Twin Oaks Farms is a seventh-generation family operation run by Jason Workman, his parents Fred and Cammie and family. They have a Shorthorn cow-calf operation, maintaining around 150 cows. Twin Oaks Farms raise calves from birth to slaughter, then sell their beef products through farmers markets, restaurants and local auctions.
Conservation was a priority for the past generations of Twin Oaks Farms and continues to be one today. From fencing in streams to rotational grazing, Twin Oaks Farms follows a number of conservation practices to leave the land better than they found it. Currently, the farm is building two barns to house their cattle during the winter to control soil erosion and water quality. In addition, they are developing a winter manure storage system which will allow them to haul in the summer when the manure is dry.
Red Hill Farm is run by Randy Raber and his three sons, Nathan, Jonathan and Casey. Raber has been in the cattle business for the past 30 years and runs mostly Angus cattle. They market their cattle through Meyer Natural Meats and Pineland Foods, shipping approximately ten loads of finished cattle each year. Red Hill Farm beef can also be found on the menu at their family-owned restaurants the Bear’s Den Steakhouse and 360° Burger, both located near Cambridge, Ohio.
The Raber family demonstrates environmental stewardship efforts by practicing no-till, planting cover crops, and using manure as fertilizer.
Arnett grew up on a cattle operation in Darke County and has loved cattle ever since. During his time in The Ohio State University’s animal sciences program, Arnett built relationships with mentors and took on opportunities which led to a career in livestock genetics and specifically artificial insemination.
Arnett is now the director of beef genetic programs at ST Genetics. He is passionate about helping their customers increase profits through high quality genetics and is involved in the procurement of beef sires. In 2024, Arnett’s team had the top sire in the Angus breed. Several other sires were named in the top 20. He attributes this success to the hard work of his team and customers who help spread their genetics to the cattle population.
Peterson was raised on a multi-family operation, raising cattle, hogs and row crops. He was heavily involved in 4-H and FFA and graduated from the Ohio State University where he competed as a member of the general livestock judging team.
After graduation, Peterson returned to the farm. It wasn’t long before he realized that the government and development pressures threatened his operation and others like it. Peterson currently serves in the Ohio House of Representatives, representing voters in the 91st district where he acts as a voice for agriculture, specifically advocating for tax cuts and regulatory reform. His experiences give him a unique perspective on legislation and allow him to share common challenges of Ohio farmers. He is excited to continue advocating for agriculture and creating opportunities for younger generations.
The Wood County Beef Producers have promoted the beef industry for over 100 years, representing a variety of cattle operations. The board prioritizes increasing youth engagement through sponsoring lunches for the judging contest at the Ohio Beef Expo, holding a fall cattle show at their fairgrounds, and organizing a beef carcass contest for the 4-H program. Recently, Wood County hosted the new Northern Lights BEST show. The board offers well-rounded educational experiences and services to ensure that all needs are met in their cattle community.
Ferguson Cattle Company is owned and operated by John Ferguson, who runs the operation with his daughter Lindsey Rowland. They maintain 400 head of Simmental and Angus cattle. The majority of Ferguson Cattle Company’s marketing comes from their annual Rare Vintage production sale where they aim to sell 50 head of bred heifers. They also sell a handful of cattle at the Ohio Beef Expo and sell embryos.
Ferguson Cattle Company has implemented various sustainability practices into their operation, as they believe taking care of the land produces better cattle. They drain into retention ponds, utilize other drainage practices, and follow a pasture rotation.
John Ferguson emphasized that he couldn’t run the operation without his large support system of extended family and employees.
Stanfield was raised on Stanfield Farms, a third-generation Simmental seedstock operation located in Southern Ohio. The family started raising Simmental cattle in 1974 and is operated by Stanfield, his parents, and several other family members. Stanfield Farms runs 50-60 head of cattle at a time, with calving taking place in the spring and fall.
Following his graduation from the Ohio State University’s animal sciences program, Stanfield started a career with Trans Ova Genetics. Stanfield says that he brings his passion for genetics and reproductive technology back to the farm, where they recently incorporated embryo transfer and IVF into their breeding process. He enjoys identifying elite genetics to bring to his herd.
