Hill View Farms continues to thrive thanks to roots in family, growth through local partnerships.

Content originally published by John Kirkpatrick in The Owensboro Times, July 2025. Story sponsored by Independence Bank. 

For Jim Gilles, owner of Hill View Farms Meats, the Owensboro Regional Farmers’ Market isn’t just a place to sell — it’s where it all began.

“I’m the fifth generation of my family to come back and be on the farm,” Gilles said. “I kind of developed Hill View Farms Meats whenever I came back home after college. I saw a need and an opportunity.”

That opportunity first took shape in 2013, when Gilles began selling his farm-raised beef directly to customers at the Farmers’ Market. Over the years, he expanded operations to include pork, chicken, and dairy products, opening a storefront in 2016. Today, he still maintains a strong presence at the market, participating in all three of the market’s weekly days throughout the season.

“The market played a large role in our success,” Gilles said. “That’s where I got to know most of my customer base — and most of them are still with me today.”

Gilles said he’s grateful for the community support and for the continued growth of the market itself.

“I think the Farmers’ Market is successful because customers are able to connect one-on-one with the vendors who are growing or making the products,” Gilles said. “That’s one of the reasons I keep going back. You get to build that relationship, and it becomes more than just a transaction — it’s about community.”

That sense of community extends beyond customers. Gilles said the family atmosphere among vendors has made the market an even more rewarding place to be. It’s also become a hub for other local farmers and artisans, many of whom now sell their goods through his storefront during the offseason.

“It’s a good collaboration,” Gilles said. “And I’ve developed a lot of great relationships with vendors both at the market and beyond.”

As a former board member of the Farmers’ Market, Gilles has seen firsthand how the organization has grown in reach and impact, especially through educational efforts and family-friendly programming. He said the success of the market reflects the strength of Owensboro’s agriculture community — and he’s proud to still be part of it.

“We couldn’t do what we do without the Farmers’ Market,” Gilles said. “It’s still important, and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

Hill View Farms is located at 5024 Lee Rudy Road and operates Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Owensboro Regional Farmers’ Market operates on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and on Thursday evenings from 4 to 7 p.m.