#FarmFriday
Smith Family Pastures: Grass-Fed Beef and Regenerative Farming in Floyd, VA
If you’ve ever wondered where to find grass-fed beef, here is one LOCAL answer tucked into the rolling hills of our countryside at Smith Family Pastures.
This isn’t commercial farming. This is careful, intentional stewardship of land, animals, and family legacy.
Daniel and Emily Smith, along with their two boys, Charlie and Bentley, are raising cattle in a way that feels both old-fashioned and incredibly forward-thinking at the same time. Their mission is simple: raise healthy cattle, rebuild healthy soil, and provide healthy beef to families who care about where their food comes from.
And they’re doing it through regenerative farming.
What Makes Their Beef Different?
At Smith Family Pastures, cattle are:
- 100% grass-fed and grass-finished
- Never given antibiotics, growth hormones, or steroids
- Rotationally grazed across fresh pasture daily
- Raised in a system designed to improve the soil, not deplete it
Instead of keeping cattle in one place, the Smiths move them regularly to mimic nature. The pasture rests. The soil rebuilds. The grass grows thicker and more nutritious. The cattle thrive.
This method doesn’t just produce exceptional grass-raised beef — it restores the land for the next generation.
The Smith’s added the South Poll breed into their herd. Emily says they chose the breed because “they get fat on Grass. Since we wanted to raise and sell Grass-Fed Beef, we needed a breed that could do this well and give us a good product. They are moderate-framed, slick-haired, and docile animals known for high fertility, excellent foraging ability, and top-tier, tender beef.”
Emily mentioned they also sell some to other producers looking to start or add to their South Poll herd. The South Poll breed endures the heat well and even the recent cold that we’ve had.
During the warmer seasons, the cattle are moved every 1-4 days depending on the paddock size. During the winter the cows have been bale grazing. Emily says, “Once we run out of grass, we set hay bales out in the pasture and give them access to several hay bales that last them anywhere from 3-5 days. We put bale rings around the hay bales and set up a poly wire fence with step-in posts. After that 3-5 days, we move the bale rings to the new hay bales, we set up a new fence, and take down the old fence to let the cattle have access to the hay.
A Family Farm With a Bigger Purpose
What makes this farm especially meaningful is that it’s truly a family effort. Their sons are learning firsthand how to care for the land and animals with respect and intention. This isn’t just about today’s harvest. It’s about teaching the next generation how to do things the right way.
Their story was even featured in The Delmarva Farmer (AmericanFarm.com) magazine for inspiring regenerative practices and youth involvement in agriculture — and once you see how they operate, you understand why.
Daniel and Emily chose to homeschool both of their boys and leverage the farm for education giving them hands-on learning opportunities. Not only do they have their cattle, but they also have a herd of goats in their clearcut to help control weeds. They also have laying hens and sell eggs from them. Their son, Charlie manages the egg layer hens and delivers eggs. Both Charlie and Bentley help in the day to day operations including building/managing fence, and both own their own cattle which their parents said help provide them with opportunities to learn skills in finance, management and responsibility as they grow their herds and select some for beef. These types of opportunities allow them to learn skills that will help in all areas and aspects of life.
And family is not limited to just humans working the farm, but also includes some Canine help. They have livestock guardian dogs with the goat herd and flock of laying hens, and they have some heelers, one of which is still learning how to help herd the calves!
Why Regenerative Farming Matters to You
You might think regenerative farming is just a buzzword. It’s not.
It means:
- Healthier soil = more nutrient-dense grass
- Nutrient-dense grass = healthier cattle
- Healthier cattle = healthier beef for your family
In fact, they’ve been recognized with an award! Smith Family Pastures won the Department of Soil, Conservation and Recreation Clean Water Farm Award in 2023 from Skyline Soil and Water Conservation. It was an exciting honor for them.
When you purchase from Smith Family Pastures, you’re not just buying beef. You’re investing in food raised with care, transparency, and integrity — right here in Floyd, Virginia.
2026 Beef Shares Available – Make Your Deposit Today!
Smith Family Pastures offers quarter, half, and whole beef shares to families who want their freezer stocked with local, pasture-raised beef they can trust. They are currently taking deposits on 2026 shares to be available in October.
The calves are born on their farm and they take them from birth to processing. Cattle are never given any antibiotics, growth hormones or steroids. They are born, raised, and finished on grass. Because they raise cattle naturally and at the pace nature allows, availability is limited and reservations are important.
👉 Visit smithfamilypastures.com to learn how their beef shares work and reserve yours.
👉 Or call for more information: 540-808-7518
👉 Or email at smithfamilypastures@gmail.com
When you buy your beef from them, you’re supporting a local family farm, regenerative agriculture, and putting some of the cleanest beef you’ll find anywhere on your table!
And that’s something worth sharing!
