Established in 1973 by Hobert Gambill, the third generation of Gambills take great pride in continuing their grandfather’s name and tradition. Hobert started curing ham and selling it from the trunk of his car in 1971. In 1973 he opened the first plant, now the headquarters, in North Wilkesboro. With hard work and pride in his product, he successfully expanded with a 30,000-square-foot plant in Mulberry and a 50,000-square-foot curing facility in Wilkesboro. Hobe’s has gone from selling about 2,000 pounds initially to about 10 million pounds of ham per year now. It’s one of the largest country ham producers in the nation, serving customers and supplying fast food restaurants and supermarkets in North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee and South Carolina. Hobes Country Hams is estimated to generate $7.5 million in annual revenues.