About the brothers
Dustin Stanton
Dustin handles the sales and marketing end of the business. He specializes in working with customers and answering their questions. He manages the weekly deliveries all across the state. You can find him every Saturday morning manning their stand at the Columbia Farmers Market.
Austin Stanton
Austin takes a hands-on approach to the business. He is busy managing the chickens and fixing mechanical issues that arise on the farm. His expertise is key in making sure the day-to-day work is kept up and the farm is kept in tip-top shape.
Hatching a Business
The Stanton Brothers come from a long line of farmers. Their family farm has been in operation since 1845, and it shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.
In 1999, as part of a first-grade assignment, Dustin watched six fertile eggs hatch. At the end of the project, one lucky student would get to take these baby chicks home. He got permission from his family to enter into the drawing. Sadly, Dustin didn’t win the raffle, and he went home in disappointment. His uncle saw his disheartened face and purchased Dustin and Austin their first six chicks.
Incubating Their Idea
During their elementary years, the Stanton Brothers sold eggs to their neighbors, family, and friends. By the time they entered high school, they looked around and decided it was time to begin to grow their childhood business. In 2007, they set up shop and began selling their eggs at the Columbia Farmers Market. They built their egg operation over the years to consistently provide their product to outlets all across the state.
Leaving a Legacy
For as long as they can remember, the Stanton Brothers always had a dream to stay on their family farm. With the expansion of their egg operation over the years, they’ve turned that dream into a reality. Although the Stanton Brothers started their agri-business to earn an allowance, it’s expanded to much more than that.
From allowance to childhood project to career and finally to a way of life, the Stanton Brothers love what they do and — and do what they love.