Our Beginning

Far Niente Farms was started by Gene and Pam Cleckler. Gene’s grandfather Rufus Cleckler raised peaches and cattle in Chilton County Alabama. As a young boy Gene would spend summers at his grandfather and grandmother’s farm. Watching his grandfather raise cattle gave Gene a desire to raise cattle of his own. In 2008 Gene and Pam began playing around with the idea of starting a farm and initially it was going to be an all-purpose farm with cattle, chickens, and small gardens. Somewhere this went off base and before we knew it we had bought birds. This is evident from our first sign that was created that you can see below.

The farm’s name came from a winery that Pam enjoyed at an earlier time in her life. Far Niente is Italian and we understand it to mean “without a care”. Websters says it is “sweet doing nothing” or “pleasant idleness”.

If you are around the current version of Far Niente Farms it is anything but “doing nothing” or “idleness”. Randy Pettijohn, the farm’s manager in its current form is a very busy place. That little farm that started out with a few cows and birds has reached over 3,800 head of cattle and produces high-quality Brangus breeding stock, high-quality beef, semen for breeding, embryos, and a small amount of pork. 

Located primarily in DeKalb County, Alabama the farm has locations in Alabama and Georgia. Its primary locations are in Hammondville and Pine Ridge, Alabama. Each location serves to provide the farm with what it needs to serve the Brangus breeding customers or provide beef and pork.