ridgeview land & cattle

Ridgeview Land and Cattle is a first-generation family-owned operation. It was founded in 2018 and is committed to regenerative agriculture production. The three pillars of this working farm are land, cattle, and community. Their goals surrounding these pillars are to be “stewards of the land, producers of quality livestock, and enhancers of [their] rural community.” Unlike many old-fashioned farms, an aspect that Taylor and Leah strive to fulfill is the business side of farming.

Taylor and Leah both have strong agricultural backgrounds. Leslie Applegate, the first ever National FFA President, is Taylor's great-grandpa, with his grandpa and dad following as Virginia State FFA President and Vice-President. This side of his family also has the oldest dairy farm in Virginia, Oakmulgee Dairy. The other side of his family owns Battleview Orchards, a 100+ year-old direct consumer farm located in New Jersey. Taylor was raised on Ridgeview Land and Cattle in Vermont, hence the business name today. Leah’s family has multiple connections as well, one being her family's farm, Vaughn Farms in Illinois. 

Leah and Taylor have both worked in the racing industry for many years. This has allowed them to travel, meet many new people, and spread their love for agriculture. This piece of land started off as a getaway for this family in a world where they were literally going 200 mph all the time. 

Ridgeview Land and Cattle got started when Taylor was looking for an affordable piece of land, even if it was a fixer-upper. He went to college for engineering and had no degree in agriculture. But, upon educating himself and attending a ranching for profit school, he wanted to turn this hobby into a business. 

Now, Taylor and Leah have turned this land into a place where hard work is valued and they are able to see the direct fruits of their labor. They are constantly motivated to keep agriculture alive in their family and influence future generations of agricultural leaders, farmers and ranchers. The Moyers feel a responsibility to produce food for neighbors and friends in our growing society. 

A typical day at the farm consists of keeping mineral troughs full, replenishing clean water, checking cattle, and moving cattle. Ridgeview's livestock are fed by rotational grazing, so they are constantly being moved throughout pasture. It also consists of lots of time spent in the office marketing and networking to build strong relationships with other cattlemen and feed suppliers. 

Ridgeview Land and Cattles' goals going forward are to economically and sustainably maximize the efficiency of land while restoring soil health in the surrounding community. Taylor says he is like the old man on our road, although he is only 35, but he loves that there are younger people surrounding Ridgeview pursuing careers in agriculture. The biggest opportunity that this journey has provided is bringing Taylor and Leah closer together than ever. They got engaged on the land after attending a cow sale, and they got married on the land as well. They have been connected to many like-minded producers across the country, and feel as if this undertaking has reinvigorated hope for young people's futures in agriculture. 

instagram: @ridgeviewlandandcattle

website: www.ridgeviewlandandcattle.com