My name is Kim Yates and I own and operate Angelina All Natural Beef with my husband David in Canton, Texas. We weren’t born on ranches and we didn’t grow up in the saddle – we are “skip-a-generation” cattle ranchers. David’s family also had a farm and ranching history bringing the first “steam driven” hay baler to Kaufman County but that legacy fell away generations ago. I can remember riding to
the ranch to check cows with my grandparents. My little sisters and I would ride in the back of the truck and pour out range cubes for the cows. They would leap for joy and follow us wherever “Pappy” wanted to take them. He would rotate pastures so they always had fresh grass and water and he would plant crimson clover and vetch to keep them healthy through the winter months. People would tell him that his cows were overfed and my mother recollects many times when the cows would be fed before the kids. He was an ethical and admirable steward who took great pride in the land and the well-being of his cattle.
“Pappy” passed away when I was 15, long before I knew I wanted to be a rancher. But after spending 17 years in the pharmaceutical industry, his ranching legacy was resurrected. I met David and we shared a dream of raising cattle and being stewards of the land. I decided to kick off my heels and pull on my boots, trade in my company car for a 135 horse power tractor, give up the big house with a small patch of grass and find a small house with a big patch of grass. Ranching is hard work but David and I are honored to carry on the legacy of our grandfathers and great grandfathers. Being “skip-a-generation” cattle ranchers, unlike many of our counterparts, we had to start from scratch, work hard, pinch pennies and save for everything we have. The cost of cattle, the cost of equipment, the cost of land and the cost of keeping cows fat and happy can be daunting. Despite that, we have been blessed to keep and grow our business through challenging market conditions and devastating drought. When many of our counterparts were selling their herds, we have grown our operation to over 120 cows and we are the proud stewards of 900 leased and owned acres. We are a two person operation and we have stayed true to our mission of providing a “clean” and lean source of beef to our customers. It’s not easy work but it is good work and we strive to get better and better every year. Our mission at Angelina All Natural Beef is to provide antibiotic and steroid free, grass finished beef to consumers who are looking for a healthy alternative to the traditional feedlot finished beef that is readily available in grocery stores and supercenters. After working in the pharmaceutical industry promoting antibiotics, hormones and cholesterol lowering medications, I am acutely aware of the impact of antibiotic resistance, steroid residues and unhealthy fats in our food which is why a “clean” and lean source of protein without antibiotics and steroids is important to our overall health. At Angelina All Natural Beef, our customers can feel confident that their families will have a nutritious and delicious eating experience and they will have the benefit of knowing where their food comes from. We take great pride in caring for our cattle and being stewards of the land. We are ethical producers and conscientious environmentalists who want to leave the condition of the soil better than we found it. One day when we are no longer on this green earth, our ashes fertilize the grass and our souls have been whisked off to heaven, I look forward to introducing David to “Pappy” and hearing him say “Good work you two. I’m proud of you. That’s exactly how I would have done it.”
