About Our Farm
A small Maryland farm built on respect, purpose, and the belief that cattle deserve a life worth living.
Balas Family Farms is a family-owned operation in Howard County Maryland where we raise a small herd of beef cattle with intention, care, and respect. Our goal is simple: to provide premium beef while ensuring every animal lives a calm, comfortable, well-cared-for life from start to finish.
Our Story
Our journey into raising cattle started with a desire to build something meaningful for our family — something rooted in purpose, self-reliance, and respect for the animals in our care. After years of public service as a firefighter/paramedic, our family made the decision to shift toward a life that allowed us to work together, raise our son close to the land, and pour our values into everything we do.
From the beginning, we approached cattle the same way we’ve always approached our horses — with patience, calm handling, and a commitment to understanding each animal as an individual. While working with cattle came with its own learning curve, our philosophy never changed. Respect, consistency, and intention guided every interaction long before we ever brought the first steer home.
As our herd grew, so did our clarity about what we wanted to build: not just a source of premium beef, but a place where livestock are raised the right way. Animals that are calm, comfortable, and well-cared-for live better lives — and they produce better beef. But more importantly, they remind us of the responsibility we carry in raising them.
Those values are now the foundation of our entire farm:
Raise good cattle. Treat them well. Produce beef that honors the life behind it.
Today, our small herd reflects that commitment — and so does every box of beef we send home to families like yours.
Meet Our Family
Tyler
A former firefighter/paramedic with a lifelong respect for agriculture and animals. After stepping away from the fire service, Tyler committed to raising cattle with the same intention, patience, and care he brought to public service. He manages daily cattle care, feeding programs, handling systems, and all on-farm operations
Hannah
The heart of the farm and the steady influence behind the way we treat every animal. Hannah brings gentleness, intuition, and consistency to our cattle, helping ensure our entire herd stays calm, confident, and comfortable. Whether she’s feeding a stubborn steer or handing out donuts to her favorites, her influence shapes the way our cattle live.
Our Family
Together, we raise our son surrounded by the animals and land we love. Everything we build here is for him and for the families who trust us to nourish theirs.
Our Philosophy
Hannah and I believe that cattle deserve a calm life of comfort and respect. The animals we raise for beef live their entire lives with one purpose — to nourish others. Because of that, we feel a deep responsibility to give them the nurturing, low-stress life they deserve.
Our cattle are handled gently, fed well, and cared for every single day. When animals are calm and content, they stay healthier and grow better — but more importantly, we know we have honored their life.
We use low-stress techniques whether we’re feeding, rotating pastures, or bringing cattle through the corral. No yelling, no rushing, and no pushing them harder than they can handle. When cattle know what to expect and who is working with them, they stay relaxed — which leads to healthier animals and higher-quality beef.
We want every cut of beef that leaves our farm to be enjoyed with the same respect we put into raising the animal. If every bite is savored, nothing is wasted, and memories are made around good meals, then the life of that animal has been valued, not taken for granted.
For us, producing beef isn’t just about feeding families. It’s about ensuring every animal in our care is treated with dignity, purpose, and gratitude from start to finish.
Our Herd & Future Direction
We currently raise a small, diverse herd of Herefords, Simmental-influenced cattle, a Charolais, and a Belted Galloway. Each brings something valuable to our program, and all are raised with the same intention and calm handling.
As we grow, we’re moving toward a Hereford × Simmental cross for our long-term beef program — a pairing known for consistency, marbling, and a calm, workable disposition. This cross will become the backbone of our beef brand as we begin developing our own genetics.
In time, we also plan to offer a small line of calm, homestead-friendly feeder cattle for families getting started with livestock. With temperament and ease of handling as top priorities, that program will grow naturally alongside our beef herd.
Our goal is simple: build a herd that reflects our values, produces exceptional beef, and sets the foundation for a thoughtful, intentional cattle program for years to come.