From Kansas Roots to National Reach: How Bathurst & Sons is Growing with Purpose

Plow and Pencil

When I sat down with Jeff Bathurst of Bathurst & Sons LLC, I didn’t just hear a farm story—I heard a legacy. Five generations of hard work, hay, and heart. Based in Abilene, Kansas, Jeff and his family grow crops like sunflowers, milo, soybeans, corn, wheat, and alfalfa hay, while also raising cattle and kids (six of them, to be exact).

Jeff jokes that their farm motto could be "raising quality crops, kids, and cattle," and honestly, it fits.

A Deep Family Legacy

The Bathurst family has been in Dickinson County for generations, starting with Jeff’s great-grandfather who once ran a general store in the small town of Talmage. Over time, they shifted from teaching to farming full-time, and now Jeff, his dad, and their kids are carrying it forward.

His brother once worked alongside them too, before following a calling to become a missionary in Malawi. It’s clear the Bathursts are a family rooted in both faith and hard work.

Adapting to a Changing Ag Economy

Over the years, the Bathursts have watched the ag landscape shift around them. When Jeff first started, most of their hay went to local dairies. Today, those dairies are gone, and most of their product is shipped out of state. That shift pushed them to think bigger, finding new ways to reach customers and keep the operation moving.

"It used to be all local," Jeff said. "Now, we’re shipping hay all over the country."

That change hasn’t been easy. Between droughts, inflation, and shifting markets, keeping the farm running has taken more than grit. It’s taken adaptability. Jeff brought in H-2A workers from South Africa to help during the busiest seasons, and he’s taken on the role of project manager—keeping equipment running, managing cattle, and planning ahead for the crew.

The Good Stuff

Ask Jeff what he loves most about farming and you’ll hear it plain as day:

• Watching baby calves play before turn-out

• Seeing a harvest go off without a hitch

• Running equipment alongside his kids

The moments are small, but they stick. And they’re what keep folks like Jeff going.

Marketing in a Modern World

Jeff’s not afraid to admit that marketing can be tough. He still sells a lot through local elevators, but he’s always watching for better bids, better margins, and more meaningful connections. And that’s where HitchPin comes in.

Jeff grew up with Trevor McKeeman, HitchPin’s founder, and decided to give the platform a try as a way to list hay and connect with buyers beyond his local circle. Today, you can find alfalfa and dairy hay on his HitchPin storefront, with the ability to arrange shipping nationwide.

"The broader your market, the better," Jeff told me. "And there’s no broader market than the internet."

Why This Work Matters

For Jeff, success isn’t about massive expansion. It’s about keeping the farm strong enough to hand off to the next generation.

"I want the farm financially sound, so if one of the kids wants to come back, they can."

In a time where many family farms are folding under pressure, that’s no small thing. And tools like HitchPin are helping make it possible. By creating an online storefront, Jeff is expanding his reach, building trust, and giving buyers an easier way to connect.

You can check out what Bathurst & Sons LLC has listed by visiting HitchPin.com and searching their name. If you need quality hay and want to buy from a family that treats the land and its people with care, you’ll be glad you did.