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Broken Wrench Farm got its "official" start in 1998 with the purchase of a 20+ acre farm in the shadows of Northwest Indiana's steel mills. The place was a mess, as it had been abandoned after a house fire and then sat empty for ages. (About 4 - 5 Years.) The clean up and renovations are still on going today. (It is no longer our five year project, as we hit the 10 year mark, we are thinking it is a FIFTEEN to TWENTY year project!) That is, in between trying to running our shop, raising horses, ponies, rabbits and a variety of other critters. Not to mention our two toddler age sons!

We were both lucky enough to be raised in families with full of dogs, horses and other critters. We are just continuing a family tradition, or at least in our minds. Please enjoy the site and feel free to email if there is something specific you are trying to find. If we don't have it for sale, we may know someone that does. So don't be afraid to ask!!!

About Jim: Jim's family trail rode and horse camped, and his father, Baldy, was active in the formation and early years of both the Lake County Saddle and Bridle Club as well as the Lake County Drill Team. Jim's dad was from a family that had farmed in Liberty Township (NW Indiana) with horses in the not too distant past.

The Hoffman's were also avid hunters, and still are. This led to raising a a variety of different hunting dogs. English Springers, and German Shorthaired Pointers were some of the more frequent litters. Later, they ventured into Kelpie / Aussie / BC mixes from a local farmer. (Tough dogs!) While the Hoffman men were hunting and shooting, their mom was busy with a flock of ducks, chickens and raising the boys' pheasants. So there was always a critter underfoot.

About Becky: Becky's mom spent her early years with a stable full of Breyer's and once she reached her teens, she spent her time in a barn with a variety of Quarter Horses. Becky's dad played mean game of competitive polo. He even competed against notorious Chicagoan horsemen Frank & Silas Jayne in the mid 70's. (They were tied to the disappearance of candy heiress Helen Brach.) He also worked as a mounted officer for the Cook County Sheriff's Department.

By 8th grade Becky had realized truancy from school to hang out in a barn was definitely worth the consequences. Hours and hours were spent at a livery stable on the south side of Chicago, riding anything they would let her on. In her teen years she spent more time ditching high school to muck stalls in exchange for more hours on trail than she spent in school. (Sorry Mom - but hey, you always wondered were I disappeared to!) Becky's inherited horse issues didn't stop there, her model horse collection numbers over 1000 now. (No, not a typo - there are meant to be three zeros there!)

Becky's family was always surrounded by other critters as well. Her dad's family raised Boxers and her mom's had several conformation bred Chows. Somehow that drifted into Terriers. Becky was raised with Airedales and Cairns, and her dad's hunting Labs and German Short Haired Pointers. The mid 80's introduced her to raising small furries, with the addition of Fluffy the GP, a steel colored Guinea Pig. That breeding adventure lasted until her college years, where it somehow switched to rabbits.

Jim & Becky have been there, done that, in the equine world. From professional PRCA and IRPA rodeo, driving 6 horse draft hitches competitively, to in hand halter completion. Several national titles and trophy buckles later, they settled down and started a family. Now their 2 young sons keep them busy and the days of making 13 hour drives one way to a competition are over.

To still get his horse fix, Jim team ropes locally and can be found working horses several nights a week. Jim also enjoys working with young horses and beginning ropers, introducing them to team roping. His free time is usually devoted to custom hay baling and farm equipment maintenance. (Ok, ok, so the maintenance end of it is his "REAL" job too!)

Becky's equine hobby is currently focused on driving, and drives everything she can, from a 42" Shetland gelding to an 18 hand + Belgian Mare. As if a full time job and 2 children didn't limit free time enough, she has returned to her other life long love, dogs! She currently is training some fantastic performance bred Australian Shepherds that are headed towards agility, obedience, Rally-O and herding trials. She still periodically offers her custom designed and hand made jewelry as well. And then there is her newest start....her Poultry......

Please enjoy the site and feel free to email if there is something specific you are trying to find. If we don't have it for sale, we may know someone that does. So don't be afraid to ask!!!