From Eggs to “I Do”

the Wilcox dairy business began to sour. In March 2008, it became clear that while milk formed the largest part of company revenues - about 70 percent - it nonetheless wasn't making enough money. The clan decided to sell the dairy business.

The business went to the chickens, in earnest. Jim and Barrie Wilcox, the third generation, pulled in the farm's growth to focus on becoming a good local egg producer for the Oregon, Washington, northern California, Alaska and Montana markets. The farm now boasts 1,600 organic acres in Roy and several hundred other acres-not all organic-in Aurora, Ore. Meanwhile, the birds are going cage free. As in the early years of the farm, little red chicken houses are beginning to dot the farm landscape yet again.

Also in 2008, Jim and Barrie Wilcox decided to take a less active role in the business. They decided the four fourth-generation boys weren't ready to take over the family business entirely. So, they brought in Thomas-a consultant who had been doing succession planning with Wilcox Family Farms for 15 years-to serve as the interim CEO.

Thomas had to address some thorny issues left over from the previous management. In August 2008, for example, Wilcox paid $260,000 to a former employee to settle a federal sexual harassment and retaliation suit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The suit alleged that a male supervisor grabbed and tried to forcibly undress a Wilcox Farms employee at its Aurora, Ore., facility. The company agreed to pay a settlement fee to the employee while denying any wrongdoing. The case brought the company unwelcome publicity while it was celebrating its 100-year anniversary.

Thomas insists its employees were not involved in any wrongdoing. "We strive for an open-door policy and are committed to maintaining a safe and comfortable work environment for our employees," Thomas says. She is focusing her efforts on training the next generation of businessmen. The company is going forward with its mission of local, sustainable farming.

"We think people are going to want to buy food that is produced or grown close to home," says Thomas. In addition to selling its eggs regionally, Wilcox produces chicken manure, sells it to eastern Washington farmers who use it as corn fertilizer, then buys the corn back for chicken feed.

Fundamentally, Wilcox is sticking with the chicken business, producing organic, cage-free and omega-3 eggs, though it also grows hay in order to clear the land of the high phosphorous levels that came with cows. Once the ground is clean, the farmers hope to start raising their own grain crops or organic vegetables.

Meanwhile, the farm has started offering two-hour tours for the general public, and has converted a fire hall into a meeting hall with audiovisual and other technology suitable for company meetings and other gatherings. The farm hopes to see the wedding business hatch later in 2010 as well. The farm is home to its own small church, and also has an equipment museum, which can be used as a reception space with a Mount Rainier backdrop.

In August 2009, the fourth generation's Andrew Wilcox gave the event space a test run and held his own wedding on the property. The family has high hopes both for the future of the newlyweds and for its growing egg business.