Hubert Family Farms - Taking a Curveball and Turning it into a Homerun

BY JESSIE SHOOK

Seth Hubert reminisces of his childhood on a farm fondly. He remembers how his dad would come to career day at his school and all the kids would be in awe of his father, the farmer. “I thought it was the coolest thing in the world,” said Seth Hubert, owner of Hubert Family Farms. “I never thought I would do anything different, but life throws you curveballs and when dad died, our whole lifestyle changed.”

In 2003, Seth’s father, Billy Wade Hubert, passed away from a massive heart attack. After his death, the farm operation ceased. Equipment was sold and rented land was let go. “We farmed about 2,000 acres when my dad passed away,” Seth said. “I was only 12 and my brother was 18. This was all we knew and when dad died, I felt like I didn’t have that opportunity anymore.”

With the dream of being a farmer in mind, Seth began to rebuild his family farm in 2016. The Hubert Farms original homeplace was bought in 1917 and is still a part of the land Seth farms today. “I started out with just a tractor and a planter and had to hire the rest out,” Seth said. “Each year, I kept trying to do a little more until I only needed help with harvesting.”

Seth was working a full-time job and farming on the side. He began to realize that he would have to do something different if he wanted to farm full time. “With the growth of Huntsville and the opportunity of generations of rented land lost, the acreage wasn’t there to farm and raise a family,” Seth added. “I knew if I’m going to have a life in ag, with my situation in Madison County – I had to think outside the box.”

Seth believed that he could use the growth of Huntsville to help support his dream, rather than diminish it. He knew there was an opportunity for agrotourism but wanted something unique that his farm could offer. “Maybe I’m a little bit of an ag nerd,” Seth laughed. “I’m always looking to see how things are done in other parts of the world. I thought about the tulip fields in the Netherlands and knew there were some in the Pacific Northwest. I always thought it would be cool to see those bloom out in the spring.”

After the success of the u-pick tulips, the Hubert’s also added seasonal events on the farm and sunflowers during the summer months. Their first event was a Mid-Summer Market. “We had over 50 venders, food trucks, face painting and a DJ,” Kaylee said.

Then one day, Seth’s daughter, Addie, inspired his next move. “I was sitting on the porch, and my two-year-old daughter loves to pick anything that resembles a flower,” Seth said. “If it has color, she wants to pick it. I thought, I bet you could do something with flowers and my mind naturally went to the tulip fields – then, I just kinda dug in real fast.”

There were so many questions and variables that Seth had to think of when he decided this was what he wanted to do. “I had to ask if this was even feasible,” Seth said. “Our climate is not ideal for it and it’s hard to bed crops in our soil type.”

After doing the necessary research Seth realized this was doable. He and his wife Kaylee traveled to Oregon to visited Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm. “The Iversons gave us a tour, let us watch them plant and got us in contact with bulb suppliers,” Seth added. “That’s when we went out on a limb and invested in bulbs.”

Seth quit his full-time job and put all his time into starting Hubert Family Tulips with his wife Kaylee Hubert. With a total of 300 acres left of the original family farm, Seth took four acres out of row crop rotation and planted them in tulips. “We had 3,000 to 4,000 people opening weekend,” Seth said. “People really enjoyed the u-pick.”

Seth and Kaylee work as a team to ensure the success of Hubert Family Tulips. Kaylee handles more of the business side, while you can always find Seth in the field. “It’s just us,” Kaylee said. “Us and two kids.”

The Huberts have seen the the disconnect from consumer to the farm and believe this is another farm to table experience. “This is something everyone can experience on the farm, they can let their kids run around, pick flowers and get dirty,” Seth added.

After the success of the u-pick tulips, the Huberts also added seasonal events on the farm and sunflowers during the summer months. Their first event was a Mid-Summer Market. “We had over 50 vendors, food trucks, face painting and a DJ,” Kaylee said. “We have plans to do a least three markets a year for Spring, Summer and Fall.”

Weddings are also offered at Hubert Family Farms. Kaylee and Seth were married under the big oak tree on their farm and they both knew this was an experience they wanted to offer other couples. “I think weddings and events are a by-product of what we do on the farm,” Kaylee added.

The Huberts have many plans and ideas for the future, and this is truly just the beginning. They have renovated an old farmhouse that will be open as a gift shop starting this tulip season and have plans to host many more events and even festivals.

The love and excitement for their business can be felt when speaking to Kaylee and Seth. Kaylee said it best as she spoke of her husband and his drive for their business. “He’s passionate … or obsessed, whatever you want to call it,” she laughed.

This spring is the perfect time to visit the Huberts and witness their labor of love. For more information on Hubert Family Farms, visit their website at www.hubertfamilyfarms.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram @HubertFamilyFarms.