Let every sunrise be a new beginning.

Through our partnership with the ADCRR, a small fraction of the inmate population are given the opportunity to work on our farm during their incarceration. These offenders go through a rigorous selection process that is initiated by the offender formally requesting a job at Hickman’s with their case managers. In order to qualify the inmates must: Meet the minimum education requirement (GED or working towards it), they must have a history of good behavior, and they must be considered low risk to the community.

We also receive dozens of letters (per week) from Inmates all across the state who may not qualify during their incarceration due to the competitive nature of being selected, but they wish to be considered for the program following their release. Although we give priority to the offenders working during their incarceration, we consider all applicants that meet the selection criteria.

As soon as an offender steps foot on the farm they are immerse in rehabilitating gratifying life sustaining farm work. Before long, someone (who perhaps has never consistently held a job) is all of a sudden a valued member of a team who is responsible for building an entire barn that require welding, forklifting, and electrical. Perhaps building a barn isn’t their forte. Many offenders also take pride in the challenges that come with feeding, immunizing, and the all-around care for our birds… and there are dozens of other roles and skills that are picked up necessary to running the farm.

When discussing the offender’s release plan, they may complete an application for our reentry program in an effort to obtain housing and employment on the farm immediately following their release from prison. Priority is shown to inmates with good behavior and who have a consistent work history during incarceration. Even more so for inmates who worked at Hickman’s during their incarceration and have been given recommendation letters from their manager’s.

Upon release, inmates are picked up from the prison and ushered back into the community with parole visits, obtaining proper documentation, and ultimately settling into their fully furnished apartments where they have the privilege to sleep in their own bed, use their own restroom, and cook in their own kitchen. By the end of the week most residents are settled in and ready to start work.

Housing is contingent upon continued employment consisting of 40 hours a week. All occupants are expected to follow the community standards and be a good neighbor.

Occupants will pay 20% of their weekly gross income towards the program fee. After a year of continue employment, following all of the community standards, and becoming a productive member of society; occupant will receive 50% of all funds paid to the program fee as a transitional stipend to be used as a down payment on a house/apartment or whatever else needed for their continued success. These funds are provided as the occupant transitions out of the community. After 14 months the percentage drops to 25% and after 18 months down to 0%.

The idea is for this community to serve as a foundation for success and the occupant must transform it into a launching pad as they lift off into a bigger and brighter future whether that be with Hickman’s or some other lucky company.

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