Dutton Cattle Company (DCC) welcomed members of the Union Local FFA chapter to their Belmont County farm to offer insight into raising the unique breed of Akaushi Wagyu Cattle. Students arrived on Friday, October 22 to tour the Dutton Cattle Company property while gaining firsthand knowledge of a local working beef cattle operation.
The ranch tour was led by ranch Manager Jeff Shepherd, who has been working with Dutton Cattle for the last three years.
“The Akaushi Wagyu cattle breed is incredibly unique, and we own the largest registered full blood herd this side of the Mississippi,” Shepherd said. “Our job, above all else, is to steward the breed.”
The students were led along the gravel road between the pastures to view the Akaushi Wagyu cattle that call Dutton Cattle Company home. It provided a glimpse into the daily life of not just the animals, but the DCC staff, as well, who were thrilled to educate the youth on their ranching practices.
“These youth have an interest in agriculture and truly are the future of farming in America,” Shepherd said. “We enjoyed giving the students the opportunity to not only see these cattle, but see them being raised right in their local area.”
After the ranch tour the students were invited to the Dutton’s family restaurant, The Pike 40 in Morristown, Ohio for lunch. The Pike 40 prepared burgers for the students with beef from the cattle raised on the Dutton Cattle Company Farm.
To learn more about Dutton Cattle Company and Akaushi Wagyu cattle, please visit www.duttonakaushi.com.
