Hamlin, TX in Jones Co. is not a site most cattlemen would select to ranch and market purebred cattle. Located some 40 miles northwest of Abilene, Hamlin was cast for the home site for the Pied Piper Farms Hereford operation more than 100 years ago when Robert D. Moore traded horses for three-quarter league and one labor of a Spanish land grant in west Texas, sight unseen.

In the 1870’s, the Moores were merchants and landowners in central Texas. We can remember our grandfather, Fred B. Moore, Sr., telling stories of the knee-high grass, the vast-open horizon and the variety of wildlife which drank from the small creek marked by the only trees on the prairie.

Robert D. Moore first used the 3,498 West Texas acres acquired in the blind trade for horse breeding. Mares were bred and run on the open range. The family journeyed by train and buckboard every spring to collect the foals. They retained title to the land that ran 1.25 miles wide and 4.5 miles long. It required fencing even in the 1890’s. At the time, the cost of fencing exceeded the value of the land.

In the early 1900’s, Robert David Moore deeded 320 acres to the Oriental Railroad to bring train service to the area. The railroad in turn set a town site and sold lots that became the town of Hamlin in 1907.

A drive through Hamlin today offers not hint of the boomtown that sprang up after the turn of the century based on a strong agricultural economy. It was in that environment, ripe for agricultural enterprises, that our grandfather, Fred B. Moore, Sr., open the family feed business in 1916. In 1934, Moore brought in six metal tanks from Fort Worth to set on the rail spur to store and trade grain. In 1948, our father, Fred B. Moore, Jr., built the first of four grain elevators. His neighbors predicted that they would never be filled. Over the next ten years, the elevator capacity grew to 1,420,000 bushels. The banner year for the elevators was in 1985 when 1,545,000 bushels were handled.

In the same year the elevator capacity peaked, Fred B. founded the Pied Piper Hereford herd with the same vision that brought his family to west Texas. He utilized the Anxiety 4th bloodline and performance data long before it was fashionable. Moore maintained detailed records through Performance Registry International (PRI), prior to the development of the American Hereford Association’s Total Performance Records (TPR) system. Moore’s foresight extended to present consumer concerns as he bred in carcass quality and performance monitoring through the Certified Meat Sire (CMS) program. He also utilized ultrasound two decades before it was trendy for the beef industry.

Unfortunately, Fred B., Jr. did not live to see the fruits of his labor, succumbing to a heart attack in 1964 at the age of 44. Moore had, however, already laid a firm foundation for the future with a young family in which he had instilled strong values and ethics. His wife, Bernice, along with his father, Fred B Moore, Sr., raised the three sons and daughter, who continue to run the family business today. All four of the children received a college education with the family diversity showing through. The eldest, Fred Barry III, received a degree from the University of Texas, while Bob graduated from Kansas State University with an Agricultural Economics degree. David received his Agricultural Economics degree from Oklahoma State University, and Patrice graduated from Baylor University with a degree in marketing. Patrice is not currently involved in the Pied Piper operations full time, but she is a shareholder and board member in the family operation. Barry was especially involved the ranching and cattle operations of the business until is death in 1994. Two of Bob’s sons recently graduated and returned to the family business operations. Derek graduated with an Ag Business degree from Kansas State University and Damon graduated from Baylor University with a degree in International Studies. David’s son, Jon David, is currently a junior at Oklahoma State University also pursuing a degree in Ag Business.

Today the family farming operations include wheat and other small grain crops while the feed company has expanded to include a full line of livestock feeds. Pied Piper Pet and Wildlife, Inc. manufactures dog food and pet products for companies around the world.