Back Creek began as a commercial herd of cattle.  Our first animals were bought in the spring of 1981, several months before we were married.  We have been working together to improve our herd since that first purchase.  The cattle were maintained with leased land until a farm in Rowan County was purchased in 1984.

Registered Angus females were utilized as commercial brood cows until the decision was made to pursue the development of a seedstock herd in 1984.  Because we have utilized AI on the commercial herd, the management philosophy was not dramatically different when this directional change occurred.  The same breeding logic, selection pressure, and husbandry practices that were used for the commercial cattle were applied to the registered herd as it developed.  The process of converting from a commercial herd to all registered females was hastened when the drought in 1986 forced us to liquidate all non-registered animals.

In 1988, because of changes in career responsibilities, we moved from the farm in Rowan County to the mountains of Ashe County.  Again, leased land was used to expand our cow numbers.  The farm in Rowan became the center of our wintering program; while cattle grazed on mountain pastures as much as possible.  Moving cattle to the forage rather than transporting feed has been a cornerstone of our program.

Our development as Angus breeders has not been traditional.  The cattle have generated the resources to allow for expansion.  Priorities have dealt with the improvement of the genetic base of the cow herd, because the majority of the land utilized is leased rather than owned.  The lessons learned from our experiences with commercial cattle have required that decisions have an economic basis.  We will not deviate from the production of seedstock that can make a contribution to our commercial neighbors.

ANGUS WITH BALANCED PERFORMANCE
Joe & Robin Hampton
2600 Back Creek Church Road
Mt. Ulla, NC 28125
704-278-9347
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