Eggs have gotten a lot of bad press lately, but one local farmer has moved away from the idea of buying eggs produced by huge industries to getting eggs like folks produced in days gone by.

Perry Hamm has always had a love for animals and farming.

Over the years, he has tried many different farm ventures but has come to remember the days of his childhood with chickens on the farm.

His memories have led him to try a small scale egg production business.

Hamm first began his venture by going to a local farm supply business to look at day-old chicks that came into the store.

He knew he did not want to raise chicks and found some hens about ready to lay.

As spring and summer warmed the earth, Hamm purchased chickens and started his egg business.

The business resulted in him marketing his fresh eggs at the Newberry Farmer’s Market.

And when asked why his eggs taste so good, Hamm responds to customers by telling them they are fresher than those in the grocery stores.

In fact, often customers get eggs that were laid the same day.

The only draw back that Hamm can find with fresh eggs is that the boiled ones don’t peal as well and need to be aged for a couple of weeks.

Hamm is currently collecting about 75 eggs a day from 100 cage free chickens that run in a large fenced area.

With the closing of the farmer’s market, Hamm has his eggs for sale on the honor system at his home. The Hamm farm is located at the corner of Hawkins Road and Highway 395 near Gallman Elementary School.