Most people are excited to get a package in the mail, especially if it’s something they’ve been

anticipating. And for 15-year-old Cannon Brown, receiving his new hog feeders was no different.

“I was so excited – I had even used my own money to buy them,” Brown of Queen Creek, Ariz., says.

He started using his feeders right away. But when he checked his pens a few short weeks later, like many of the feeders he had tried before, they were so rusted the screws were falling out and the end plates were falling off.

Brown says he wet feeds his pigs, and it’s always been a challenge to find a long-term feeder.

After talking to his uncle, Jeff Maynard, who influenced Brown to first start showing hogs, the two decided if they couldn’t find a better feeder, they would build one.

the ideaInitially, Brown and Maynard thought they

would just find a way to manufacture feeders that would work just for Brown’s hogs, and maybe sell a few to other local showmen who had the same problem as Brown.

Then, Brown, an active FFA member in the Gilbert, Ariz., chapter, had the idea to make and sell heavy-duty feeders for his FFA Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) project.

“We were pretty excited when he came up with the idea to make these for his FFA project,” Maynard says.

Maynard, who describes Brown as a rare combination of initiative and drive, says it was the end of October when Brown first presented him with the feeder idea. He told his nephew he would help him get started and provide him with the initial funding, but after that, it was all up to Brown.

Two weeks before his state fair, Brown, with the assistance of his uncle and step dad started to construct a few feeders, seeking to improve on the kind that had rusted through.

putting his plan into actionWhat started as a family deal has evolved

into a business entirely owned by Brown.

Brown figured to make his product durable, he needed to use the best metal. But he didn’t have access to the metal and equipment necessary for cutting the endcaps to be as durable as he wanted.

So, to overcome that obstacle, he teamed up with a local metal shop that laser cuts his pieces and sells them to him at cost. Then all the grinding, cutting that he can do and actual labor is done by Brown.

The next challenge Brown ran into was keeping up with demand, once his product debuted to the public.

“I wasn’t sure how we were going to keep up with the actual demand of building the feeders,” he says.

The solution – hiring FFA members from his local chapter. While wanting to keep it FFA-focused, Brown just didn’t have enough hours in the day to complete the construction for the feeders he was selling by himself, even with his family’s assistance. With an already-full schedule, including six of his own sows that he breeds for showpigs and playing on a local lacrosse team, this seemed to be the ideal solution for the teen.

As for the actual construction of the feeders, Brown and Maynard drew from the design of the purchased feeders that hadn’t lasted, only improving on them greatly.

“We used a thicker metal, so they are more sturdy,” Brown says. “The side plates are also epoxy coated so they don’t rust. Sealer goes in the cracks so wet feed doesn’t leak, and rivet screws don’t let them come unscrewed.”

After perfecting the design and seeing that it worked, Brown’s product had a name – Hulk Feeders. Nearly indestructible and green, the name was a perfect fit.

Two weeks after beginning building his feeders, Brown debuted them at the Arizona State Fair. Selling completely out, he didn’t bring home any Hulk Feeders, but he did bring home the Grand Champion Market Gilt honors.

Once the word was out, Maynard visited with his friends in the swine industry who all suggested he and Brown take the feeders to the National Swine Registry’s Fall Classic in Duncan, Okla. – the largest hog sale in the nation.

selling like wildfireWith just two weeks left before the

Fall Classic started, Brown, Maynard and several family members were able to construct more than 250 feeders.

“It was kind of a crazy deal,” Maynard laughs. “We worked our tails off having no idea whether or not they would sell.”

Upon arrival in Duncan, the nephew and uncle pair tried to sell Brown’s feeders in the parking lot, as they had been advised by others who said they would “sell like wildfire.” When they got there, they actually found out they weren’t allowed to do that. With no vendor space left, they were assigned a space outside the feeder pig barn.

“The first day, not one person stopped,” Maynard says.

While Brown was getting nervous, by chance, another vendor didn’t show up. After talking to the show officials and grounds crew, he was able to secure a prime space with the rest of the vendors.

“We kind of got lucky,” Maynard says. “That was the catalyst from where everything started.”

By the end of the third day, Brown says his hand was sore from shaking people’s hands. He didn’t mind, though, because every single feeder was sold.

“It felt great, knowing that people admired their (Hulk Feeders) craftsmanship,” Brown says.

Maynard says although he helped him get started, the credit is all Brown’s.

“How many kids do you know who can shake a man’s hand, look him in the eye, tell him about his product and sell it to him?” he asks. “He stood in the booth by himself for 12 hours a day, able to tell everyone that he built the feeders – that they were his idea.”

A first-time Duncan attendee, Brown says although he didn’t get to watch even one show, he was able to catch the boar sale

after selling out of his product. His passion for showing is what motivates him to work at the goals he’s set.

goals and the futureNever limiting himself, Brown continues

to set goals for himself and Hulk Feeders.

With the aspiration to become a veterinarian, he hopes to use the funds from his products to pay for college, as well as continuing the fund his showpigs.

His ultimate FFA goal is to be named the American Star in Agribusiness, besting the top young entrepreneurs in the nation. He also plans to continue to have every feeder FFA-member made, and possibly even turn the project into some kind of a fundraiser.

Although at 15, he has already been named champion senior showman at the Arizona National, Brown continues to strive to improve his showmanship abilities.

“It’s the most important part of showing because it shows my skills,” he says.

Brown has been showing hogs for nine years. Because FFA, 4-H and exhibiting have meant so much to him, it’s important to him to help others who are involved

with those activities. Before he even sold his first feeders, he donated a couple of them for prizes at local shows and the state fair.

“Cannon believes in giving back in whatever way he can,” Maynard says of his nephew.

As far as the future of Hulk Feeders, Brown plans to continue to build the feeders and hopefully even expand on the product line. He wants other kids his age to be able to be involved in FFA and 4-H because of the leadership qualities he’s seen developed in his own life.

But when they’re using their own hard-earned money, he wants the products they’re buying, such as feeders, to be high quality and last for years.

Although his business isn’t even a year old, he already feels pride when he spots a Hulk Feeder being used at a show or in a barn.

“It feels great to see people trusting to use them when feeding showpigs,” the young entrepreneur says.

With a name like “Hulk” and the indestructible nature of the product behind its name, Hulk Feeders should be seen in the aisles of shows for years to come.

1. Come up with an ideaFor Brown’s business, it wasn’t even a new idea – he just found a new way to do it. There were already multiple options of feeders to choose from, but the problem was none of them worked for him. So he took it upon himself to come up with a new concept for an old idea.

2. put your idea into aCtion“If you have a dream, act on it,” Brown says. “A lot of people have ideas they never act on. The hardest part of getting started is just that – get-ting started.” Coming up with a plan and an idea of how to sell your product are the two most important steps here, he adds.

3. Find supportBrown was fortunate enough to have his uncle to provide both emotional and financial support. Even if it’s not a parent or relative, others in the swine industry want to help kids succeed. Be willing to ask for help, he says.

4. don’t get disCouraged“The first day we set up at Duncan, I got a little scared because no one was coming to see me,” Brown admits. He knew things had to change, so he went to talk to the people in charge of the show to see if he could get a better spot. He was able to secure a new location for his booth, and as a result, sold completely out of his product. 5. don’t Forget to give baCkNot only does Brown say he wants to continue to have Hulk Feeders FFA-member built, he plans to continue to donate the feeders for FFA and 4-H prizes. “I want to give back because I’m gaining so much through them (4-H, FFA and showing livestock).”