Christ Reynolds is an Army veteran, trained chef, second-generation poultry farmer, and father of three young children. He served four years in the Army, during which time he deployed on a 16 month tour in the Middle East. He completed a two-year culinary program while still in high school, went on to earn an associate’s degree in Culinary Arts, and worked as a food service specialist during his military career. Upon returning to civilian life, Christ put his cooking skills to use in the restaurant industry. Ultimately, his passion is to be the producer of high quality and sustainably raised protein.
Gobblers Ridge is a small-scale organic poultry operation outside of Buffalo, New York. Christ grew up raising chickens, pheasants, and quail in Wyoming County, not far from where he now farms with his wife and children. Still in the start-up phase, his flock is small, but he has invested in the infrastructure needed for his plans of expansion this year. In addition to doubling his turkey flock, Christ plans to add quail and chicken to his rotation.
During the transition to farming, Christ and his wife explored organizations and programs available to assist folks in their situation, and were happy to find Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC). FVC offers a broad spectrum of help to veterans looking to begin or sustain their careers in agriculture, from providing information about opportunities for grants, government programs, education, and making connections…the list goes on. Through FVC, they found the Homegrown By Heroes program. Christ notes that consumer response to both the organic turkey farming and Homegrown By Heroes certification has been overwhelming. He tells us that people he never expected to frequent his offerings are now regular customers.
Christ was awarded a 2015 Farmer Veteran Fellowship, supported by Prairie Grove Farms, which enabled him to invest in fencing for his pastured poultry operation. Christ also used the Fellowship funds to purchase a bulk grain storage bin. With the capacity to store grain, he is able to buy in bulk, save money, and source local feed.
Christ serves as the Deputy Director of Veteran Services for Wyoming County, NY. He demonstrates both business savvy and community involvement in many ways. In 2014, Christ sponsored a 5K “Turkey Trot” to raise money for cystic fibrosis research. This was not only a philanthropic act, but also promoted his turkey business within the local community.
