Lee & Beth Hitzfield were married in 1981 and began their farming career together as conventional row crop producers and confinement livestock operators. Much has changed since 1981. Inspired by their personal journey to persevere through family health difficulties, Lee and Beth developed a passion and vision to change their farming methods and pursue practices that would help heal and nourish the land and those who would eat of its harvest. As a result, Seven Sons Family Farms was founded in 2000 with the goal of reaching individual consumers with nutrient-dense pasture-raised foods. Today Lee and Beth are responsible for the broad oversight and direction of our operations.

Meet Blake, the eldest son and our Chief Relationship Officer (CRO)! Blake wears many hats, but his primary role involves nurturing the incredible relationships we share with the dedicated farm partners of Seven Sons.

From the outset of our journey, Blake played a pivotal role in crafting the regenerative farming methods we rely on today. These innovative systems not only yield nutrient-rich foods but also contribute to nurturing the health of our land.

Today, Blake spearheads our efforts to identify and mentor new farms aligned with our values to meet the demand of our growing customer base. His knack for making connections and discerning partnerships with farms that echo our commitment to responsible stewardship is unparalleled.

Blake married his high school sweetheart (Kim) in November of 2004. Together, they are proud parents to five wonderful children: Evalyn, Adalaid, Easton, Ryder, and Granger! When Blake isn't immersed in work, you might find him indulging in his other passions. Yes, he's a man of dedication, but he cherishes moments with his family, helping in the garden, and delving into new books – with "Extreme Ownership" by Jocko Willink reigning as his favorite. And here's a little secret: Offer Blake a glass of Seven Sons' chocolate milk and a fishing rod, and you'll witness a happy camper! 🎣

Blake not only sets the bar high with his incredible work ethic but also infuses our farm and team with both structure and a generous dose of humor. His contributions are invaluable, and we can't thank him enough for all he does for the farm and our loyal supporters!

As CEO and Visionary of Seven Sons, Blaine focuses on the long-term vision, strategy, and innovation that guide the company forward. His role is centered on ensuring Seven Sons continues finding better ways to restore trust in food while creating meaningful value for customers, team members, farmers, and future generations.

Blaine grew up on the family farm and began working alongside his parents and six brothers as they transitioned from conventional agriculture to regenerative farming and direct-to-consumer food. Over the years, he helped grow Seven Sons from a struggling family farm into a thriving farm-to-fork business serving families across the country. He also co-founded GrazeCart, an e-commerce platform built for direct-to-consumer farms, which was acquired in 2023.

What continues to motivate Blaine is the opportunity to build Seven Sons as a lasting, generational company—one that challenges the status quo, continually innovates, and helps people feel confident about where their food comes from.

Outside of work, Blaine and his wife, Charis, are raising six children. His Christian faith and family are central to his life, and he enjoys fitness, the outdoors, and spending time with his family.

Meet Brice, the 3rd son! Brice originally started our poultry operations in 2011 and was able to scale that enterprise to 5,000 laying hens before passing on the reins.

It was this experience that enabled Brice to discover a need for better poultry equipment for small pasture-based farms, which led him to found the brand HenGear.com.

HenGear is growing fast but still has a mighty team of two, so Brice wears many hats ranging from fulfillment and logistics, marketing, and establishing partnerships for Hengear! Brice has a creative and inventive mind which enables him to excel at developing new products for the backyard poultry industry.

Brice doesn't know a stranger and loves hanging out with family, friends, and meeting new people! He also enjoys dancing, reading, and exercising in his spare time. Brice’s favorite color is “forester green” and his main food group includes our legendary “Seven Sons Hotdogs.”

Brice is inspired most when he and the rest of his brothers can collaborate and plan new ways to improve and grow Seven Sons!

When asked what characteristic he is most proud of, Brice said, “My positive personality and my discipline.”

Brice brings a lot of laughter to our family and our business and we are so grateful for what he contributes daily!

Meet Brock, the 4th son!

Brock is a farmer turned creative designer! Most of what you see on our website and other social media accounts is Brock’s amazing work! Effectively communicating our story would not be possible without the talents Brock brings to the table.

Some of Brock’s main responsibilities include creating new graphics for the website, capturing photos and videos for our newsletters and social media accounts, as well as coordinating with our marketing team on an array of projects and promos.

Brock married his darling wife, Katrina in January of 2018. When Brock is not at work you can find him spending time with Katrina & their son Brock Jr., visiting small towns, working on house projects, exercising, and playing just about any sport (specifically basketball & frisbee golf).

When asked what characteristic he is most proud of, Brock said he is most proud of his ability to relate and connect with people!

Brock has stepped up greatly and helped bring our farm to life for our amazing supporters to experience digitally! We are so excited about what the future holds for Brock here on the farm!

Meet Brooks, the 5th son and our Chief Growth Officer!

From a young age, Brooks has always enjoyed technology and creativity. Today this has manifested into working closely with our mean and lean technology & marketing departments to drive new growth opportunities for the family business.

Brooks married his childhood sweetheart, Catherine in September of 2017. Brooks is a life-long learner. He enjoys spending time learning about a wide variety of topics and has a creative and inventive mindset. His favorite book is, “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. Brooks enjoys reading, exercising, fishing, and spending time with his wife and family. Brooks’s favorite color is red and his favorite movie is, “Interstellar.”

When asked who inspires him most, Brooks responded, “Andy Andrews. His heart and passion for living an extraordinary life have guided a lot of decisions in my life!”

Brooks is most proud of his spontaneous and optimistic personality, as well as his will for achievement!

Brooks has played a vital role in the growth of our direct marketing business and he is excited about what the future of Seven Sons will look like in the years to come.

Bruce is the sixth of the seven sons and oversees daily operations on the Seven Sons home farm in Roanoke, Indiana. Working alongside the livestock, poultry, and land stewardship teams, he helps guide animal care, pasture management, and the development of practical farm systems that can also support Seven Sons’ partner farmers.

For Bruce, restoring trust in food starts with what happens on the farm each day. His role connects the promises Seven Sons makes to customers with the care given to its land and animals. He also enjoys helping visitors understand how their food is raised and why those farming practices matter.

Bruce grew up in the family business and began working with poultry alongside his brother Brice. That hands-on experience developed into a broader responsibility for farm operations and a passion for regenerative agriculture. He enjoys solving problems, exploring new ideas, and helping his team turn what they learn into better ways of farming. What motivates him most is the opportunity to build a farm that improves the land, supports other farm families, and produces food customers can trust.

Outside of work, Bruce enjoys life with his wife, Alyssa, and their children. His faith shapes his priorities, and leading his family closer to Christ is central to his life. He enjoys traveling with his family, spending time on the Great Lakes, reading, and watching The Lord of the Rings.

Brandt serves as Chief Operating Officer at Seven Sons, where he oversees the people, systems, and operations that turn the farm’s mission into a great experience for customers. His focus is on building an operation that can grow without compromising the quality, service, and trust customers expect from Seven Sons.

As one of the seven sons, Brandt grew up working on the family farm and has been part of Seven Sons from the beginning. Over the years, his role has evolved alongside the business, giving him experience across many areas of the company and a deep appreciation for what it takes to get responsibly raised food from the farm to families across the country.

What motivates Brandt most is the opportunity to heal and restore the land after decades of agricultural practices that have degraded the life and health of our soils. He believes we've lost sight of just how much farmers depend on the life beneath their feet—and how much our own bodies depend on the nutrient-dense food that healthy soils can produce. Restoring that connection will improve the health of our land, animals, food, farmers, and the families who ultimately enjoy its bounty.

For Brandt, making that impact also means making it easy for customers to participate. By creating a convenient experience, providing food they can trust, and always having their back, Seven Sons can earn lasting customer relationships that help fund regenerative practices on the Seven Sons farm and across its network of producer partner farms.

Outside of work, Brandt enjoys spending time with friends and family, staying active, and tackling house renovation projects with his wife, Marissa.

Aaron serves as Integrator and CFO at Seven Sons. In this role, he is responsible for the team’s accountability, performance, and financial health of the company. He joined the team in January 2022, being drawn to the mission of improving the land and food system through a small business. His passion of executing on a plan and being a financial steward help Seven Sons build for the future while also providing our customers with the best product at the best possible price.

Prior to joining Seven Sons, Aaron held leadership roles in the RV and orthopedic industries, with a focus on finance and operations. He holds degrees in Accounting, Business Administration, and Finance from Grace College.

Aaron lives in northern Indiana with his wife and their three boys. When he's not wrapped up in a spreadsheet, he enjoys exercising, watching football (go Bears and Buckeys!), or grilling up a breakfast for the family with Seven Sons’ sausage patties and bacon.

Chad Graue is the Director of Retention at Seven Sons. Chad leads email and text communication with the goal of earning the trust of our loyal customers by sharing helpful information in an easy-to-understand way.

Chad earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 2001 and went on to practice pharmacy in long-term care until July 2011. After a decade of monitoring and managing sickness and disease with medications as part of a healthcare team, he was inspired to help others become more proactive with their health. Chad views getting Seven Sons products into the hands of families an investment in health.

Chad has been with Seven Sons since December 2017. He is motivated by the opportunity to help customers understand how our farming and food production practices impact animal well-being, the health of the planet, and the end consumers of our regeneratively raised meats.

Chad enjoys cooking, reading, walking, hiking, traveling, and all sports in his free time.

Greg Shields is the Director of Acquisition for Seven Sons, focusing on new customer growth.

For many customers, Greg's work is their first introduction to Seven Sons. His ad and website creative shares the farm's history, practices, and mission, giving new customers a reason to trust us from the first click.

Greg grew up visiting his family's farm in Ossian, Indiana, but in over seven years at marketing agencies, he never felt connected to what he was selling. Seven Sons changed that. Seeing a personal and professional fit, he left agency life, freelanced briefly, and joined the team full-time.

Greg was drawn to the work Seven Sons was doing and the company they were building. Wanting to be part of it, he earned their business at his agency and joined full-time in December 2023. Every day, he's motivated by connecting people to their food alongside a team that truly cares.

In his free time, Greg loves spending time with his family, heading up to northern Michigan, playing sand volleyball, tackling house projects, and listening to music.

Hayley serves as Director of On Farm Events. In this role, she oversees the on-site farm store and manages and facilitates customer and employee events at the farm.

Hayley’s role gives her the opportunity to create welcoming, meaningful experiences that help customers connect with the Seven Sons team, the farm, and the people behind their food. By providing exceptional customer experiences and opportunities for customers to engage directly with Seven Sons, she helps build relationships and strengthen the trust that is at the heart of the company’s mission. She especially enjoys interacting with customers face-to-face and helping them feel welcomed, valued, and connected to the company.

Before joining Seven Sons, Hayley spent 22 years as the General Manager of a local restaurant. That experience helped her develop a strong passion for hospitality, serving people, and creating positive experiences for both customers and employees. She has spent most of her time at Seven Sons working in customer service, giving her an even deeper understanding of the customers she now serves in her current role.

Hayley joined Seven Sons in 2018. She was initially drawn to the company because of the family atmosphere and amazing work culture. She loves working with the team and getting to know the customers. What motivates her most is being part of a team that genuinely cares about people and having the opportunity to create experiences that leave customers feeling connected to Seven Sons and its mission.

Outside of work, Hayley loves spending time with her four granddaughters. She and her husband also enjoy traveling, especially to Mexico and the Caribbean.

Pat Kane serves as Director of Engineering for Seven Sons. Pat leads the engineering and technology behind Seven Sons’ website and the systems that help customers shop, manage their orders and subscriptions, and stay connected with Seven Sons.

Pat’s goal is to make buying directly from a farm feel simple. He works to create a fast, reliable, and easy-to-use experience that removes friction between customers and the farmers producing their food. Behind the scenes, he also builds tools that help the Seven Sons team spend less time fighting technology and more time serving customers.

Pat has worked in software engineering and technology since 2014, with experience in e-commerce, digital products, and engineering leadership. He joined Seven Sons to lead engineering for GrazeCart, its e-commerce platform built to help hundreds of farms sell directly to consumers. After GrazeCart was sold, Pat transitioned his focus fully to Seven Sons and now leads the technology behind its growing e-commerce business.

Pat joined Seven Sons in October 2021. He was drawn to the opportunity to use technology to solve real problems for farmers and to work on something where he could see the impact of what he was building. Today, he’s motivated by finding ways technology can make things a little easier, whether that’s giving customers a better experience, helping the team work more effectively, or making it possible for Seven Sons to serve more families.

Outside of work, Pat enjoys traveling, playing guitar, cooking, playing video games, golfing in the summer, and snowboarding in the winter.

Ryley Layman is the Controller at Seven Sons, where she oversees accounting operations and financial reporting. She works with teams across the business to turn detailed financial information into clear insights that help them make informed decisions and support Seven Sons’ mission to restore trust in food.

Ryley is a CPA with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She began her career in tax work before moving from Indianapolis to the Fort Wayne area and joining Seven Sons in July 2023. She was drawn to the company’s commitment to both customers and employees, as well as its transparency about where food comes from and how it reaches customers. For Ryley, the culture is something she feels in the everyday experience of coming to work.

Outside of work, Ryley enjoys traveling with her husband, spending time with her dogs and cats, and tackling DIY projects. Her favorite Seven Sons product is the Delmonico steak.

Shay serves as Director of Fulfillment at Seven Sons. In this role, he oversees the company’s fulfillment and egg processing operations, with a focus on building efficient teams, improving processes, and ensuring customers receive their orders accurately and on time. He works closely with the Seven Sons leadership team to improve shipping, packaging, cold-chain performance, and overall fulfillment operations as the company continues to grow.
Since joining Seven Sons, Shay has helped lead improvements across warehouse operations, carrier relationships, packaging systems, inventory flow, and team performance. He enjoys solving operational challenges and finding practical ways to make processes simpler, more efficient, and more cost-effective while maintaining a high standard for the customer experience.
Outside of work, Shay enjoys spending time with his family, strength training, and being outdoors. He especially enjoys bass fishing and is always looking for another lake to fish-or another piece of fishing gear he probably doesn't need.

Nicolette serves as Director of Customer Care for Seven Sons. In this role, she guides our team of Customer Stewards who serve as the bridge between your home and our regenerative farms, caring for every touchpoint with the same intention we put into the soil.

She brings experience in building and steering customer-centric operations in ECom, CPG and healthcare to the team. Nicolette was drawn to Seven Sons because of our mission to provide nutrient-dense foods to people passionate about regenerative farming, animal welfare and food quality. She is driven by building practical solutions that empower teams, while providing a high-touch experience customers value. In her free time, Nicolette enjoys time with family, contact sports, puzzles and nature walks.