Hilltop Angus Grass Fed Beef Mount Gilead Nc

Life with an Angus herd on a third-generation farm in Mt. Gilead

By Christine Hall

If you lot are a meat-eater, there is not much more satisfying than a juicy burger off the grill. At that place are a 1000000 ways to season them, top them, and nowadays them, but at the end of the twenty-four hours, information technology is all about the quality under the bun. And if you have NOT grilled with grassfed beef, you are in for a treat.

Tucked into the Uwharrie hills is Dale and Sharon Thompson'southward Hilltop Angus Farm in Mt. Gilead, a regional source for grassfed beef. Not only is raising grassfed beef a more sustainable selection, it offers a myriad of upgrades in taste and nutrition compared to conventional beef. Grassfed beefiness is besides said to comprise higher levels of omega-three fatty acids, vitamin East, beta carotene, and vitamin C — all while boasting no additives or use of hormones
or chemicals.

Many farmers like Dale Thompson at Hilltop Angus Farm practise regenerative pasture-based cattle farming, which is helping to preserve open landscapes and reverse environmental effects of climatic change. Thompson is the third generation to farm his family'due south land. His ancestor John Thompson migrated to Pee Dee from Inverness Canton, Scotland in 1750, and he is buried on the banks of Lick Creek near the farm. "I feel a close tie to this land," Thompson says. "My male parent brought dairy cows to the farm in 1956. I started milking cows at age 6. I have a collection of arrowheads from the Native Americans that once inhabited these grasses."

It is no surprise that 'herd life' runs in Thompson'due south blood. "Not a minute goes past that I am not thinking nigh the needs of the herd. And when I am away from the farm, my thoughts e'er take me back to the pastures," Thompson says with a contemplative look equally he throttles his John Deere.

Thompson is joined by helper Kristian Kime Lynthacum, a student from North Carolina State University. "Lynthacum is a quick learner, great task primary, and has near mastered how to think like me," Thompson laughs. Lynthacum and Thompson pack a one-two pasture-punch, cruising around on their iv-wheelers, offering big "woo-ing" calls to the cattle, who respond with resounding and guttural moos.

"Kristian is our eyes and ears on the subcontract," says Thompson. "Well, she and Holly, our five-twelvemonth-quondam German Shepherd." Lynthacum, atop her mud-bogging four-wheeler, loads up with Holly each morning to ride the pastures, await for laboring cows, new calves, missing heifers, or unruly bulls. "We typically don't name the cows, but our five bulls accept names," Lynthacum chuckles.

Dale slows the 4-wheeler, hops off, and stoops into the grass to examine his 'scientific discipline experiment' for the planned summer and fall grasses. "This is the hay that volition be cut in August and September," he notes. As we ride through the fields of native grasses, the master gardener in me is perplexed. Fescue, sudangrass, crabgrass, moo-cow pea, clover, Johnson grass, and Bermuda—all growing amongst one another. "All intentional," Dale winks. "Look hither where the Johnson grass is really taking off."

The seemingly unruly mix of grasses and perennials is essentially the all-time tapas meal a herd of growing cattle could ask for. Thompson says he is raising cattle the way his granddaddy did, off the land foraging in the thick — the style nature intended.

When Thompson and Lynthacum are non cruising around the 10-12 diverse pastures of the 150-acre farm, residents of Southern Pines, Pinehurst, and Wilmington can grab the farmers driving Hilltop'south white trailers to their markets. The trailers, which avowal five tied-down deep freezers organized past product, carry items such every bit ground beef, stir-fry strips, shoulder roast, chuck roast, sirloin tip roast, eye of round roast, and soup bones. These trucks are destined for local Moore County Farmers Markets and Wilmington to see networks of buyers. Hilltop Angus Farm too supplies local fine dining establishments including Ashten's, Elliott's on Linden and The Sly Fox.

For those who are interested in trying the beef directly from the farm, the Thompsons take orders through their website. Their products are also offered seasonally through local multi-subcontract CSAs, such as Sandhills Subcontract to Tabular array. "This is where my married woman Sharon'due south expertise comes in," says Thompson. Sharon manages the farm's marketing efforts, works the pre-sales, and maintains the website. "She makes sure customer needs are tended to and orders effectively managed," says Thompson. "I couldn't practice this without her."

The Grassfed Deviation

All grassfed labels are not created equal. Many brands actually feed their cows grain in the last few weeks of life to heave their weight. But the Thompson's herd is never given grain, and the quality direct translates to the richer flavour and diet. Additionally, the Thompsons rotate their herds of more than than 200 Angus cattle to near a dozen different sections and variations of grazing pastures where they fodder on various foliage.

"Comparing the sustainability of grass finishing versus grain finishing cannot exist accomplished based solely on examining what the cow ate — be it grain or grass," says Lauren Stine, an Arkansas adjunct law professor who raises cattle. "A more important question to ask is how those animals were managed throughout their lifetimes."

This is where the Thompson's reliance on both cognition from manufacture-recognized organizations and relationships within their local communities play a pivotal role. The Thompsons achieved "Animal Welfare Approved" certification for their herd of cattle in 2010 past A Greener Earth, which audits and promotes applied and sustainable farming systems. Hilltop proudly displays the commemorative sign on their fencepost to acknowledge the decade of certification and ongoing delivery to loftier-welfare, sustainable farming. "We are proud to exist recognized for our stewardship and transparency."

According to A Greener World, small farms like Hilltop are at the forefront of the growing market for verified sustainable products. "As this market continues to expand, farmers have power within their reach to offer trusted and verified products to a public that is hungry for honestly labeled meat," the organization states.

Thou Shall Not Waste product

'M shall not waste' is an important mantra at Hilltop Angus Farm. "Wasting no part of the animals we raise is adept for sustainable agriculture and for protecting our environs. It'south likewise the right thing to do," says Thomson. "Treating every animal with respect demands that we practice everything we can to employ every part–and waste cipher!" Past employing this method of turning what was in one case wasted into a useful product, Hilltop recently diversified its offerings. They now offer 100% liver jerky treats for dogs. German Shepherd, Holly, must exist a fan.

Hilltop Angus Farm is carrying the torch for whole animal farming. "We are working towards establishing best practices that can become a model for other farms," says Thompson. "Our globe is irresolute. Today'southward consumers desire safe, healthy products grown in tandem with the needs of our environment and respect for the animals that replenish our diet."

For more information about Hilltop Angus Farm, visit hilltopangusgrassfed.com, stay connected with the farm's Facebook folio (@HilltopAngusFarm) and contact Dale and Sharon Thompson at eatgrassfed@hilltopangusgrassfed.com and 910-439-5261.

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Source: https://sandhillsmag.com/pastured-past-meets-sustainable-future

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