Let’s start a conversation
Most people have never stepped foot on a working farm or ranch, yet nearly every opinion about food starts somewhere. Social media, documentaries, advertisements, family traditions, and headlines all shape what we believe about agriculture. But very few people ever get to ask the farmer.
According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), 95% of U.S. farms are family owned. The USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) also reports that about 86—88% of U.S. farms are small family farms. At the same time, the number of farms in the United States has declined from nearly 7 million in the 1930s to about 1.9 million today.
Together, these changes have transformed the relationship between producers and consumers. Just a few generations ago, many Americans either lived on farms or had close relatives who did. Today, farmers make up roughly 1% of the U.S. population.
Ironically, while fewer people have direct connections to agriculture than ever before, consumers have more choices than ever before. Local beef, grocery stores, farmers markets, organic, and more—the options continue to grow. With those choices comes an understandable desire to learn what they all mean.
Marketing Labels…and Misinformation
Walk through the meat aisle at your local grocery store and you’ll likely see labels like grass fed, grain-finished, natural, organic, hormone-free, pasture-raised, and more.
These labels are designed to help consumers make informed decisions—but what do they actually mean? Do they have legal definitions? Are some regulated while others are primarily marketing terms? Do they tell the whole story, or just part of it? The challenge is that these labels aren’t always as straightforward as they seem.
Today, we have access to more agricultural information than ever before…and also more conflicting information than ever before.
A documentary says one thing, but a farmer says another. A food company advertises one message, yet an influencer shares a completely different perspective. Without firsthand experience, it can be difficult to know what information is complete, what lacks context, and what questions still need to be asked.
Wanting to know where your food comes from, how animals are raised, what cattle are fed, or how different production systems affect the environment are all reasonable questions. Finding balanced, evidence-based answers isn’t always easy.
Agriculture Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All
Perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions about agriculture is that there is only one 'right' way to raise food.
Take beef production as an example. One farm may finish cattle on grass, while another finishes cattle on grain. One may market certified organic beef, while another may focus on raising local beef using conventional practices. Both farms may prioritize animal welfare and land stewardship. Both farms may produce safe, high-quality beef.
Different management decisions often reflect differences in geography, climate, available resources, economics, family goals, or even consumer demand—not necessarily that one farm is “right” and another is “wrong”.
One of the unique things about our food system is the variety of choices available to consumers. Whether your priority is buying local, choosing certified organic, selecting grass-fed beef, or supporting a family farm, you have the ability to choose the production practices that align with what matters most to you.
So, Why Are We Here?
We started our cattle business because we love the work, but as we began sharing our beef with others, we realized that every purchase sparked a conversation. People wanted to know how cattle are raised, what they eat, why we make certain management decisions, and what different production practices really mean. Those conversations reminded us how few opportunities most people have to connect directly with the people producing their food.
That’s what inspired us.
Our goal isn't to tell you what to think or what to buy. Instead, we hope to provide context, answer questions, and share our own experiences while encouraging thoughtful conversations about agriculture.
We know one blog won’t answer every question, and we don’t expect everyone to agree with every practice. What we do hope is that this becomes a place where curiosity is welcomed, questions are encouraged, and respectful conversations can happen.
We may not have all the answers, but we encourage you to join the conversation.