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.
Blake Hitzfield
Chief Ranching Officer 🤠 (1st son)
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!
Blaine Hitzfield
Chief Executive Officer 👨✈️ (2nd son)
Meet Blaine, the 2nd son – who was forced to take the title of CEO of Seven Sons by his six brothers!
Back in high school, Blaine pursued an interest in marketing and business which helped spark some early success for the family business as well as create an opportunity for other family members to get involved and keep the snowball rolling.
Juggling various roles, Blaine steers our high-level vision, bridges connections within and outside Seven Sons, and ensures our team keeps soaring.
To put it simply, there isn’t much Blaine can’t do… except for basketball, he’s wasn’t the best hooper in the family, (sorry Blaine 😅).
He tied the knot with his high school sweetheart, Charis, and together they’ve built a bustling household with six amazing kids - Bryton, Tyton, Charleston, Lillianna, Julianna, and Houston!
Green’s Blaine's color of choice, and when he’s not immersed in work, you'll find him nose-deep in books. His top pick? “Living Forward” by Michael Hyatt. House projects, fishing expeditions with the kids, and plotting future plans fill up his spare moments!
What fuels his drive? Problem-solving, creating connections, and seeing people flourish in their element, Blaine shares. And what’s he most proud of? Leading and motivating folks with a purpose.
Seven Sons owes a lot to Blaine’s dedication. He's the guiding force, generously sharing his expertise and passion to ensure the team's success.
Brice Hitzfield
Managing Director @ HenGear 👔 (3rd son)
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!
Brock Hitzfield
Creative Lead 🎥 (4th son)
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!
Brooks Hitzfield
Chief Growth Officer 👨💻 (5th Son)
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 Hitzfield
Farm Manager 👨🌾 (6th son)
Meet Bruce, the 6th son. Bruce started out in the world of poultry alongside his brother Brice and now spearheads the daily operations on our vibrant 500-acre farm in Roanoke, IN. With his incredible team, Bruce is constantly innovating farm systems, aiming to create a blueprint for our farm partners to thrive!
In 2019, Bruce tied the knot with Alyssa and outside work, he cherishes moments with his wife and their two amazing kids, Arthur & Penny! Though farming holds a special place in Bruce’s heart, the desire he has to lead his family ever closer to Christ supersedes any farm role!
He’s always exploring new ideas to enhance operations and loves diving into learning opportunities. Not only does he love to learn, but he also has the desire to teach and educate those around him and has been a role model to many over the years. His light-hearted yet commanding demeanor makes him a likable character to anyone he meets. Bruce is a man of many talents and aims to excel in just about anything he does. His versatility and ability to problem-solve make him an unstoppable force for any task.
When he’s not working hard, you might catch Bruce indulging in his interests which include, traveling with his family, spending time out on the Great Lakes, delving into literature, or watching his beloved movie trilogy, Lord of the Rings!
We are grateful for what Bruce brings to the family and to the team and we look forward to a bright future!
Brandt Hitzfield
Chief Operations Officer 🔨 (7th son)
Meet Brandt (aka Baby Spice), the 7th son! Brandt may be the youngest, but he has quickly caught up to his older brothers and now leads our entire operations department. Which is a ton of responsibility (logistics, fulfillment, quality control, etc).
Brandt is also our chart man and creates some of the wildest spreadsheets and systems only he can manage - But somehow it works...And it works well!
Brandt married his sweet bride (Marissa) in May of 2020. When he is not at work he enjoys playing basketball, board games with his family, and taking nature walks with his wife and dog Freya. His favorite color is green and his favorite book is “How to Win Friends & Influence People” by Dale Carnegie.
When asked what characteristic he is most proud of, Brandt answered, “Meekness.”
We love Brandt’s goofy personality, passion for the business, and knack for operating strategic systems. Brandt is a crucial part of what makes Seven Sons tick!
Kim Hitzfield
Creative Photography
Kim joined the family in November of 2004 when she married Blake (the 1st son). She is a happy mother of two daughters and three sons. Kim has become an integral part of our marketing efforts. With a knack for photography she is responsible for most of the photographs seen on our website including our product photos. Kim also heads up the Seven Sons blog.
When Kim is not at work she enjoys spending quality time with her family, playing piano, and learning about nutrition across the board!
We are so grateful and blessed by Kim and the skills she brings to our marketing team!
Charis Hitzfield
Content Marketing Support
Charis joined the Hitzfield family in April of 2006 when she married her high school sweetheart Blaine (the 2nd son). She is a happy mother of four little boys (future farmers) and two beautiful daughters. In addition to homeschooling and helping her husband with his busy travel schedule, Charis helps with event planning, customer care, and pretty much any needs that arise on a regular basis. Charis is a great support to both her husband Blaine and the farm!
Charis’s favorite color is pink. She is an avid coffee drinker and enjoys shopping and spending time with each of her sister-in-law’s as well as her immediate family!
When asked what inspires her, Charis said, “God! With all of His beautiful and artistic creation!”
Charis is most proud of her characteristic of giving! Charis has a knack for remembering her friends and family’s most special days and celebrating them with thoughtful notes and or gifts!
We are so thankful for Charis’s unending positivity and encouragement at Seven Sons!
Catherine Hitzfield
Executive Assistant & Event Coordinator
Catherine joined the Hitzfield family in September of 2017 when she married her childhood sweet heart, Brooks (the 5th son). She has wore many hats on the farm, but currently works as an Executive Assistant to Blaine & heads up our events here on the farm.
As a former elementary teacher, Catherine’s keen eye to details, organization, and planning has been a great help to the business!
When Catherine is not working at the farm, she enjoys doing anything outdoors! Exercising, playing sports, and spending time with family!
Her favorite color is blue. Her favorite movies are: - The Guardian - The Prestige - Pearl Harbor
Catherine has been a light to our family and our business!
Marissa Hitzfield
Warehouse Fulfillment
Marissa joined the Hitzfield family in 2020 when she married her high school sweet heart (Brandt - 7th son).
Favorite Color: - Blue
Hobbies: - Drinking coffee - Shopping - Crafting
Hidden Talent: - Creating & designing new shirts and decor.
Alyssa Hitzfield
Social Media Specialist
Aaron Nieter
Chief Financial Officer
Aaron joined the Seven Sons team in 2022.
Favorite Color: - Blue
Hobbies: - Avid sports fan - Musician - Spending time with his 3 boys & wife :)
Hidden Talent: - Awesome guitarist.
Chad Graue
Digital Marketing Director
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.
He and his wife have since led an online health and fitness coaching business whose goal is to help adults be more active, eat more nutritiously, and achieve their desired health outcomes.
An avid learner, Chad has further developed his skills related to better connecting with and maintaining a "successful partnership" with new and existing customers. He has actively sought out high-level mentorship, completed multiple certifications and courses, and tested and put into practice the latest thinking in marketing, copywriting, and email marketing in eCommerce. Chad officially became part of the Seven Sons team in 2022.
Greg Shields
Advertising Manager
Ben Begna
Inventory Demand Planner
Ben joined the Seven Sons team in 2023.
Favorite Color: - Blue
Hobbies: - Social Media - Watching movies - Walking in the park
Hidden Talent: - I can fluently speak 2 languages
Hayley Mullins
Director of Operations
We welcomed Hayley as a full-time member of our team in 2018 as a customer service representative. Hayley has brought immense value to our team and quickly climbed the ladder to become our Director of Operations at Seven Sons!
As a former General Manager with experience leading a large staff in the foodservice industry, you can bet that Hayley knows how to keep us on our toes and keep the ship running smoothly - while also keeping everyone laughing and maintaining a fun environment for all!
Her favorite color is orange - Bright and spunky just like her personality!
Her hidden talent is that she can play the flute & piccolo!
Hayley enjoys gardening, being with her husband, and spending time with her 4 beautiful granddaughters!
Hayley also enjoys opportunities to travel and spend time with close friends. One of her favorite places to travel to is the Bahamas 🏖
Sonsee Hollingsworth
Customer Care Representative
Sonsee joined the Seven Sons team in 2021.
Favorite Color: - Yellow
Hobbies: - Reading - Writing - Playing with her cats
Hidden Talent: - Plays the flute
Aysha Clay
Customer Care Representative
Sarah D. PhD
Customer Engagement Specialist
Sarah is a devoted wife, bonus mom of three, and proud dog mom to "Maximus Aurelius"- a 15-year-old Pomeranian, and "Rico Suave"- a 13-year-old Chiweenie. Along with her family, she enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, swimming, and exploring nature. Their faith in God is at the heart of everything they do, guiding their daily lives.
Professionally, Sarah holds three doctorates, as a doctor of traditional naturopathy, nutritional and functional medicine. She is deeply passionate about helping others achieve optimal health through natural approaches and personalized care.
She and her husband would love to homestead one day, but for now, she says she will have to live vicariously through Seven Sons! 🙂
Pat Kane
Director of Engineering
Pat joined the Seven Sons team in 2021.
Favorite Color: - Blue
Hobbies: - Gaming - Hiking - Playing music
Hidden Talent: - Plays bass guitar
Otieno Julie
Software Engineer
Otieno joined the Seven Sons team in 2022.
Favorite Color: - Purple
Hobbies: - Watching action movies - Reading books - Listening to podcasts
Hidden Talent: - Best cook in Nairobi, Kenya!
Nola Jetmore
Customer Amazement
Kathryn Molloy
Warehouse Manager
Kathryn joined our team in 2019 as a member of our warehouse fulfillment team! Kathryn has been an amazing employee who works hard and is a quick learner!
When Kathryn is not at work she enjoys playing with her dog, hiking, reading, and gardening! Her favorite color is blue and her favorite movie of all time is, “Pride & Prejudice” (The BBC mini series version).
Kathryn is inspired by Dolly Parton and said, “She is a woman of faith, incredibly hard working, generous, and unabashedly herself.”
Kathryn’s loyalty is her most proud of characteristic trait!
We are grateful for all that Kathryn brings to our team and are excited for the future!
Noah Ray
HenGear Assistant Manager
Joseph Bradley
Livestock Supervisor
We welcomed Joseph (and his two brothers, Jesse & Jabez) to the team in 2020! Joseph has been a phenomenal asset to our team and has a variety of skills working within our poultry operations as well as our farm management team!
Like his brothers, Joseph also brings an immense amount of positivity to the crew! His favorite color is blue and his favorite movie is Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory!
When asked who inspires him and why, Joseph responded “God. He loves me and promises to be with me forever. I would go to the end of the world with him.”
Joseph’s most favorite characteristic about himself is that he is consistent! - and we can testify to that!
Joseph consistently brings laughter, positivity, and a good work ethic to work each and every day!
Jabez Bradley
Livestock Operations
Sarah Heilshorn
Poultry Operations
Sarah joined our team in 2016 and works in the poultry operations department. Sarah helps take great care of our laying hens and helps get our farm fresh eggs safely to you!
When Sarah is not working she enjoys art, listening to music, and reading! Her favorite book is Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.
Sarah’s parents are her biggest inspiration, as they have been a great example for her to do her best as unto the Lord and to consider Him in everything she does!
Her characteristic trait she is most proud of is her perseverance!
We are grateful for Sarah's loyalty and positive personality!
