Gene Copenhaver, a fifth-generation cattle farmer in Washington County, says there’s just something special about beef.
“You celebrate with a steak, you have burgers at summer barbecues — it’s a product that brings people together,” he said.
He and his son, Will, manage Copenhaver Brothers Farm in Meadowview, which is a stocker operation with about 1,500 cattle. His family in the county dates back to the 1850s.
Working alongside his family and being outdoors on a beautiful farm is a meaningful way to make a living, he added.
Copenhaver was recently elected vice president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the oldest and largest national organization representing beef farmers and ranchers, at the 2024 Cattle Industry Convention in Orlando, Florida.
Prior to his election, he served as the association’s policy division chair and vice chair, as well as chair and vice chair of the NCBA Tax Credit Committee and the NCBA International Trade Committee.
He also has held leadership roles in the Smyth-Washington Cattlemen’s Association, Virginia Cattlemen’s Foundation and Virginia Cattlemen’s Association.
Copenhaver talked recently about his beef cattle operation and the challenges facing farmers. The answers have been lightly edited.
You are the fifth generation of your family to be cattle farmers in Washington County. Tell us about your family’s history of farming.
My great-great-grandfather, James, came here back in the 1850s and raised a variety of livestock and crops, which fed his family. My grandfather, Steward, raised livestock, tobacco and some vegetables, which supplemented access to food during World War II. My dad and uncle started their operation about 75 years ago. At that time, it was a cow-calf operation that also had sheep, hogs and tobacco. Recently, we have become a stocker operation that buys calves from other farms to raise.
Will there be a sixth generation of your family in cattle farming?
I am proud that my son, Will, is already on the farm full time and is our sixth generation to carry on the farming legacy. I am planning to eventually transition the farm to him in the future. I am also a proud grandfather and I hope my granddaughter, Alia, might one day run the farm as our seventh generation.
Tell us about your farm in Washington County.
Along with my son, Will, I manage Copenhaver Brothers Farm, which is a stocker operation. That means we buy calves, feed and raise them, and then sell them. Currently, we run about 1,500 cattle that graze on grass from the fall through the spring. We typically buy calves in October, graze them through the winter and then sell them the following summer to farmers in western Illinois and eastern Iowa.
What new things have you brought to the farm?
We have mainly focused on implementing new technology. We use vaccines and antibiotics to keep our cattle healthy, and we follow guidelines like Beef Quality Assurance to make sure we are raising cattle in a safe way using the best animal husbandry techniques. I have been Beef Quality Assurance certified for almost a decade. We have also implemented a new chute and scale system that individually weighs cattle, which allows us to treat them with the exact right amount of medicine. This focus on precision helps our farm be more efficient and makes sure our cattle are being treated right. We also implemented rotational grazing where we move cattle between several different pastures. This helps protect our grass and support soil health, which is a priority because we rely on our natural resources to make our living.
What is the best thing about being a cattle farmer today?
The demand for our product makes raising cattle worth it. There is something special about beef: You celebrate with a steak, you have burgers at summer barbecues — it’s a product that brings people together. Beef is also getting better every day, and over the last 20 years we have made tremendous strides in quality and sustainability. I also love the fact that we can be independent in the cattle industry and be our own boss. Over the course of my career, I’ve spent time in an office, but it’s being out here on the land, living in a beautiful area, seeing green grass and working alongside my family that has been the most meaningful way to make a living.
What are the biggest challenges for a cattle farmer?
In agriculture, we are constantly facing threats that could put us out of business, from animal rights activist groups to overregulation. What these groups fail to realize is the value of the cattle industry — the green space, wildlife habitat and natural filtration our farms provide, along with the economic support our farms provide to rural economies. I am especially grateful that NCBA is advocating for producers like me in Washington.
What is the current state of cattle farming in Washington County? How about in Southwest Virginia?
Cattle production in Washington County is very healthy, and it’s the number one agricultural industry in the country. We have about 70,000 head of cattle in Washington County, and farms provide a lot of jobs and revenue for the community. You also see equipment sales, like tractors and trucks, that provide another source of jobs based on the needs of farmers.
Southwest Virginia is also in great shape. We have some of the best grazing in the world thanks to our good grass, which is available for grazing nine months out of the year. So many other places in the U.S. face constant drought or heavy winter weather that makes it difficult to raise cattle, but we have a good situation here in Southwest Virginia. In fact, the 9th Congressional District of Virginia is one of the biggest cattle districts east of the Mississippi.
How did you come to serve as vice president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association?
I first joined NCBA about 30 years ago because my father and uncle have always been members. I’m a big believer in policy, and my parents always stressed the importance of getting involved and paying attention to what our government is doing. I was also involved in the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association, and about 10 years ago, I was encouraged to apply for vice chair of NCBA’s Tax and Credit Committee. These committees consist of cattle producers from across the country who discuss and pass policy related to certain issues. At the time, I was a full-time banker in addition to being a full-time cattleman, so my experience seemed applicable to this committee.
I received the position and served two years as vice chair before becoming chair for another two years of the Tax and Credit Committee. Following that, I saw how we can make a difference and I applied to serve as vice chair of the International Trade Committee. After two years as vice chair, I served another two years as chair. From there, I ran for vice chair of NCBA’s Policy Division and was elected. I ran for chair of NCBA’s Policy Division and was elected as well, before running most recently for vice president.
I think it’s important to serve, especially when you have future generations getting involved on the farm, to make sure they have a place in the cattle and beef business.
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