Laurel Springs Farm

Laurel Springs Farm Mission: At Laurel Springs Farm our goal is to provide the highest quality natural beef to local consumers. We take pride in the way our animals are raised. We have implemented standards that successfully give our animals a safe environment. We maintain the highest quality standards for producing natural beef. We are proud of our affiliation with Global Animal Partnership, which is an animal welfare 5-step program. Our beef cattle are categorized under level 4, which is a pasture centered program and are never subjected to the use of antibiotics or any growth hormones, and are provided a stress free life. Our cattle are never fed animal byproducts. Our goal is to have our beef cattle live a healthy, happy life and leave our family farm to be delivered directly to your table. We want you to have the ease of mind knowing that we can trace every moment of that animals life. We want you to be able to choose how you want to fill your freezer, whether it be purchasing a whole animal or a portion of an animal, as well as your choice in cuts directly from the farm. Our History: In 1922, Laurel Springs opened their parlor doors becoming Smyth County's oldest dairy. Six generations of Umbargers worked this land, including Seth and his father, Everette. The farm, at one point, was a booming dairy that supplied milk, cream, and cheese to the people of the county. Seth graduated from Virginia Tech in 2002 with a degree in Dairy Science. He had a passion for nutrition and reproduction. Seth ran the family farm beside his father for ten years after graduating. In 2013, Seth and Everette jointly decided to close those parlor doors and venture soley into the world of beef cattle, after dabbling in beef production for a few years. Shortly after the transition to beef cattle, Seth partnered with Pineland Farms Natural Meats. Pineland Farms Natural Meats is our middle person, who takes our beef to slaughter, then supplies to WholeFoods grocery stores on the east coast. Seth continues to find different avenues in which to grow the farm to be a more sustainable and environmentally friendly place. In 2015, Seth's wife Courtney joined forces on the farm. Courtney graduated in 2008 from Virginia Tech with a degree from the Agricultural Technology Program in Applied Agriculture Management. She has a passion for the animal welfare, reproduction, and animal husbandry. Courtney will be managing the office and handling local marketing, as well as being a farm hand on some days. Addison, age 7, is learning the ropes to the family business at an early age. She enjoys checking cattle (especially when calving season begins) and collecting eggs from the chickens. Seth and Courtney are looking forward to welcoming a new addition to their family in February of 2016.