Farmhouse Kitchen, March 2026
Laura Hixon is known for her bright smile and warm hospitality. She brings those qualities to the table when hosting family and friends at Hixon Farms in Pike County.
She finds joy being with loved ones at the family’s unique gathering place — a fully furnished enclosed barn with space for the kids to play, Laura to cook and adults to relax.
Laura and her husband, Billy, grow row crops and raise cattle and chickens on his family land. Billy is also the Pike County Farmers Federation president.
“When I was growing up in Brundidge, we always went to my grandmother’s house on Sundays,” said Laura, chair of the Pike County Women’s Leadership Committee and a retired educator. “She made every meal special. That was ingrained in me. Billy’s mom cooked for us, too.”
Laura carries on the tradition, going above and beyond to serve her family home-cooked dishes.
“A lot of life’s great moments happen gathered around meals,” she said. “It’s a time for bonding. You become so close. On Sunday nights, my family comes here. I want my grandkids to always remember coming to my house to eat, just like I remember going to my grandmother’s.”
Birthday meals are especially meaningful for the Hixons.
“We celebrate everyone’s big day,” Laura said. “I let them choose the meal and dessert. Shrimp spaghetti has become a family favorite and is almost always chosen.”
Laura’s go-to recipes, however, often include the Alabama state legume. March is National Peanut Month, a special time to pay homage to the protein powerhouse.
“As peanut farmers from the Wiregrass, we love using peanuts in our kitchen,” Laura said. “We eat them for snacks daily. They sustain us. I have an entire category on Pinterest devoted to peanuts. It makes us proud to use something we grow.”