Today we’d like to introduce you to Genelle & Todd Hitchman
Hi Genelle & Todd, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In 2018 – our family moved to Kerrville TX. After formerly living in a small house in a city, we were excited to have some land and start life in the Hill-Country countryside.
I had always wanted chickens, so shortly after our move, I got a small flock. We loved the chickens, but hated how ugly their stuff was…and letting them free range at will was wrecking our yard.
Todd came up with a design for a mobile coop and run that looked like a covered wagon – and our “Cluck Wagon” was born!
He built it out – I sewed up a bonnet cover, and we moved the chickens in.
It was ADORABLE – so I took a few photos and posted them on a Facebook Chicken page.
The photos went semi-viral, and overnight I was inundated with messages from folks wanting one of their own.
We built a few locally (within Texas) and then started getting messages from wagon-fans all over the country. “Love the wagon, but I don’t have chickens….can you build just the wagon?” “I want it as a kids-bed” “I want one to be my farm-stand”.
Real, antique wagons make pretty yard decorations – but due to their size, weight and fragility – aren’t suited to do much more than sit there. We have reinvented the classic Pioneer wagon to be lighter, more mobile and functional. We have experimented over the past several years to come up with finishes and covers that will stand up to weather and travel demands.
Currently – we build out about 5 wagons a year. Every piece is hand made, and each design is customized to what our client wants to do with a wagon. Our pieces are used in private homes, businesses, Charities and Public Spaces from California to Rhode Island.
Some are backyard models, but recently we’ve had a surge of interest in our ‘TrailR’ wagon – built on a flatbed trailer, and able to be towed at Highway Speeds. These are used as Food Trucks.
As testing / design for this model – we’ve built out one of our own. When we are not on a wagon-build – we roast our own coffee and operate our Wagon as a mobile coffee shop, serving cowboy coffee creations and chuck-wagon classics like biscuits & gravy & Chili.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We didn’t set out to create this business – so I can’t say we’ve encountered ‘struggles’. Shortly before our move – we had a conversation that went “If you could do anything – what would you do?”. Todd’s answer was ‘Make art’. Genelle’s was ‘raise chickens’
Todd has 30+ years as a custom homebuilder. Genelle has been sewing and baking since she was a small child. Getting to use our combined talents to create our art has been a dream come true.
We view Challenges as opportunities.
Very shortly after our business was established – Covid Hit. Along with it, and in response to the egg shortages, it seemed like the whole of the Hill Country decided to get chickens. We started getting calls: “I’m new to chickens – the Cluck-wagon is a bit much for my flock….can I get just the coop?”.
Most of these customers were budget conscious, and wanted a sturdy, but inexpensive home for their fledgling flocks. Todd created an economical and efficient design that could be transported easily, and assembled quickly.
From Winter 2019 through spring of 2021 we built and delivered 2-3 coops weekly to customers throughout the Hill Country.
Our business was never busier than when the rest of the world was locked-down!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As far as we know, we are the only people in the US re-inventing the Chuck Wagon for modern purposes.
Other firms specialize in antique restoration or new builds of horse-drawn wagons.
We take the look, feel and history of the Old-west wagons, and put a lot of thought into how it might be utilized in a modern application. And how this intended function can be accomplished in a different way.
I am the most proud of our innovation in the design of our wagons.
From the very first ‘cluck wagon’ model – we have been taking the “problem” that kept a wagon from being used as a whatever and engineering solutions.
Heavy wheels and bulky axles created mobility problems for backyard use – so Todd designed a lighter frame with low profile (and later hidden) pneumatic wheels.
Uneven terrain created a problem for fixed decorative wheels – solved by a number of options for raising the wheels.
Traditional wagon bonnets obscure the interior of the wagon. So we came up with bonnet configurations that facilitate vending, and create shade for customers.
Highway travel creates a major challenge with keeping a bonnet secured. Food-service regulations impose standards that are impossible to meet with a traditional build. Even delivery of a finished build is a challenge – you can’t just pop a wagon in the mail!
Every build presents a half-dozen new challenges for how to do “X” with a wagon. We enjoy solving these puzzles, and creating solutions.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I giggle when people ask about our ‘industry’. There’s an industry around reproduction Pioneer wagons?
You’ve heard of the ‘Industrial arts’…..we like to say we practice the “Pioneer arts”.
Build it, Bake it. Grow it. Make it. (Yourself)
In the Pioneer days – society was built around community. There was no Walmart or Amazon. If you needed something, and you couldn’t do it yourself, you’d better hope that you have a neighbor who could. You’d also do your best to stay on good terms with those neighbors – helping and sharing, so that when you had a need, you’ll be helped and shared-with in return. Golden Rule sort of stuff.
We take the ‘Pioneer Arts’ self sufficiency and virtues around community seriously.
I’d like to think that our ‘industry’ is moving back in the direction of locally sourced & produced EVERYTHING.
We are active in our local farmers market. We have developed our homestead to produce what we can and make the best of the gifts we’ve been provided with. We shop and support local.
This spring – we’ll be rolling out our latest idea for supporting local small producers : My Sunday Drive. It’s a coordinated Open-studios / Producer open-house / Yard Sale day for Hill country Producers. We’ll be coordinating vendors and producing a map for shoppers to plan their own ‘Sunday Drives’ through the Hill Country.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hitchmanhomestead.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hitchmanhomestead
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HitchmanHomestead/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hitchmanhomestead
- Other: info@hitchmanhomestead.com Cell: 830-370-7476 Office: 830-896-0271
Image Credits
Hitchman Homestead
