When Mike and Amanda Butterfield purchased their Pennsylvania farmland, they saw more than just a beautiful patchwork of rolling fields. They saw a new beginning — and a way to raise cattle differently.
The Butterfields wanted to trade the dairy life for a new mission: raising beef cattle while restoring the soil and serving their community.
“We purchased a farm in 2017 and honestly, the property was beautiful,” says Amanda Butterfield. “It was the right price, it was the right place, it was the right timing—and it was a time for us to convert from dairy into something a little less labor-intensive.”
Now they call themselves “reformed dairy farmers.”
Discovering Purpose Through Land Management
The transition wasn’t solely about profit. Their experience working with dairy cattle inspired a deep attention to, and passion for, animal health.
“I think that’s kind of our superpower,” Amanda says. “Since we were dairy farmers, we’re really good at animal husbandry, spending time with our cattle and noticing things to increase longevity.”
For Mike, the transition allowed them to have more to show for the dollars and hard work they were putting in.
“When we decided to quit milking, we wanted to stop renting from other people, put our money to work for us, and build something that would be ours—something that would build equity,” he says.
“We decided it was not going to be a dairy.”
Through collaboration with USDA–NRCS, Maple Valley Cattle Company found the opportunity to reorient themselves as land managers as well as animal caretakers. Amanda describes her perspective shift as becoming “grass producers, not beef producers.”
Turning Rough Ground into Rich Pasture
Grazing cattle on what Mike describes as “lower-quality and quite rough” ground required grit, flexibility and patience.
“Instead of having bare soil with corn and soybeans, getting the grass on it and having it year-round makes way more sense,” he explains. “We could take poorer-quality land and make it more profitable with animals than just with row crops.”
The family’s collaborative approach sets them apart.
“We had never grazed before,” Amanda shares. “We were learning that we’re more grass producers than beef producers. If you take care of the land, the soil and everything else, then the beef comes naturally after that.”
Mike and Amanda’s daughter, Evelyn, is a next-generation contributor to the farm and takes her job seriously. Duties are divided among the family, with each person contributing in unique ways.
“During the summer, I usually help move the cows whenever we have to work them,” she says. “I have my own horses that I rotationally graze as well, and I take care of them. I just really do whatever I can to help on the farm.”
The Butterfields are innovators. Amanda describes their approach as fairly low-tech.
“Since we are first-generation farmers, we didn’t want to invest in too much. We don’t own a lot of equipment or anything that depreciates,” Amanda shares.
Still, they adopt new tools when it supports their goals—from better grazing records to experimenting with drones for field spraying.
Partnerships have been key to the transformation of Maple Valley Cattle Company. Amanda highlights several that have been crucial: “NRCS and the resources they have, and other organizations like PASA and Shroud Water Center.” The Butterfields also lean on local agronomists and other producers for support and guidance.
They are driven to increase not just their farm’s productivity, but also its biodiversity.
“One of the projects I’m working on is changing some of the wildlife areas — adding more wildflowers, trees, and shaded spots,” Amanda says.
These small changes add up.
“Even in just seven years, we’ve seen an increase in bobolinks, which are birds that nest in grazing areas,” she adds.
The family has also seen more honeybees and monarch butterflies on their property.
Observation-Guided Grazing
Maple Valley Cattle Company recently welcomed attendees of the Trust In Beef Sustainable Ranchers Tour for a firsthand look at its cattle operation and management practices. During the tour, Noble Research Institute’s Josh Gaskamp evaluated pasture soil and applauded the Butterfield’s approach.
Gaskamp says the Butterfields are a strong example of adaptive, rather than prescriptive, grazing.
“Instead of following a set schedule for moving cattle, they look at their forages and say, ‘Okay, now it’s time to move them,’” he explains. “They’re increasing stock density, which allows them to utilize a larger proportion of the forage species and grow more forage per acre.”
Adapting and Moving Forward
No season is predictable.
“Last year was a complete disaster,” Mike reflects. “We had a devastating drought. We fed hay ten months out of twelve—the weeds got ahead of the grass, and now our pastures are really weedy.”
For the Butterfields, adaptation is constant.
“We’re always changing things to make sure that every year becomes more efficient, easier on the cattle—which means easier on us,” Amanda explains.
Tough decisions, like investing in new barn housing or tackling weed problems, are faced as a family, with an eye on the long game.
“Hopefully, if it’s been 20 years and I can’t do it anymore, it’ll be better than when I started — but that’s going to be a long-term process,” Mike adds.
Cultivating the Next Generation
Evelyn’s passion for agriculture extends beyond the property lines. Her work on the farm isn’t just chores—it’s a launching pad for community impact and advocacy.
“My mom has always loved gardening, and she’s gotten me into it too,” Evelyn says. “For the last couple of years, we’ve been growing produce to donate to the Somerset County Mobile Food Bank. It makes me feel really great that we’re helping the community and using our ability as farmers to help people.”
She is carving a path through agricultural leadership and advocacy.
“I want to introduce not only young people, but especially girls, to agriculture, because I think that’s a big issue,” Evelyn shares.
Serving their local community is woven into the Butterfields’ routine. Amanda is proud to support programs like Beefing Up for Backpacks, a program she co-founded with the Pennsylvania Beef Foundation and Nichole Hockenberry.
“It’s very important to me to see kids who are hungry get food. It’s very impactful to see this happening, and everyone’s excited about the project and donations that are coming in.”
The Rewards of Stewardship
Mike knows there’s still much work ahead.
“Putting the barn up and building a fence are short projects, but improving the land is our long-term goal,” he says.
Evelyn treasures seeing their progress. “When I get home from school and I just step outside and look around—that’s very rewarding.”
For the Butterfields, this different path has been worth taking and serves as a testament to other producers seeking to pivot.
Trust In Beef works to secure the future of American ranching by providing the information ranchers need to make the decisions that impact the resiliency, profitability and resource management of their working lands. Learn more about Trust In Beef and their Sustainable Ranchers Tour by visiting www.trustinbeef.com
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