AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — Which came first: the chicken or the egg? For Desper Dobbs, the chicken did, but it is the eggs that make his business boom. In the small town of Falkville, at just 11 years old, Desper has created a family business through Alabama 4-H’s Chick Chain project.

Chick Chain teaches young people the ins and outs of raising chickens. After receiving a set of chicks in the spring, 4-H members care for their chickens for approximately 20 weeks, learning everything from management practices to record keeping. The project culminates with a local show and auction. However, for Desper, Chick Chain was only the beginning. In just a few years, he took his 4-H project from basic to a full-blown business venture.

Charting Chick Chain

Eleven-year old Desper Dobbs displaying a box of his Desper’s Dozen eggs as sold at Reeves Peach Farm.

In 2022, at 9 years old, Desper received his first flock of chicks. He admits that he had no idea how impactful the program would be for him. Now, he is grateful to have found this passion.

“When I signed up for Chick Chain, I thought it was going to be this little event, but I was really wrong,” Desper said. “I got started participating the first year, and it’s been really amazing, so I went on for another year and now we have a full flock.”

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System office in Morgan County offers a variety of activities to get local youth involved in agriculture, crafts, cooking, technology and other areas. Juliana Markham, a 4-H Extension agent, said she could tell early on that Desper and his family were going to be special.

“Desper and his family first joined in 2022 when I first started as a 4-H agent,” Markham said. “What stood out to me was their willingness to try new things and go all in. When Desper signed up for Chick Chain, you could tell he was excited. What was even better was the willingness of his parents to make his visions of his flock come to reality.”

Desper started with 12 young hens but has continued to add more laying hens over the last three years. Now, he has 32 hens. With each laying one egg per day, his flock averages about 960 eggs monthly. Running a small egg business means that the work never stops. Desper spends time cleaning the coop, collecting eggs, feeding, watering and observing his flock to ensure their safety. By keeping up with these chores, he is learning the kind of practical skills that 4‑H is known for building.

Family and Flock

Desper’s mother, Emily, said her son’s business began when they realized they could put the extra eggs to good use.

“We started this business on our little 5-acre farm in here Falkville,” Emily Dobbs said. “The need came because, as a family of four, we can only use so many eggs. Desper came up with the name, Desper’s Dozen, and it just keeps growing.”

To extend the operation’s reach, Desper secured his own farmers market retail license and, along with his family, partnered with Reeves Peach Farm in Hartselle to sell eggs. The entrepreneurial spirit runs in the family. Desper’s younger sister, June, makes a variety of fruit jams that she also sells to Reeves Peach Farm.

“We started by just delivering to our friends and neighbors, but now Reeves Peach Farm is where I mainly sell the eggs,” Desper said. “This way, our friends and neighbors can still go there to get a dozen.”

Desper’s Dozen brings in a few hundred dollars each month, which is reinvested into the business for animal care, feed, packaging and supplies that keep the business rolling.

As a family business, everyone in the household contributes. Desper’s parents helped make his vision a reality by helping build a clean and safe chicken coop. They also assist him with transportation and selling his eggs within the community. Further making the business a family affair, Desper’s grandmother, Kathleen Woodside, is the Morgan County 4-H agent assistant. Through county activities, Woodside works alongside her grandchildren, supporting them at every step of their 4‑H journeys.

Connecting Community

Desper Dobbs started raising chickens through Chick Chain, a program of Alabama 4-H. Now, the eleven-year old has expanded his flock of laying hens and started his own business — Desper’s Dozen.

Markham said she is proud to have youth like the Dobbs children involved in Morgan County 4‑H.

“They are learning valuable life skills that will serve them well for years to come,” Markham said. “Desper moved from selling out of his house to selling at the Hartselle Farmers Market, where he would sell out almost instantly. He and his mom then started making logo hats to advertise the business. Within three years, he went from getting his first chicks to having his product on a store shelf. How much farther into entrepreneurship can you go as an 11-year-old backyard flock owner?”

For Emily Dobbs, one of the family’s biggest impacts is that they do not just operate a local business; they actively support other local businesses as well.

“My kids both put their funds back into local businesses, whether it’s Desper working with Reeves Peach Farm or June buying from a local leather artisan,” Emily Dobbs said. “Through 4‑H, they have learned to invest in their community.”

More Information

From Chick Chain to a full-fledged egg enterprise, Desper has used his 4-H project to build a meaningful family business. His experience is just one example of how 4-H can empower youth. All over the state, youth can find various activities tailored to their interests through Alabama 4‐H and Alabama Extension.

For more information on Chick Chain, visit the project’s web page at aces.edu. To get involved in Alabama 4-H, people can contact their county Extension office or visit alabama4h.com.