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Sharks on a farm?! This year, the 50th anniversary of the movie “Jaws” is being celebrated at Hubb’s Farm in Clinton. From sand pits seeded with shark teeth to an entire Jaws-themed corn maze, there are nods to the film everywhere.
“You may even see someone walking around in a shark costume on the weekends,” said Beth Smith, events and media coordinator with Hubb’s Farm.
Located at 10276 N US-421 in Clinton, NC, Hubb’s Farm is a popular destination. While part of the farm is dedicated to commercially growing pork, over 65 acres are dedicated to agri-tourism. One of the old hog barns at the back of the property has been repurposed into a fun space humorously called the Taj MaHog. Old pens are now filled with kernel corn for kids to dive in, gem mining stations, play areas, a classroom learning space, and a 9-hole putt-putt course. Each hole presents a different pork-themed challenge. Outside the Taj MaHog, the Cranky Combine gives rides. He looks like a missing character from Disney’s Cars. Escape trails wind around the perimeter of the farm and into the woods, where challenges, games, and stories interweave along the trail and corn maze. Also, visitors can download the free Goosechase app for interactive play. The app also serves as a virtual tour guide for the farm.
There is enough to keep you busy all day at the farm. There are u-pick flower and pumpkin fields, decorated hay bales, a live animal petting zoo, Indian runner duck races, a singing chicken show, gem mining, picnic spaces, fire pits, a zip line, a giant slide, a giant jump pillow, sand boxes, ball tosses, wagon rides, train rides, apple cannons, and more. On-site bathrooms and filtered water stations are available. Local products and toys can be purchased at the farm’s store. Seasonal produce is also available for purchase; right now it is a large assortment of colorful pumpkins and gourds. Food booths making all your favorite fair foods like kettle corn and donuts are available as well as coffee and grill stations.
James Hubbard Butler (known as Hubb) built the hog houses at Hubb’s Farm from 1987 to 1991. He had a crew that built hog houses for other farmers as well. His daughter, Tammy, now owns and runs Hubb’s Farm with her husband, John Peterson. They started farming in 2008 when their son, Luke, was born. Now Luke runs the commercial hog farm, and John and Tammy run the agri-tourism part of Hubb’s Farm. What started small near the front of the farm off US 421 has expanded with time and interest to the woods at the back of the farm. Today, John and Tammy are happy to employ a lot of their friends on the farm.
“Everybody out here is absolutely amazing in their own way,” Tammy says of her employees. They enjoy cutting up together. There are a lot of retired teachers working at Hubb’s Farm, and it shows. Almost every activity on the farm is filled with information cards to teach guests about farming, agriculture, and history. The zip line, for example, is called First in Flight and lasts about as many seconds as the Wright Brothers’ first flight. A sign explaining the connection to history is at the activity.
Hubb’s Farm sells tickets for entry both online and at the gate. Tickets gain admittance to most activities, but some activities, like gem mining, cost extra.
The fall season runs through Nov. 1. The farm is open to the public Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays in November from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays in October from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sundays: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. The farm is also a popular destination for field trips, corporate team building, and family gatherings.
