Twin Oak Farms is not only rooted in deep farming tradition, but it is also growing a bright future in beef.

The farm includes sixth-generation farmers Fred and Cammie Workman, as well as son Jason, daughter Alyson Baker and her husband, Doug, along with Doug and Alyson’s three children. The Workmans won the 2024 Ohio Conservation Farm Family award.

Jason, the seventh generation on the farm, works with Fred on the day-to-day operations and says his pastures are as valuable as some cornfields.

Grazing paddocks

Fred prides himself and the 162-acre family farm on the Shorthorn cattle grazing in the pastures. He says by utilizing rotational grazing, the farm can have more cattle per acre. This allows for better soil conditions and better forage for the cattle.

“Our breeding is geared toward carcass quality for the retail side,” Jason says.

By working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Ashland County Soil District, the farm has developed two natural springs and added storage tanks closer to the paddocks, so the cattle do not have to travel far for water. This also ensures cattle eat more of the grass and don’t trample as much.

The creeks and streams have been fenced to minimize water pollution. The farm has erected 3,000 feet of fence on both sides, with a 10-foot driveway for moving cattle, creating various paddocks. This has cut down on the time to move cattle, which gives the cows more time to eat and relax. The cattle don’t stay in one area as much, keeping a more uniform grass growth.

The farm has also installed gravel access roads to and from different parts of the pastures, with fences on both ends to control cattle when moving from pasture to pasture, which also lessens compaction and stress on cattle.

Manure management

The Workmans are enrolled in H2Ohio this year and are building a manure storage facility — a project four years in the making. This will allow the farm to keep the cows on concrete for feeding during the winter.

Keeping the cattle out of the mud in pastures will help with feed efficiency and calving during the wet months. It will also aid in controlling soil erosion and water pollution. This also allows the Workmans to control and capture the manure from the cows and then spread it when conditions are ideal.

As the manure facilities are being constructed, the farm is putting in an underground water outlet that will empty into the creek. The water will travel about 1,500 feet, capturing any surface that comes off the road, and drains from the barns while keeping the water away from the cattle.

In addition to the pasture fencing projects, the farm utilizes heavy-use pads for feeding and concrete creek crossing for the cattle. Twin Oak Farms has 150 cows on the farm and raises the calves until harvest. The farm sells beef to restaurants and farmers markets. In addition, the farm also sells breeding replacement animals and registered Shorthorn show cattle.

“The biggest thing is to continue to improve the genetics in the carcass quality of the cattle we are raising for our customers,” Jason says.

The farm raises 95% of the feed for cattle on the farm, only purchasing minerals and soybean meal for the grain ration. The corn, hay, spelts and rye are raised on the farm. Jason says he bales 50 to 60 acres of the rye, and the rest is burned off and left as organic matter. The cattle are not the farm’s only focus when it comes to conservation.

The Workmans have constructed 70 solar panels on the side of the barn. The farm will always be on the power grid.

However, in the summer, the farm gains credits with solar units so that in the winter, the farm can utilize the credits when it’s cloudy. It’s been about a two-year project for the farm to complete.

Honey in the making

And as some would say, a bad thing can mask a blessing in the end.

The farm is named for twin oak trees growing in the pasture in front of the farm. During a thunderstorm, lightning took one of the tress. When they finally cut the tree, inside was something the family wasn’t expecting — a 2-foot-wide beehive.

Jason’s brother-in-law, Doug Baker, worked and eventually located the queen in the hive. Baker and his wife, Alyson, went to work starting a new hive with the queen.

Eventually another income source was developed — honey.

The farm has a 2-acre pollinator habitat for the bees to pollinate. Now the farm boasts between seven to 12 hives.

Seachrist is a content producer for Farm Progress.