North CarolinaShorthorn
by Shelby Diehm, ASA
Yokeley Farms hasn’t always been raising Shorthorn cattle; they originally raised another red breed. Chris Yokeley’s dad, Gilbert, purchased Red Angus cattle after he retired and spent a few years raising his herd before he passed away. Chris took over the farm and continued with the Red Angus herd until he started researching other breeds because he wanted something different. During his research he came across a story about Shorthorn mothers saving their babies from a fire. The mothering ability really interested him initially, so he continued his research on the breed. Chris purchased Shorthorn beef from Steve Fields, a fellow North Carolina cattleman, so he could do a taste test against his own Red Angus beef. Chris cooked filet’s the exact same way seasoned only with salt and pepper. “The Shorthorn filet melted in your mouth,” Chris said. “Once I tried the beef, I was sold on the Shorthorn breed. I 16
already liked the cattle, but the beef sent them over the edge.” Once he decided Shorthorn cattle were the breed he would raise, he joined the American Shorthorn Association and it opened him up to a new world. Chris began traveling to operations all over the United States and attended many Shorthorn University conferences. “I quickly realized that my North Carolina farm is far from everywhere else with Shorthorns, and I would have to travel to buy the kind of cattle I wanted to add to my herd,” Chris said. “And I prefer seeing cattle in person versus buying them from a computer screen.”
shorthorn country = november 2021
Beef
He has attended the Ohio Shorthorn Sale, Jungels Shorthorn Farm sale, as well as many others to grow his herd and bring in the cattle that fit his goals. Chris purchased females that would make good steers. Chris and Sandy decided to start
