THE COWS
Life With Cows 🐮🌾
When we lived in Greenville, Alabama, we started small — just a few bred cows and a pair. From there, things grew… and grew… and grew. With a whole lot of blood, sweat, and tears, our little 39-acre farm expanded to over 100 acres.
James poured countless hours into the land: clearing brush, planting seed, spreading fertilizer, trenching water lines, pouring concrete pads, and installing five-wire high-tensile electric fencing around multiple pastures. It was no small job, but it was worth it.
At our peak, we had 61 head of cattle — steers, mommas, babies, heifers, and even a bull. Along the way, we learned some hard lessons. In 2020, we lost five steers after they became sick.
We also discovered that our bull was “shooting blanks” (the vet’s words, not ours!) — meaning we lost an entire breeding season. Painful lessons, but lessons all the same.
Would we do it again? Absolutely. The challenges made the rewards even sweeter, and we came out of it knowing more than we ever thought we could.
The Sunbright Update 🐂🌱
When we moved to Tennessee, we swore we’d never clear timberland for pasture again. Too expensive, too time-consuming, too hard. But as we’ve learned: never say never. After investing a small fortune and nearly two years of effort, we finally have grass, fencing, and — best of all — cows happily grazing in their new Sunbright pastures.
Hard work? Definitely. Worth it? Every single time.
The Cattle Journey 🐄
In August 2020, we sold 27 steers, leaving us with 34 head — mommas, babies, heifers, and a bull. At that point, we were crossing our fingers that the bull knew what he was doing and that we’d have new calves arriving the next spring (April through June).
By 2021, we had to make some tough choices. Moving a large herd to Tennessee would’ve been a huge challenge, so we sold off quite a few cows. That left us with a smaller herd: 13 cows, 1 bull, and 9 babies. While we worked on getting our Tennessee farm ready — timbering the land, planting grass, and building fences — we leased land to keep them happy and safe.
Fast forward to February 2023, and things had grown again. We were up to 27 head — cows, heifers, steers, and bulls. We know we can’t keep them all long-term, but for now, we’re enjoying the ride and learning as we go.
Because if there’s one thing farming has taught us, it’s this: every season brings new challenges, new lessons, and new rewards. 🌾🐂
Finding Balance in the Herd 🐂🌾
In 2024 and 2025, we sold more of our cattle as we continued to shape the herd to fit our long-term goals. Today, we’re at 21 head — a mix of mommas, heifers, and a few steers.
Right now, we’re working on finding that sweet spot — the magic number that balances how many cows we can comfortably raise with the land and grass we have, while also factoring in how many bales of hay it will take to carry them through the winter. It’s a constant learning curve, but one that keeps us both challenged and excited for what’s ahead.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about numbers — it’s about creating a sustainable rhythm where the land and the herd thrive together. 🌱🐮
