SF Premium Beef

05/05/2026

We recently completed a water project with the Clinch Valley Soil & Water Conservation District team.

This pasture historically had a very marginal water system that required continuous monitoring in dry conditions.

We put their design to the test this week, turning 180 cows and 95 yearling heifers in on the new water system, and it was a relief to see an abundance of water flowing, even in drought conditions!

A bonus for us is the ability to restore native habitat along the stream bank. We are already seeing trout lilies for the first time 🌱


Clinch Valley Soil and Water Conservation District

05/04/2026

The newest mama on the farm! Her baby is about 45 minutes old and exploring his environment.

So far, calving season has been a pleasure. We are taking a more hands-off approach now that calving is happening in more forgiving weather conditions and the cows - especially the heifers - have done a phenomenal job.

We are realizing how much we have micromanaged in the past. How little trust we have placed in nature and our cows, and how much pressure that has put on us.

We have set our girls up for success and they are showing us how it’s done!

04/28/2026

Even the first-calf heifers are extremely good at concealing their babies 👀

04/25/2026

We have too many changes in effect this year, but we highly recommend a conversation with Providence Hill Farm - this sounds like an amazing partnership opportunity!

This spring we have an exciting new opportunity to partner with a local farm to expand our flock. We will be grazing a group of commercial ewes along side the owners feeder cattle to improve forage utilization and add a new revenue stream to his operation! If you are interested in genetics that can work in pasture based managment systems reach out to us this spring!

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day! 🌎🌱

We have celebrated by participating in a local recycling day and by caring for this tiny native river cane sprout - hoping it will soon be joined by others.

04/16/2026

Today, we added “mushroom farming” to our resumes - inoculating a beech log with shiitake plugs 🍄‍🟫

04/12/2026

We have had a lot of people ask how calving is going this year, and we don’t know yet because we haven’t officially started.

However, we can share how it is NOT going and what a relief that has been.

We haven’t had calves to warm up and reintroduce to mama. We haven’t pulled any winter night shifts, and we haven’t exchanged photos to see who is the most frozen (Andy usually wins, but it could be the frozen beard effect).

We expect our heifers to start calving this week, in 70 degree temps on green grass. Yes, we need rain, but we are choosing to focus on the things that fall under our control - our attitudes, behaviors, and skills.

04/12/2026

The farm dogs have clocked out for the weekend 🐾

04/08/2026

Another great article from Ranching For Profit. This is our first year of letting the cows do the calving and we are already feeling the difference. We aren't hollow-eyed, frozen, or exhausted - and neither are the cows!

Yes, we will run into unexpected issues and we admittedly still feel the pull to obsessively check the cows. However, the end goal is a herd that can thrive without our constant intervention and micromanaging, and we trust ourselves to handle the unexpected issues.

Calving season is here. On some ranches, the people do the calving. On others, the cows do the calving. Which one is your operation?

04/07/2026

Our vision statement says “our enterprises work in harmony with nature, improving the ecosystem and leaving the land better than we found it.”

This past week, we were able to put those words into action in a meaningful way - working with The Nature Conservancy of Virginia, Friends of the Cedars, and other area volunteers to start over 1400 new native river cane plants! 🌱

Native river cane (Arundinaria gigantea) is a native bamboo to North America that currently occupies only 2% of its native range. It provides amazing benefits like stream bank stabilization and flood protection.

Canebrakes provide habitat for migratory song birds, wildlife, and river cane is the specific host plant for several rare cane feeding moths. This plant provides a shady buffer along streams to cool water temperatures and prevent invasive species from germinating in low light conditions. It also acts as a huge nitrogen sink, capturing run off before it enters water ways.

Rivercane is also incredibly important to tribal nations and was used for the construction of everything from walls to torches to weapons.

A local historian tells us that cane is the reason the very first Smith survived here, but we cannot verify that story 😁