Whiting created many new colors, 28 now and
expanding.
He also developed an "American Hackle" chicken line
specifically for salt water and salmon flies. In 1996, Whiting
Farms added the number 2 quality genetic hackle stock known as
"Herbert Hackle," to complement its gene pool and
product
line.

"We have now added further processing of some of our
feather
products in Mexico and Sri Lanka," Whiting added.

The Best in the
Midwest

Last year, Whiting Farms was named the Small Business Exporter
of the Year by the Small Business Administration for Colorado
and SBA Region VIII which includes Colorado, Utah, Wyoming,
Montana
and North and South Dakota. Whiting Farms also received the
Pioneer
Spirit Award from the Delta Colorado Area Chamber of Commerce
recognizing their rapid growth and contribution to the area
economy.

Whiting’s goal is to make Whiting Farms
the
producer of quality fly-tying feathers in the world, and they
are well on their way. Whiting Farms sells their feathers
worldwide
with Japan as their largest single foreign market. Canada,
Europe,
Australia and New Zealand also buy considerable quantities. In
all, Whiting Farms sells products to 30 countries and 46
states.

(Photographs courtesy of Whiting Farms.)