THE MOST important agricultural industry in the United States is cattle production, which persistently “accounts for the largest share of total cash receipts for agricultural commodities,” according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Between 2002 and 2022, the USDA said the value of cattle and calf production rose from $27.1 billion to $61.9 billion. The world’s largest-fed cattle industry is America, which is the world’s largest beef consumer, with Americans mainly using high-value, grain-fed beef. If it is not already clear enough, cattle and beef farmers are essential to the country and its communities. Lebanon has its very own cattle farmers who are working to feed families. Neal Farms Beef Co., run by Houston and Brooke Neal’s family, is the name of the business.

The journey began in the late 1800s with Houston’s great-great-grandad. Houston’s grandad, Kenneth Neal, took over around the 1940s and passed the farm down to his three sons: Pal (Houston’s dad), Phil, and Perry. The three did more than just manage the property. The Neal brothers made the farm into one of the largest cow operations in the Southeast.

The family now owns about 1,000 acres and rents another 5,000 acres for hay cutting and running beef cattle. They raise an average of over 1,000 mama cows, which calf either in the fall or spring. Houston and Brooke began finishing some calves for the local public as a true farm-to-table experience starting in 2022, although they still sell the majority of the calves at the local sale barn. 

In addition to Houston helping on the farm in his spare time, he works as a full-time bridge engineer in Nashville, and Brooke is a product manager at a 401(k) integration company, all while both are raising two children. Despite their busy lives, they saw the continuing growth of Middle Tennessee and the significance of people knowing where their food originated, realizing the rising demand for local farm-raised beef. So they decided communities needed a Neal family farm-to-table experience and started Neal Farms Beef Co. 

“We are able to provide families food,” Houston said. “We love helping others, and what way helps others more than putting quality beef on their tables?” 

The couple also wanted to teach their kids the meaning of hard work. “We thought this was something that we could do with our kids — teaching them lessons and having them do something that Houston always [enjoyed while] growing up,” said Brooke, who manages the farm’s Facebook and Instagram pages, their best methods for communicating with customers. “We enjoy doing it as a family, so we thought we might as well make a business out of it.” 

Neal Farms Beef Co., which shares the same location as the physical farm, prepares all-natural, high-quality, farm-raised beef. The calves are born, humanely raised, cared for, and finished on the same farm, which Houston says is not very common these days and is as local as one can get. Though the cattle are cross-bred, they always consist of Red or Black Angus cows. A trusted local farmer provides the grain that is fed to them, and the Neals’ grass-fed and grain-finished program ensures customers have tender, flavorful, nutritious protein. They sell beef by the pound and in quarter, half, and whole shares. Customers can purchase beef from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Sunday at the farm. People can also find the Neals’ beef at the Mt. Juliet Farmers Market. 

For the couple, the community has helped bring success to Neal Farms. 

“The community, Wilson County as a whole, has been so supportive,” said Brooke. 

“We’re based out of Lebanon, but we set up at the Mt. Juliet Farmers Market twice a month, and we have had so many people recommend us and come back to us. Just the community as a whole has been very supportive, and I think we wouldn’t be doing as well as we have if it wasn’t for them.” 

Their kids, the love of God, and the love of the community motivate them every day. 

“What I love most about the farm is the quality of life it provides,” Houston said. “I think the ‘farm life’ is in my blood.” 

And maybe that “farm life” blood will continue to spread to his children, who may one day help the business as adults. But that decision is still far down the road. For now, the family will keep doing what they do best — feed their community with quality beef. GN