Pete Dull’s Heritage Inspires Giving Back to the Community
For Pete Dull, a pig farmer and owner of Dull Homestead Inc. in Brookville, Ohio, giving back is part of his family’s heritage.
His grandfather Vernon, a founder of Dull Homestead, helped deliver livestock to people in need in Europe after World War II through the Heifer International Project. Today, Dull Homestead – a 500 sow farrow-to-finish operation that also has 1,200 acres of seed corn – has grown into one of the largest farms in Ohio’s Miami Valley, and contributing to the community continues to be a top priority.
For the past 30 years, Dull has continued his family tradition of supporting his community by personally delivering furniture and other household supplies for people in his community who are in dire need.
“We have higher rates of poverty in Dayton and some lower income families are literally sleeping on the floor,” Dull said.
Dull’s efforts to provide furniture began with people just out of prison who didn’t have anything to rebuild their lives. Now he works with prisons, churches and government agencies to identify those in critical need of furniture, kitchen tools or other essential household items.
Over the years, people have learned to contact him directly when they have something to donate. He devotes about 10 to 12 hours per week on average picking up and delivering these items, estimating he’s helped hundreds of people over the years.
“We’re supposed to help those who are less fortunate,” he said. Plus, he just likes helping people.