If most of us saw an old abandoned chicken house, we wouldn’t give it a second glance. But for Bill Ferguson, a former poultry farmer, his empty chicken houses sparked an innovative idea. In a small town called Echo, Alabama, Ferguson is using those chicken houses to help fulfill a bold vision to feed our community. The vision marked the beginning of a new chapter for the chicken houses—one rooted not in poultry, but in produce.
Faced with aging infrastructure and declining returns from traditional farming, Ferguson saw potential in what others viewed as obsolete. “The chicken houses were just sitting there, empty. I didn’t want them to rot—I wanted to reimagine them,” he says.
Inspired by innovations in AgTech and driven by a desire to bring sustainable food production to rural Alabama, Ferguson converted the old poultry houses into high-tech hydroponic greenhouses. With the help of grants and technical guidance from HudsonAlpha Wiregrass’ Navigate program, his dream took shape.
Today, Ferguson’s farm, Riley Creek Farms, grows leafy greens, herbs, and tomatoes year-round using a fraction of the water required by traditional agriculture. The controlled indoor environment shields crops from extreme weather and pests, enabling consistent harvests that supply local schools, restaurants, and farmers’ markets across the Wiregrass.
“I used to worry about droughts and storms. Now I worry about keeping up with demand,” Ferguson says. He goes on to say, “This is more than farming. It’s a chance to educate and inspire our community, our farmers, and students throughout the Wiregrass region.”
Local officials praise the project as a blueprint for rural innovation. “What Ferguson has done is exactly the kind of innovation we need in the Wiregrass,” says Ann Carr, Economic Development Manager of HudsonAlpha Wiregrass. “He’s turned an economic challenge into a growth opportunity that benefits the whole community.”
As Ferguson looks to expand into a second house with specialty greens and vertical towers, he remains rooted in his purpose. “It’s not just about growing food. It’s about growing possibilities.”
By: Madison Ward
