Expanding Operations at Arrow H Farms
- Apr 29
- 2 min read
Reighly Hendrix, a Wyandotte farmer from Oklahoma, is building a future rooted in tradition. “I am a sixth-generation farmer and rancher, and I love what I do,” she shared.
Hendrix comes from a family that managed a retail plant nursery and sold retail cuts of beef, pork and lamb. Growing up this way gave Reighly insight into farmers market operations and the revenue limitations they face.
The Intertribal Agriculture Council’s National Intertribal Food Business Center (NIFBC) offered her a chance to change what success could look like. “I had this big dream of having a storefront,” she said, “So I kind of put pen to paper and I was like, ‘Man, that's going to take a while to get there, but I think we can do it.’ Then all of a sudden I heard about this wonderful grant opportunity, and I thought, ‘What's it going to hurt to fill out this application and see what happens?”
That same dream inspired her to blaze her own path as a farmer and rancher. After graduating from Oklahoma State University, Reighly returned home to start a new operation with her husband, where they now raise cattle, chickens, goats, and produce for their growing community.
Motivated by a desire to expand her family's reach beyond farmers markets, Reighly is now opening a storefront that will offer locally raised meats and fresh goods, along with products from other local producers. With support from the NIFBC grant, she’s turning a long-held vision into reality, one that supports both her family and her rural community. “These grant opportunities are […] instrumental for people to be able to expand their business,” she explains.
Looking ahead, Reighly believes this dream will act as a catalyst for generations to come. From creating opportunities for her children to dreaming of a future farm-to-fork restaurant, her efforts are grounded in legacy and community.
“I really hope that I am opening up an opportunity for my children,” she said. “I feel like this storefront is just the beginning.”
Reighly Hendrix is one of 43 awardees from the NIFBC Business Builder Awards. Her business, Arrow H Farms, will use the grant to expand farm operation sales through cold storage and hauling equipment.
The Intertribal Agriculture Council’s National Intertribal Food Business Center was created to ensure producers across Indian Country have access to the resources, technical assistance, and capital required to grow and scale. Through a coordinated national approach developed by the Intertribal Agriculture Council and partners, NIFBC works to strengthen connections across the food supply chain and expand market opportunities for producers at every stage.