As a first-generation hay and cattle FarmHER and operator of Hunter Creek Farms, Moriah inspires her Kentucky community with her passion and prowess for raising beef cattle and her entrepreneurial spirit to start a direct-to-consumer beef business.
Moriah also educates her friends, family, fans, and customers through the power of social media, which she enjoys as a “creative outlet” after busy days raising kids, caring for cows, and building her family’s legacy.
Hunter Creek Farms
Their journey as first-generation cattle producers is rooted in dedication to the land and their animals. Moriah and Trent take pride in their work, from maintaining cattle health with proper minerals to ensuring high fertility rates.
For The Love of Cows
Moriah didn’t always envision herself as a full-time farmer, but farming became her calling after meeting her husband, Trent. They first met when she was waiting tables at a local restaurant. Trent’s friend, Gene, offered her a job on his farm.
“I would never have guessed that she would be a full-time farmer,” said Becky Bales, Moriah’s mom. “I used to always [say], ‘Moriah’s my frog on a hot rock.”
“I have done just about everything and never really found that thing that makes me just excited to get up every morning,” she said.
Together, they’ve built a thriving hay and cattle business over the years, emphasizing the importance of quality and community.
Raising Beef that Tastes Good
Starting a branded beef program was a natural step for Moriah. She aimed to provide a local food source that tastes great and supports the local economy. Her grain-finished cattle, raised with care on their farm, reflect this commitment.
“We wanted to provide a local source of food that people knew where their food was coming from and something that tastes good and looks good,” Moriah explained. “It just fit with what we were doing.”
Moriah says their partnership with Trackside Butcher Shoppe has ensured top-quality processing and customer service.
“We share the same opinion as Moriah: You got to give them some grain to get a good finish on them,” Trackside’s Chris Wright told Kirbe. “The old saying that we use is, “fat equals flavor.” She’s got them on grain long enough to give them some fat. When the customer bites into that, they’re thinking, ‘Oh, this is really good.’ You know, it doesn’t taste like a thoroughbred.”
From the Feed Lot to Social Media Feeds
Social media has become Moriah’s creative outlet, where she educates others about the realities of farming—both the challenges and the rewards.
“Social media is kind of my creative outlet,” Moriah told Kirbe. “We have family and friends who are like, ‘What do you do all day? You just feed cows, right?’ And I’m like, ‘No!” I use my social media to help educate and say, ‘Hey, this is not all rainbows and butterflies all the time. It takes a lot of persistence, hard work, and resilience to do this, but it is the most rewarding lifestyle.”
At the same time, Moriah and Trent pass along their cherished way of life to their children daily. It’s truly a family affair at Hunter Creek. Their children are involved in daily chores, learning the value of hard work from a young age. For Moriah and Trent, farming isn’t just a job—it’s a way of life. They cherish what they do and proudly pass it down to the next generation at Hunter Creek Farms.
What is the end goal here with all of this?
“Take care of the land and the animals and what God has blessed us with,” Moriah said. “And, in turn, I think He’ll take care of us.”
