Thousand Hills Cattle

Earlier this month, Sweet Grown Alabama member Thousand Hills Cattle had the privilege of serving local farm-raised beef to the competitors at the Helena Miracle League baseball season finale! Helena Miracle League allows children and adults facing physical and mental disabilities an opportunity to participate in the great American pastime. What an outstanding way to support your community with a touch of local goodness.

Tonight we had the privilege of serving Alabama farm raised beef to the exceptional competitors at the Helena Miracle League baseball season finale. Thank you to Jason and Cori Heath for inviting us to help prepare tonight’s pregame meal!

"October Beef Month got its start in 1965 when the leaders of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association, the National Cattlemen’s Association, and the Livestock and Meat Board in Chicago combined forces. At the time, Ed Whatley, who would go on to foster a nearly 50-year career with the Cattlemen’s Association, was working for A&P Grocers in the meat department. One day, two leaders from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association stopped into his store and completely changed the course of his life forever.

“They came by and said, ‘We just purchased a van, and we painted it up. We have a PA system inside, and we’re going to put a cow on top of it. We want to put beef on the map in Alabama, and we need someone to drive it,’” Whatley remembers of the conversation. “Long story short, I went to work with them a few months later.”" - Jamie Walden with AL.com

Read more about the history of October Beef Month, Mr. Whatley's time with the ACA, and the significant role beef plays across the state of Alabama in the AL.com article ➡ https://tinyurl.com/beefmonthinal

We’ve had a busy weekend here at Thousand Hills Cattle! On Friday night we picked up beef that was graciously donated by Trevor Collier in Rogersville, AL and today we did some “light ranching” with Jamie D***s in Louisville, AL. He also donated beef, enough to fill 2 complete freezers!

Thanks to Trevor and Jamie, numerous families will be able to enjoy fresh Alabama Beef! They are truly “Cattlemen Producing Hope!”

Check out our friends at Trinity Farms!!! David was one of our first partners to provide beef for families in need. His farm is family owned and operated and he delivers across the state! If you are looking for freezer beef, give him a call!

Check out the Down to Earth article in the Neighbors magazine this month.

Looking to fill your freezer with beef? CK Cattle is one of our partners! Call them!

CK Cattle CK Cattle is a 3 generation family owned and operated business. CK Cattle produces Angus, Chiangus and SimAngus seedstock cattle and commercial cattle.

Excited to be a part of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association convention this year! Looking forward to seeing our cattle partners and building some new relationships!

Today Thousand Hills Cattle had the opportunity to represent Shelby County Cattlemen’s Association at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery. We partnered with other county cattlemen associations and grilled approximately 1000 hamburgers. We were also able to put our new grill in to service! While we continue to provide freezer beef for families in need, we now have the opportunity to serve fresh grilled beef as well! Michael even got to visit with his old Air Force buddies from his service days! It was a great day!

From our family to yours, Happy Easter!

Michael and I had the pleasure of attending the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association convention this past weekend in Mobile. We had so much fun connecting with our producers in the cattle industry. Michael graduated from the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program as well. We are looking forward to another great year serving our community!!

Cattle Drive 2021

From Lowndes County, over to Clay County, up to Lauderdale County, and right here in Shelby County, came beef from Alabama Cattlemen. Some of it was driven here and delivered to us, and some gave us the privilege of driving across the state to view the cattle operations in person and pick up the beef.
Once it arrived here at “Headquarters”, aka our basement, it was then put on the road again, to families in Montgomery, Shelby, Chilton, Jefferson, and St. Clair Counties.
Surely not a cattle drive by normal means, yet we did move a lot of beef up and down the highways this year. While having the privilege of being on the delivery crew, I get to see the end result. I just wish folks could see what really had to happen to make this dream work. From cattle ranchers up early and working all day to raise, feed, and vet the cattle, to the folks working in offices who give of their time and resources to help us buy and deliver the beef , to the stay at home mom, the Pastor, and the coworker who helped connect us to families in need. God has used many people with different talents and abilities to bless others.
So, these were the last 3 freezers to be delivered for 2021. Our basement is empty again, but our hearts are full of gratitude for the year past and excitement for the year to come. Thank you to all that rode with us in some fashion this year. You helped us show the love of Christ to many people, and we pray for His blessings to be with you all this coming year.

https://youtu.be/i4NmwI3EXE4

Thousand Hills 2021 Year-end review

Had a great weekend in northwest Alabama. Thank you Alabama Cattlemen’s Association!

We had the honor to partner with Shelby County Cattlemen's Association to provide steaks for the Alabaster Fire Department over the next 3 working shifts!

A special thanks to Michael Smith of Thousand Hills Cattle Company for dropping off steaks to the hard working men of Engine 13 & Tower 19.

Meet Michael Smith of Shelby County.

“Cattlemen producing hope” is the mantra that keeps Michael and his herd at Thousand Hills Cattle going. Based in Alabaster in northern Shelby County, Thousand Hills Cattle is a non-profit operation that provides freezer beef to Alabama families in need, free of charge. “Being a cattleman gives me the opportunity to help feed people,” he said. “I believe the Lord put me on this earth to serve His people, and that’s what I want to do every day of my life.”

New to the cattle farming world, Michael jokes that his days are lined with building fences and working the land with the goal of providing the healthiest and safest pasture possible for his cattle. While he tends the land and herd, his wife, Dr. Kelli Smith, is a full-time professor at Auburn University in Montgomery. She also handles all administrative duties around the farm.

The couple have two daughters— Graci, 19, and Bradli, 15.

“I’ve been blessed to have two opportunities in my life to work alongside my heroes,” he said. “First in the United States Air Force and now as a member of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program.”

Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program Student Michael Smith of Thousand Hills Cattle in Shelby County has joined us at the Alabama Junior Cattlemen's Association Round-Up to lead this morning’s devotional service. Thank you for your leadership, Michael! 🤠

360 pounds of fresh meat is pretty heavy. Thanks to Greg D Frost for helping us get it delivered to a great family and thanks again to all of you who made this day possible!

Today we received our next round of beef from David Lee and his family at Trinity Farms. This delivery was special because we used a very generous donation from the fine men at the Shelby County Cattlemen’s Association. Their gift along with our continued partnership with Trinity Farms will allow a freezer full of beef and pork to be delivered to a very deserving family in Shelby County this weekend. Yet again, God is using Cattlemen from across the state to provide quality local farm raised meat to families free of charge. These partnerships are the reason our motto at Thousand Hills is “Cattlemen Producing Hope” Shelby County Cattlemen's Association Trinity Farms

Thanks to the Alabama Cattleman’s Association for allowing us to donate local Shelby County beef to today’s cookout at Maxwell.

Today we had the privilege of donating and helping serve locally raised Bama beef to the men and women who are currently serving at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery. Michael had the honor to represent Thousand Hills Cattle and give back to the the branch of service that has given him so much! Thanks Sweet Grown Alabama for allowing us the opportunity to help!

https://youtu.be/zoO097Wd0NA

Partners

We are excited to partner with Sweet Grown Alabama!!

It's Monday! You know what that means- time to welcome a new crop of members to the Sweet Grown Alabama family.
Thousand Hills Cattle- Maylene
Greene Prairie Shrimp- Boligee
CK Cattle- Hope Hull
Raybucks Farm Supply- Woodland
Mooneyham Bee Farms- Athens
Learn more and find locally grown near you at SweetGrownAlabama.org.

Just delivered our 3rd freezer of beef and pork! Thank you to all the special people that made today’s delivery possible. For more information on how you can help, send us a message!