Before sunrise in Kanchanadit district, Surat Thani province, the day has already begun at Charoen Farm.

Some family members inspect the pig houses, while others review production data and check that the farm’s health and safety systems are operating properly.

Nearby, a young boy watches the adults at work, absorbing the routines that have shaped his family’s life for more than three decades.

For the Charoenphakdi family, the farm is more than a workplace or a source of income. It is where their children grew up, where important life lessons were learned, and where a once-uncertain occupation has become a legacy passed from parents to children—and now to grandchildren.

The story began in 1993, when Paiboon and Kittima Charoenphakdi started raising pigs with 130 breeding sows in a conventional open-house system.

At the time, almost every task had to be done manually. The couple cleaned the pens, bred the animals, cared for the sows and assisted during farrowing, often while balancing their responsibilities on the farm with their regular jobs.

“We did everything ourselves,” Paiboon recalled. “We cleaned the pens and helped deliver the piglets. There were days when we were so exhausted that we barely had time to rest.”

Despite the workload, the couple believed that understanding every aspect of the farm was essential.

“We had to know what was happening at every stage,” he said. “Only then could we identify problems, make improvements and keep up with changes in farming.”

The early years were far from easy. Operating costs were high, income was limited and the family faced periods when their expenses exceeded their earnings.

Kittima remembers worrying that they might not have enough money to provide a university education for their three children.

The turning point came when the farm began working with Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited, or CPF, under its contract farming programme.

Through the partnership, the family received technical advice, production planning support and regular assistance from animal husbandry specialists and veterinarians.

The systematic approach helped improve farm management and gave the family greater certainty about its income.

“In the beginning, we were running at a loss,” Kittima said. “We earned little but had many expenses. I was afraid that we would not have enough money to send our children to university.”

Over time, however, the farm became a stable foundation for the family. All three children were able to study in Bangkok and graduate from university.

“Pig farming has given us more than income,” she said. “It has given our family security.”

Although Paiboon and Kittima wanted their children to receive a good education, they never separated them from life on the farm.

From an early age, the children were given simple responsibilities, such as feeding the pigs, recording their weight and helping to keep the pens clean.

The intention was not merely to gain extra hands, but to teach them that success was built through discipline, patience and responsibility.

“We wanted them to understand that nothing comes for free,” Kittima explained. “Everything the family had was created through hard work.”

She also hoped the children would maintain a connection with their hometown and one day return to build upon what their parents had started.

That hope eventually became a reality.

Today, Charoen Farm is managed by the family’s second generation: sisters Arachamon “Pearl” Charoenphakdi and Panrawee “Prae” Charoenphakdi.

Having grown up around the farm, the sisters witnessed their parents build the business from the ground up. After completing their education, they returned home with fresh knowledge and new ideas for modernising the operation.

Under their management, the farm has been transformed from an open-house facility into a modern evaporative cooling, or EVAP, system.

The enclosed housing helps control temperature and environmental conditions, creating a more comfortable and suitable environment for the pigs.

The farm has also introduced digital tools to support its daily operations. Closed-circuit cameras help monitor farm access and biosecurity measures, while production and animal information are recorded and reviewed through digital systems.

“We grew up with the farm and saw our parents create everything from nothing,” Arachamon said. “This occupation gave our family stability and allowed us to remain together.”

She views farming as a long-term profession rather than a temporary business opportunity.

“For us, it offers the stability of a permanent career,” she said. “We can earn a reliable living while developing the business together as a family.”

The sisters continue to work closely with CPF specialists, who provide technical advice and help the farm adapt to changing standards and production practices.

“CPF has been more than a business partner,” Arachamon said. “The animal husbandry specialists and veterinarians have supported us closely and treated us like family.”

For Panrawee, successful farming begins with attention to detail and genuine care for the animals.

“The heart of the work is care,” she said. “We look after the pigs as well as we can so that the food produced from the farm is safe, clean and of good quality.”

The influence of the farm is already reaching a third generation.

Arachamon’s young son, Phurinat “Phu” Taengchanthuek, has grown up watching his mother and grandparents work.

He often sees his mother wake at three or four in the morning to inspect the pig houses before taking him to school.

“I see my mother wake up very early to take care of the pigs,” he said. “I like pigs, and one day I would like to have many more pig houses because the farm can provide a good income.”

Phu dreams of becoming a doctor, but he also hopes to continue the family farm as another source of security for his family.

His ambition reflects the way Charoen Farm has changed the meaning of agriculture for the family.

Farming is no longer seen only as physically demanding work. It has become a profession supported by knowledge, technology and long-term planning—one that a younger generation can choose with confidence and pride.

After 33 years, Charoen Farm stands as an example of how a family farm can evolve without losing its roots.

Its journey shows that when farmers’ determination is combined with technical knowledge, reliable support and modern management systems, agriculture can provide more than a living.

It can create educational opportunities, strengthen family ties and build an enterprise that future generations are willing to continue.

For Paiboon, the farm’s greatest achievement is not measured only by its size or production figures, but by what it has made possible for his family.

“This occupation gave us a new life,” he said. “It gave our children an education and brought stability and happiness to our family.”

What began with 130 breeding sows and two people willing to endure years of hard work has become something far more valuable: a family legacy, built carefully and passed forward from one generation to the next.

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