Blogpost, Vendor News

From Hobby to Homestead: Aaron Guidroz’s Journey to Sustainable Farming

When Aaron Guidroz and his wife first began their journey in agriculture, they were simply two young dreamers looking for self-sufficiency. Living in the heat of South Louisiana, Aaron and his wife embarked on their journey by raising a variety of animals — from chickens to rabbits — to put food on their own table. They were teenagers at the time, just dipping their toes into what would become a lifelong passion. It started small, driven by the desire to live closer to the earth, to grow their own food, and to be less dependent on commercial supply chains.

For many years, Guidroz Family Farm was about survival rather than profit. They weren’t selling anything; rather, they were investing their money into feed for their animals, and in return, feeding themselves. It was about resilience, a way to secure fresh meat and vegetables for their growing family. But as the years went by, Aaron began to see the potential for more. Around 2018, Aaron realized that he could take this passion and make it profitable—at least enough to help cover the increasing cost of feed.

The Turning Point: From Small-Scale to a Business

In the years leading up to the pandemic, Aaron began to sell some of his animals and produce locally, mainly to offset costs. This small-scale selling began to take on a life of its own, and by 2019, Aaron was gaining a reputation in his community. Then came 2020, and with it, the COVID-19 pandemic. The desire of people to be closer to their food supply suddenly exploded. People wanted to know where their food was coming from, and they wanted to learn how to be more self-sufficient themselves.

During the pandemic, Aaron’s operation truly took off. He had always kept his farm on a small scale—about 50 to 100 quail—but the surge in demand meant that he needed to grow. With people reaching out to learn and buy local produce, Aaron found himself not only selling eggs, quail, and vegetables but also educating others on how they could raise their own food. He was passionate about sharing the knowledge he had gathered, and it became an important part of his farm’s mission.

Learning Through Trials: The Expansion Challenge

As Guidroz Family Farm expanded, he made a few mistakes that shaped his approach to farming and profitability. One of the biggest lessons was about the dangers of expanding too quickly. Aaron went from raising around 100 quail to raising 1,000 in an attempt to meet demand. It was a mistake that taught him the importance of scale. “What am I going to do with all these things?” he recalled, realizing that the expansion led to new challenges, like skyrocketing feed costs and the pressure to sell excess stock.

Aaron adapted by finding creative ways to maximize the value of each bird. He began to make use of everything: the wings and feet were dehydrated to make dog treats, the feathers were used to create jewelry, and the skulls were cleaned and sold for crafting. By focusing on complete utilization of his birds, Aaron managed to turn a $5 quail into an $11.50 value, diversifying his income streams and ensuring that every part of the animal had a purpose.

Aaron’s Values: Small, Sustainable, and Community-Focused

Aaron’s journey has always been rooted in his core values: sustainability, community, and self-sufficiency. He believes in starting small and growing slowly, understanding your costs, and not taking on debt that you can’t handle. His advice to aspiring farmers is simple: start small and do not fall into the trap of taking out loans for farming. “Just find your slice of the pie and be happy with it,” Aaron says. It’s about finding what works for you and your community, and not trying to take over the world.

Community has always been at the heart of Aaron’s homesteading efforts. From farmers markets to local animal swaps, he made connections with his neighbors and other small farmers. He sees value not just in making a profit, but in educating others, sharing his experiences, and helping people become more self-reliant. Whether it’s through providing fresh eggs, selling hatching birds, or sharing his knowledge at events like QuailCon, Aaron is motivated by a passion for building a resilient, informed, and sustainable community.

A Bright Future

Today, Aaron’s homestead is thriving, but he hasn’t lost sight of why he started. He keeps his operation small enough to manage effectively, ensuring he can always deliver high-quality products to his customers. Aaron still dreams big—he’s always coming up with new ideas late at night—but he balances those dreams with the reality of small-scale, sustainable farming. He is proof that with creativity, hard work, and community focus, a passion project can turn into a thriving livelihood, one bird at a time.

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