Heartland Catfish Co.

Heartland Catfish Company was founded in 1995 by William Tackett, his son, Jim Tackett, and son-in-law, Joe Walker.

However, the foundation for the company’s success was built decades earlier, when 6-year-old William Tackett began working for one penny per day. Over time, William developed his work ethic, dedication, integrity, determination and Christian principles. These guided the growth and success of one of the largest vertically integrated entities in the U.S. Farm-Raised Catfish industry.

Mr. Tackett and his wife, Marue, began farming in 1948 in Arkansas. In 1964, Mr. Tackett and his family moved to Belzoni in the Mississippi Delta to farm rice, soybeans and cotton. Then, in 1968, he built his first catfish pond in Humphreys County. The next several years saw the family move to Leflore County and Sunflower County, where they continued to farm rice, corn and soybeans, built more catfish ponds and began a catfish hatchery with brooder and fingerling operations.