Hankas' farming business is a real American Gothic
By BURLON PARSONS bparsons@journal-spectator.com

Staff Photo by Burlon Parsons It's a family affair for the Hanka family on CR 156 everyone old enough spends their fair share of time in the fields as well as in the vegetable stand. Pictured are, from left, Annabelle, 9; Marissa, 15; Trey, 3; Kristin, 12; mom, Velmira; William, 11-months; dad, Jim; and Danica, 2.

Jim Hanka has always loved the earth and growing things. He got it honestly from his granddad George Hanka and dad James Hanka.

Now that love has turned into a full-time job as he and his family make a living rasing vegetables year-round on their 15-acre farm on CR 156.

He was born in Houston, but his family moved to Glen Flora in 1971 when he was 3-years-old and farmed there until his grandfather bought land in the Burr area in 1973.

Even out of college he still yearned for the land.

"I went to work for Ford after college," Hanka said. "But every weekend I would come back to the country and find something to do with the land."

He finally began to farm on his own as well as working other jobs either full-time or part-time until three years ago.

Staff Photo by Burlon Parsons Annabelle Hanka, 9, holds her younger sister Danica, 2, as they spend some time in their family's vegetable stand.

That's when he said he found his niche in the vegetable market and actually created a few for himself.

Now Hanka produces three crops a year headed to Saturday markets in Houston and Wharton, Thursday to Needville and Sunday in Richmond.

Hanka started raising the potatoes the Burr area is so famous for. He added to that more than 20 varieties of vegetables found in summer gardens.

Winter crops not only include various greens, but Chinese cabbage, bok choy and Oriental greens.

Herbs grown at the farm are dill, thymn, Thai basil and Rosemary.

While his first watermelons came from The Valley through contacts there, he will also have Taiton watermelons and his own will ripen within the next couple of weeks.

This year his canteloupes are from California.

During the summer the family has opened the vegetable stand for the last three years. Hanka says sales have grown 50 percent each year.

Staff Photo by Burlon Parsons Kristin Hanka, 12, makes a bright-colored sign for her family's vegetable stand on CR 156.

Hours now are 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

While the soil in the Burr area is a rich sandy loam, Hanka adds 13-13- 13 granular fertilizer topically with each planting.

Hanka has been involved in the Houston market for many years. His grandfather was one of the original founders. His great-uncle is still involed in it.

All the Hanka children, who are old enough, get involved in the total operation. They plant, chop, pick, sort and package as needed. There are also two helpers that work both full-time and part-time, as the season demands.

The three oldest daughters are the most involved in the farming operation right now. Marissa says she likes being out of doors and her specialty is picking okra. Kristin likes to sell the products. And Annabelle likes to see the harvest time come.

With three crops a year, the only "slow month" is August, says Hanka.

Prices at the markets are unpredictable he added.

"The market prices are always dictated by supply and demand," Hanka said.

He had to spend a lot of time working with vegetables on a "trial and error" basis to get the right mix of vegetables.

And he says the support from the local residents has helped make his operation a success.

It is still a trial and error basis on lots of new vegetables being developed.

"Technology is developing more insect resistant varieties all the time," Hanka pointed out. "They are also developing vegetable varieties which ship better and have longer shelf lives which we can try on the farm."

The farm barely got any of Thursday's rains.

Hanka says it's been so dry the last three months that he has had to irrigate more this year than in the last three years.

But still, he wouldn't trade his job of working the land for anything.

Hanka knows that his children will not all be able to make a living off of the land as he has done.

"I don't think any of them will want to carry on the tradition," he said. "I want them to get good educations and have good jobs."

(To get to the Hanka's farm from Wharton, head toward Boling on FM 1301, turn right on CR 115 and then left on CR 156. The Hanka's vegetable stand is about a mile down the road on the left.)