Our Story

Our farm is 126 rolling acres in Southeastern Ohio, consisting of about ½  row crops, and ½  beautiful woodland. The original farmhouse and bank barn were homesteaded in the 1860s. This rich history and beautiful landscape is what led Arlis’ parents, Mike Young and Lori Hall   to buy the farm in 1999 when Arlis Young (35) was at the age of 10. Arlis loved raising calves and farming alongside his father. Arlis grew up  helping raise veal calves, and showing Dairy Feeders at the county fair. After being homeschooled, Arlis went to The Ohio State University and graduated with a degree in Animal Science. He now uses that degree to raise cattle on his farm, and for his off farm job as a Animal Health Technician for Ohio Department of Agriculture. In 2015 Arlis bought the farm that he grew up on and started raising dairy beef calves for local feed lots across Ohio. Arlis’ father, brother and sister still live right next to the farm and help in day-to-day activities.

Arlis and Dakota met while square dancing at the county fair in 2010.  In 2018 Arlis proposed using a dairy beef calf, from Dakota’s family dairy. Arlis wrote “Marry Me” on the calf’s ear tag, and “Mary” is still on their farm where she is part of their cow calf herd today. . .

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In 2019 they got married, and expanded the farming operation. Dakota Young (29)  has always been a part of agriculture, she was born and raised on a family owned and operated dairy farm. Dakota is the oldest of Chad and Crystal McKenzie’s three children, all of which are still farming. The McKenzie Brothers Dairy has been in her family for 4 generations. Her twin sister Dylana and her husband own an angus cow calf herd. Her father Chad and her brother Drew are both working on the family owned dairy today! They are milking 275 head of Holstein Cows and farm about 1200 acres. Dakota and her siblings grew up helping feed heifers, bottle feeding baby calves, milking, and crop farming. She has always had a love for agriculture, and working with animals. Dakota is now farming with her husband Arlis, and a stay at home mother to their three children Ezra (4), Everett (3), and Eden (8m)  

Arlis and Dakota have a muiti-facted farm, they start 430 bottle calves every couple months for a few local family owned feedlots in Ohio, they run a small herd of Angus cows, and have their own farm to table freezer beef operation. In 2023 they expanded the operation again with a 500 head backgrounding barn where calves can enjoy indoor and outdoor access with plenty of fresh water, clean hay and nutritious feed. The farm uses non-mRNA vaccines to manage herd health. When cattle are harvested they are free of antibiotics. They feed all their cattle a simple diet of corn and hay that is all locally sourced. All cattle are grain finished to help produce the best marbling and flavorful products. Most of the animals raised on the farm are Holstein steers, but they also can have Jersey, Brown Swiss, Ho-Jo and Holstein-Angus crossbred calves as well. 

Arlis and Dakota hold fast to their Chirstian faith and their love for the Gospel. Being good stewards of the land and animals is their top priority. They strive to bring glory to God by providing the best quality beef to their community while also leaving a legacy for their three children. 

Our Values

At Young Family Beef, we offer more than just premium beef; we provide a unique experience for our customers. Our sampler boxes feature a variety of beef breeds, including dairy beef, allowing you to taste and compare different flavors and textures—a unique offering in the beef industry.

We are committed to ethical stewardship of the land and animals, treating them with care and respect. Transparency is key—our customers deserve to know exactly how their beef is raised. We prioritize natural farming methods, ensuring the highest quality beef for your family. Our commitment to sustainability means we focus on locally-sourced, naturally-raised beef, supporting the local community while maintaining environmentally responsible farming practices. Every decision we make is designed to ensure quality, transparency, and ethical animal care.

Our Practices

At Young Family Beef, we prioritize the health and well-being of our cattle through natural care practices. We use vaccines to protect our animals but guarantee no use of mRNA vaccines. Antibiotics are used only when absolutely necessary, ensuring that our cattle are healthy without unnecessary interventions. Our commitment to sustainability means we focus on locally-sourced, pasture-raised beef, supporting the local community while maintaining environmentally responsible farming practices. Every decision we make is designed to ensure quality, transparency, and ethical animal care.

Why Choose Us

Premium Farm Fresh Beef

At Young Family Beef, we offer more than just premium beef; we provide a unique experience for our customers. Our sampler boxes feature a variety of beef breeds, including dairy beef, allowing you to taste and compare different flavors and textures—a unique offering in the beef industry.

We also collaborate with Phillips Processing to create custom beef bundles tailored to your preferences, with convenient shipping options. We believe in educating our customers about our farming practices and the benefits of locally-sourced, ethically raised beef.

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Young Family Beef
Young Family Beef