I am the 6th generation to farm on our family farm, and I’m already bringing up the next generation. We primarily farm row crop corn and soybeans, but in 2007 I started raising cattle also. I was just 14 years old and started with 2 calves. On day 1, both calves jumped over the fence and ran 2 miles away before we caught them. It was obvious I had a lot to learn about raising cattle. Since then, I have grown the herd significantly and implemented a more natural feeding style which includes keeping my cattle on a grass pasture for about 2/3 of the year.

When winter sets back in, I start the cattle on a feed ration of corn grown on our farm or a neighboring farm. I believe this gives Rice Family Farm’s beef the best of both worlds. You get the health benefits of leaner grass fed beef, and then the grain helps finish the beef out with just enough marbling to add the flavor we all want in a juicy steak. Our beef is raised with a strong focus on quality. This starts with purchasing the calves.

We are not a cow calf herd meaning the calves are not born on our farm. I buy my cattle when they are about 6 months old and then feed them out for a year. I want quality calves that I know the genetics of, which is why I buy from farms I know and trust. Another practice of high quality meat that we take pride in is we do not use hormones, steroids or antibiotics. I have found that cattle want love and wide open pastures to live a healthy and happy life. The grain we feed is grown locally and not medicated. The grass hay the cattle eat during the winter is also grown locally. Thank you for considering Rice Family Farms to be your beef supplier! Fill up your freezer with our beef, and you won’t regret it!