On a pig farm in Jacksonville, NC, there live two little girls named Kyleigh and Aliza. While no crowns may top their heads, they are most certainly the princesses of the farm, blowing kisses to Nibbles, Elsa, and all the other pigs, riding in their chariot (the tractor), picking flowers, and helping make sure everything is as it should be.
A little over a year ago, Kyleigh and Aliza’s parents, Sarah and Seth Turner bought a hog farm after wishing and hoping to buy one for over a decade. The wean to finish farm was dubbed K&A Turner Farm after Kyleigh and Aliza. The farm was a dream come true for the whole family.
Both Seth and Sarah had grown up in agriculture. Sarah’s parents owned a hog farm, and Seth’s uncle was a farmer. Seth has worked with chickens, hogs, and row crops.
“I always knew I wanted to do something in agriculture. I’ve always enjoyed it,” said Seth who is now a serviceman for Smithfield.
Seth and Sarah didn’t just want to buy a farm for themselves; they wanted their girls to have the farm experience they did. They wanted them to be able to take care of something and learn what it is to help feed the world.
“I was about Kyleigh’s age when my dad built his hog houses,” Sarah said, “I used to help out, and as a teenager I said I’d never work on a farm again. Now we own a farm.”
While Sarah said she’d never work on a farm again, she loves it and can often be found with the girls, snuggling the little pigs. She’s even had one fall asleep on her shoulder! Sarah and Seth realize that the girls may not always have the same affinity for the farm that they currently do but hope that they’ll learn responsibility and look fondly on it all in the future.
“They may grow to dislike working out here and mowing when they are teenagers, but they’ll learn to appreciate it as did I,” said Sarah, as Kyleigh interjects, “I’ll never get tired of it!”
And, if you ask the girls what they want to be when they grow up, they want to do just what their parents do—be pig farmers. They also want to be a hairstylist like their mom and maybe a dance teacher.
At 9 and (almost) 4, Kyleigh and Aliza have many years before they need to narrow down their career choice. For now, they enjoy being pig farmers, dancing, softball, spending time with family, and popscicles at the farm (blue ones give Frozen powers). Their absolute very favorite things to do are be with the pigs, dancing, and go to Disney World (Aliza said this one). They also enjoy taking care of their miniature donkeys, goats, chickens and helping their grandpa with his cows. As a family, the Turners are active members of Bethlehem Free Will Baptist Church, enjoy going to the beach, and going to Bush Gardens.
Dance Recital
While the purchase of the hog farm is a lot of work and overhead, it has enriched the Turner family’s life. Together they care for the pigs and farm. Seth and Sarah’s dream to own a hog farm came true, and now they are able to watch their daughters enjoy the whole experience. While the affinity for Elsa from Frozen may fade, Kyleigh and Aliza will probably always remain the princesses of K&A Turner Farm.
Photos: M. See Creative