The Foundation of Brasstown Beef.

Ridgefield Farm

Ridgefield Farm is where Brasstown Beef begins. Established in 1954 by E.J. and Genevieve Whitmire, the farm remains the foundation of the program and the place where the standards behind Brasstown Beef were built. Set in Brasstown, North Carolina, Ridgefield Farm has always been more than a piece of land. It's where the Whitmire family's long farming history meets the day-to-day commitment of raising better Angus cattle.

A Farm

Built to Stay in Agriculture

In 2006, the Whitmire family placed 867 acres of its 1,023-acre farm into a conservation easement to help ensure the land would remain forever in agricultural use. That matters because Brasstown Beef was never built around short-term thinking. The farm itself is part of that plan.

That same mindset carries through the rest of the program. Protect the land, manage it carefully, and use it to support better cattle over time.

Every season, every decision, every standard begins here.

What Happens at Ridgefield Farm

Ridgefield Farm is not a backdrop for the brand. It’s an active part of how Brasstown Beef operates.

This is where the standards for the cattle destined to become Brasstown Beef were developed. The optimum genetics, feed and care to provide the best tasting beef in the industry. It’s also where the practical side of breeding for long-term quality shows up, season after season.

Pasture, Feed, and Herd Management

The cattle at Ridgefield Farm are kept on pasture and managed in a way that reflects the broader Brasstown Beef standard. Grass is always part of the program, along with forage-based feed and optimum probiotics and minerals to support cattle health and steady development.

The point isn’t to force a label. The point is to raise cattle carefully, feed them well, and avoid shortcuts that work against long-term quality.

That’s one of the reasons Ridgefield Farm remains central to Brasstown Beef. The farm allows the program to stay close to what matters most: the herd, the land, and how both are managed over time to produce high-quality breeding stock that is sold to other producer partners who are part of the supply chain for Brasstown Beef.

Data-driven decisions. Generational results.

The Role of Technology on the Farm

Ridgefield Farm also reflects a more technical side of cattle production. Steve Whitmire has long focused on using tools like genetic evaluation, ultrasound, and feed-efficiency data to identify animals with the traits the program values most.

That kind of technology is not separate from the farm. It’s part of how the farm is managed.

Better beef does not happen by accident. It starts with choosing the right animals, making disciplined breeding decisions, and paying attention to the details that shape quality well before harvest.

Why Ridgefield
Farm Matters

Ridgefield Farm matters because it provides Brasstown Beef with a real foundation. Not just a place of origin, but a working farm that still shapes the program.

It’s where family history, land stewardship, herd management, and cattle genetics come together. That is what makes the farm more than a setting. It’s part of the reason Brasstown Beef is what it is today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Ridgefield Farm?

Ridgefield Farm is located in Brasstown, North Carolina, and serves as the farm behind Brasstown Beef.

When was Ridgefield Farm established?

The farm was established in 1954 by E.J. and Genevieve Whitmire.

Is Ridgefield Farm protected for agricultural use?

In 2006, the Whitmire family placed 867 acres of the 1,023-acre farm into a conservation easement to help preserve it for agriculture.

Why is Ridgefield Farm important to Brasstown Beef?

Ridgefield Farm is where the cattle program, land management approach, and genetics-focused standards behind Brasstown Beef were developed and continue to be carried forward.