Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Johnston
Hi Megan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a rancher in Citrus county, raising beef to sell directly to the consumer. I don’t come from an agricultural background, but I started riding horses when I was eight years old, which led me to work in the Quarter Horse industry after high school. Riding eventually led me to the ranch rodeo world, which is how I became interested in the beef cattle industry. I bought a small herd of bred cows in 2016 and moved to Floral City, where I was keeping them. I quickly realized I wanted to raise beef full time, so the following year, I went from selling calves to finishing beef and marketing it directly to the customer.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The struggles have really just been learning experiences. Starting out as a first-generation rancher, I had a lot to learn, But I’ve enjoyed every part of that process, even the difficult days.
We’ve been impressed with Riverbend Cattle Co., but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I raise beef from start to finish, I have herds of momma cows, which I breed to bulls so that they each have a calf every year. After the calves are weaned, I continue raising them for beef. After the animal is harvested at about two years old, I sell the beef directly to the customer, at farmer’s markets and through home delivery. A lot of beef cattle business play one role in the production chain. For example, cow/calf operations produce the calves and sell them to a stocker or backgrounder who grows the calf to about 800-900 lbs., who then sells it to a feedlot or finishing operation. Who then sells the beef to a retailer. It’s not common for one person to do all of it from start to finish. But I want to have confidence in the quality of the beef I’m selling, and being able to control all aspects of it from start to finish makes that possible. In addition to providing families with healthy food, part of what drives me is able to promote Florida’s ranching heritage and its ranching industry. Despite the development in our state, and the number of people moving here every day, this lifestyle still exists, and I want to do everything I can to help keep it that way.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
The industry is challenged more and more every day. So much land is being purchased for commercial development, and it’s harder than ever for ranchers to keep their operations running because of things like inheritance taxes. The development and growing population take a huge toll on Florida’s wildlife and natural spaces. Many Florida residents now don’t even know about its ranching heritage. Unfortunately, I only see this getting worse in the next 5-10 years, and I can’t say for certain that there will be a ranching industry to speak of in Florida unless more people become aware of it.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: RiverbendCattleCo.com
- Instagram: @RiverbendCattleCo
- Facebook: Riverbend Cattle Co.
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