f you’re up to speed on pecan industry news, “We expanded five years ago into pecan roasting you’ve likely heard of the Hamiltons. With and flavoring. We have developed a unique process Ihome base in Johnston County, the family for adding a good crunch to the roasted pecan and of hard-working entrepreneurs is bringing their currently offer eight different flavors. This process ideas to fruition. is providing product to several packagers and Mark Hamilton tells that in 2021, “Our multi- processors, but we do not market them directly.” generational family agricultural business continues “As well, we are currently in the final stages of to be a beneficial service to southern Oklahoma product development for our most exciting product, and northern Texas, providing pecan cleaning and which is pecan butter. We believe pecan butter marketing services; livestock and wildlife feeds; will become a huge hit with consumers, once it is as well as fertilizer and herbicide services. We available in a shelf stable form and has the perfect have now been in business 40 years, and we have texture. We have developed a process to accomplish weathered the ups and downs that go along with each of these qualities and we are currently having agriculture. It is a privilege to be of service to the all of the testing done that is necessary prior to agricultural economy of Oklahoma.” marketing a new product.” It was eight years ago when Mark Hamilton’s In the past year, the Hamiltons connected dad, Dan Hamilton, spearheaded a business venture with two equipment manufacturing companies in the food industry—Native American Specialty that provide harvesting and cleaning equipment Products. They produce Achukma Pecan Oil and for the pecan industry. As a result, they will be other pecan products which have been making a big a dealership for LMCAg out of Albany, Georgia, splash in a globally-connected world. which is the designer and distributor of a new Dan Hamilton’s wife, Sonja Hamilton, named style of pecan harvester that has shown great their pecan oil Achukma, Choctaw for “good, promise and looks to become a fixture in the beautiful, pure.” The Hamiltons cold press and pecan harvesting industry. filter unrefined 100% pure virgin pecan oil with no chemicals, in order to maintain all the healthy properties. Mark Hamilton explains, “Pecan oil is becoming more popular because it is more widely used among the health- conscious consumer. And we are seeing growth in the industry for ourselves and several others who are now producing quality pecan oil.” This 1933 IOU for a load of corn shows that Facing page, left: Rufus “Bud” Hamilton, holding a guitar, Rufus “Bud” Hamilton was in the agricultural with two unidentified men in this undated photograph. business. Courtesy Mark Hamilton. Courtesy Mark Hamilton. Facing page, right: Standing in a wheel barrow, Rebecca Hamilton may have been tiny, but she was a true pioneer woman. This photograph was likely taken between 1875 and 1878 in Grapevine, Texas. Rebecca was Mark Hamil- ton’s great-great-grandmother. Courtesy Mark Hamilton. 9