Sap Bush Hollow Farm

Sap Bush Hollow is a multi-generation family farm located in beautiful Schoharie County, in the hinterlands of upstate New York. We believe in stewarding our land as sustainably as possible, in order to ensure that it will continue to produce for many generations to come. All our livestock are raised on grass during the growing season, and are fed hay or antibiotic/hormone/animal by-product free grain, as their diets require. We’ve been living in our little community of West Fulton, the best place on earth, since 1979.



Jim Hayes, the farm manager (or primary grunt, as he’d tell you), is a retired professor of animal science from SUNY Cobleskill. Jim holds a Ph.D. in reproductive physiology and animal science, serves on numerous sustainable agriculture committees and organizations throughout the state and country, and occasionally sits down and records some of his brilliant thoughts (and trust us – they are brilliant!) for local sustainable agriculture publications. In his daughter’s opinion (she wrote this blurb), he should really write more. But first he ought to learn how to type. Jim also frequently speaks at state and national conferences about grazing and sustainable livestock production.



Adele Hayes manages the overall marketing and business operations on the farm. Adele is the former director of Schoharie County Planning and Development and the Schoharie County Industrial Development agency. She swears that life got a whole lot nicer once she decided to quit her day job and sell chickens for a living. Unfortunately, her work load didn’t get any lighter. When she’s not packing orders, answering questions, or paying bills, Adele spends her spare time washing eggs and loving Saoirse (the princess child). Adele also frequently speaks about direct marketing (she’s very good at it) at state and national conferences, but she much prefers to sit and listen.



Shannon Hayes, Jim and Adele’s daughter, writes and works with her family on the farm. Shannon holds a Ph.D. in sustainable agriculture and community development, and considers herself a superior poultry eviscerator (she secretly thinks she does it better than her dad, but she’s not quite as fast). Shannon’s writing has appeared in Adirondack Life, Yankee, Graze, and Northeast Public Radio, and her first book, The Grass-fed Gourmet, is now available from Eating Fresh Publications.



Bob Hooper, (the secondary grunt) the poor sucker, married into this crazy situation. Family legend maintains that Shannon always swore that when she was ready to marry, she’d go buy a guy from L.L.Bean, because if she didn’t like him, then she could take him back. One hot July day in 1996, she walked into the retail store in Freeport, Maine, and there was Bob, working behind the optics counter, and as a naturalist in the outdoor discovery program. It was love at first sight (that’s Shannon’s story). In addition to chicken plucking, Bob does all the creative work for the farm – he constructs displays, does our artwork, edits our writing and helps a generally crude group of people come across as moderately polished and articulate (on good days). FYI – Bob also does freelance artwork!



Saoirse Hooper, Bob and Shannon’s daughter, is truly the supreme empress at Sap Bush Hollow. Born August 3rd 2003, Saoirse has all of us in love with her, and keeps everyone extremely busy meeting her every need. In exchange, Saoirse serves as our hope and inspiration.