From hobby to herd: Southside rancher grows sustainable beef business

From offering neighborly help to running his own sustainable beef operation, Alvis White Jr. shares how he built White Wood Farm—and offers practical advice for aspiring farmers.

On a farm in Pittsylvania County, you’ll find Alvis White Jr. on the mooove—along with a stout herd of beef cattle. 

He started raising cows between 10 and 15 years ago—though the roots of his interest stretch back further than that. The hobby was first sparked by lending a hand to a friend, where White gained firsthand experience of the work. 

 “I was always helping my neighbor with his cows. And then, I thought it’d be something that I’d like to do,” White said. “So I bought me a few cows and slowly got into trying to raise more.” 

Before long, White wasn’t just tending cows—he was building a dream of his own. As the rancher expanded his herd and deepened his knowledge, he gradually cultivated what started as neighborly support into something more.

In 2022, the agricultural enthusiast turned his passion into a business. And thus, locally raised beef options from White Wood Farms emerged for the surrounding area. 

White spoke fondly of the sustainability aspect of his farm, noting that along with the grass in the fields, the cows also ate hay that he raised right there on the property. 

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 Although he himself took up cattle ranching a little over a decade ago, White eagerly shared advice for future farmers showing an early interest in the agricultural industry. 

 “It’s going to take a lot,” White said. “You’ve got to figure out what you’re going to do.”

 While White knew pretty quickly that he wanted to pursue raising cattle, he encouraged those considering a career in ag to first do their research—to really dive into the startup process before making a commitment to a niche field in the industry.  

 “Make sure that you can do what you need,” he said. “Because it is rather expensive.” 

 White provided this example: A single cow requires at least two acres of land for proper sustainability. That means a rancher with a herd of 10 cows needs a minimum of 20 acres of land—along with the equipment necessary to maintain the property. 

 “If you love to do it, and it’s something you enjoy, that’s going to be the biggest asset that you can have,” White said. “Because if you don’t like it or like doing the work, then it’s going to become a chore, and you won’t like it at all.” 

 It’s a lifestyle grounded in perseverance and purpose.

 “Sometimes you can make some money, and sometimes you can’t,” White said. “So my goal has always been to make enough to pay for what I’m doing.”

 The cattle rancher noted that as a retiree, his retirement income sustained his necessities. 

 “The cows just have to pay for themselves,” White said.

 According to the company’s website, there’s not a storefront for White Wood Farms just yet—but that’s an option they’re hoping to offer in the future. 

 Meanwhile, White sells his fresh, local beef at the new Chatham Farm Market location at 24 Depot St. in Chatham. You’ll find him on the lower level of the building with a selection that includes cuts processed as United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) products.

 “We usually do two to three cows a year for that, and we come out to the markets and try to sell it,” White said.  

 If you have a specific cut in mind, you’re welcome to contact White directly at [email protected] or on Facebook.