Our Farm History

Raymond and Anne Hodges are the owner-operators of Evergreen Polled Herefords. Our name Evergreen was derived from Evergreen Plantation in Edgard, LA whermoney1e Anne’s mother was born.Our farm size is approximately 300 acres. We are currently running 55 cows and hope to have that number doubled within the next five years. Our farm specializes in polled herefords and our herd is certified brucellosis free. We are a Total Performance Records (TPR) member of the American Hereford Association (AHA) as opposed to a “pedigree only” farm. In practical terms it means that the association maintains EPD records on all our stock so they can be compared among contemporaries.

Our goal is to have all of our cattle to grade USDA choice or better. When selecting traits we first look at calving ease, both direct and maternal. Next we examine carcass quality for rib eye, inter muscular fat, and fat. Then we look at phenotype, preferring dark red with good eye pigmentation and conservative white markings.

We finish our steers and bullocks on soy hull pellets and corn gluten. We use no steroid implants or hormones in feed. Nor do we allow any animal by-products to be introduced in our feed. Our animals have free choice mineral available to them at all times. Our herd veterinarian makes routine visits and administers vaccines and medications as appropriate.

Anne and Ray have made Evergreen their home since their marriage in August of 1971, with the exception of Ray’s tour of active duty from 1972 through 1974. Anne received her degree in marketing from the University of Florida in 1972, and Ray received his degree in business from Stetson University in 1971. Anne went back to school, acquired her CPA, and has her own practice in nearby Cross City today. Ray retired from the Army Reserve in 1995 at the rank of LTC. His is currently the Chief Deputy Appraiser for the Dixie County Property Appraiser.