JB Ranch in Immokalee, Florida, comprises roughly 10,000 acres in South Florida’s humid, subtropical climate. Russell and Liesa Priddy manage roughly 600 Brangus and Beefmaster cattle on the ranch, with calves being sold to operations in the Western part of the U.S. once a year.

Some may think it’s hard to be a cattleman when you can’t get to the barn. However, Dr. Alex Williams is proving that to be false. This Gray, Tennessee, man is carving his legacy in the Angus breed, being a leader in genomic testing.

Al Nessinger first fell in love with his wife, Bev, as a kid, growing up across the road from each other in San Martin, California. They sat next to each other on the school bus and helped each other with farm chores.

John Ferry of JY Ferry & Son Inc. in Corinne, Utah, has a different idea than most when it comes to protecting the environment and the role cattle can play in the process.

The Coombe Family of Thunder View Farms is passionate about preserving the land while creating a sustainable and profitable beef business.

Doing things differently has been the Miller family’s way since the farm’s beginning over a century ago. Started in 1919 with 140 acres, the family now farms over 1,100 acres of owned and leased land as Miller Family Farm, a registered Tennessee Century Farm.

“Each generation has had their unique spin on how to manage the ranch, with different approaches,” Alex Hart says. “We are becoming 21st century agriculturalists, promoting the good work ranchers and land managers do, taking care of the landscape sustainably.”

As the agricultural industry continues to provide higher yields using fewer resources, innovation and improvements made on family operations drive the changes necessary to feeding an ever-growing population. For one of these operations, located in Elkader, Iowa, innovation began with a camcorder in a hog barn.

Rural America is the backbone of our nation. It is where family values are based, where respect and responsibility are grown and where future leaders are developed.

Raising the best kids, cattle and corn – in that order – is the goal of Jesse and Michelle Weber of Weber Land and Cattle in Lake Benton, Minnesota.