County: Alamance
Years in Firsthand Foods Network: 2010-2019
Michael Muller & Judy Frank
Muller’s Grassfed Beef • Mebane, NC
OUR FARMERS
COUNTY
Orange
Orange
YEAR FOUNDED
1976
1976
FARM SIZE
80 acres
80 acres
FARM OUTPUT
Beef Cattle
Beef Cattle
Michael and Judy never imagined their future would involve farming. But they came of age in the 1970’s when young people were looking to “get back” to the land. Their path led them south for the warmth and together with some friends they purchased their first parcel. It came with a dairy cow, a mule and a tobacco allotment and they soon added market vegetables, a few sheep and chickens.
But it’s beef cattle that ended up working out for the long term. Through trial and error and frequent visits with their more experienced neighbor, Michael and Judy grew their herd, developed their pastures, and invested in the infrastructure to be able to “work” their cattle and put up hay. Because they have a small herd and prefer to calve just once a year, they don’t need a bull year-round so they share one in a unique arrangement with two nearby producers.
