Meet Elizabeth Stonecipher

We were lucky to catch up with Elizabeth Stonecipher recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Elizabeth with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

My work ethic comes from growing up on a livestock and grain farm, showing livestock and participating in 4-H and youth programs through the American Simmental Association. From a young age I was taught the value of hard work, teamwork, responsibility and animal husbandry. Our family operated as a working unit, we all worked together to complete whatever task was at hand. We sacrificed family vacations, nights out with friends and other “normal” teenager things because we had cows calving, chores in cold weather or other work to be done.

As a participant in 4-H it was my responsibility to feed, water, walk and wash my animals. My parents helped, but they would not do the work for me. They wanted me to learn that winning in the livestock show ring took hard work at home.

There were so many great adult volunteers that shaped the future of young people through the American Simmental Association. Each summer we had regional and national shows that allowed us to participate in livestock judging, sales, and public speaking competitions along with quizzes to challenge our livestock knowledge. I accredit my success as a businesswoman to the knowledge, experience and skills learned during those competitions. I am forever grateful for the Association and the tireless volunteers who helped shape who I am.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

Our business, 550 Wagyu, is a journey I am so thankful I am on. 550 Wagyu is a family owned and operated business that reminds me of my childhood growing up. Our entire family contributes: our kids and my dad join me at farmers markets, assist with livestock, and my in-laws help with our grain operation. It is great for our children to see the results of hard work and perseverance. We are raising the 7th generation of family farmers and are thankful each day that we are stewards of this great land.

2024 was a great year for our business; we were one of the fifteen farmers presented at the Indiana State Fair as Featured Farmers. As a Featured Farmer, we educated the public about our Wagyu beef, livestock, and daily operations. As the regular consumer grows further away from the family farm generationally, I think it’s important that people understand where their food comes from. Buying locally is a great way to appreciate that. Buying local supports people in your own community who work tirelessly to cultivate the land, grow delicious crops and put quality proteins on your dinner table.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

My belief is that growing up on a farm prepared me for the path I am on. On a farm you must prioritize what tasks need done and when. Extracurricular activities such as 4-H, showing livestock and sports taught me how to be on a team, be part of the greater good and organize my schedule to be able to attend shows, practices and games. I try not to procrastinate on completing tasks; I have found in doing so that I am better able to manage our grain and cattle operations along with our family and personal responsibilities. Growing a business requires a lot of following up with potential customers, that is something you cannot always wait to do. In my case, I am trying to manage the needs of cattle on a daily basis, completing administration tasks for both the Wagyu business and the grain operation along with our children and family responsibilities. Priorities have to be made on a daily basis, and it can sometimes be overwhelming but I have a great support system.

For those starting on their journey, I recommend making a list of priorities and working from there. A great support to our family business was the website and online store host company we used. They had ways of keeping my organized while building my online store and our website along with connections with other farmers. Lean into the team that surrounds you either online or in person and don’t be afraid to rely on & pay extra for those trusted advisors to help you be successful.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

The biggest challenge we face with our Wagyu business is the amount of time and capital we have invested in the cattle before we see a return on investment. The gestation period for a cow is nine months and we are butchering Wagyu cattle at nearly 30 months of age. By the time you factor in processing & sales, we do not see a return on investment for one steer in nearly 3.5 years. And it’s hard to make adjustments or decisions when the production cycle for a steak is that long. On top of that, we have to forecast what our market might look like in 3.5 years in order to meet demand with supply at that time. A traditional feeder steer will see a return in about two years and there are always quick markets for those. During the growing phase, we invest a lot of resources in their care: time, feed and hay expenses to grow them to 30 months of age.

Wagyu are a slower growing breed of cattle that are known for their superior marbling. There is nothing that compares in taste to Wagyu beef; part of the taste benefit comes from allowing the beef to grow to 30 months and develop the marbling. There is not a lot we can do about that but what we have done to offset some of the cost and management of the cattle is have two herds, a spring and fall calving herd. This allows us to spread some of the cost out and have cattle ready to butcher throughout the year instead of all at once. By doing this we have beef available for sale 12 months out of the year and will hopefully keep most of the popular cuts in stock and ready for purchase, allowing us to see income monthly.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Kenda Resler Friend, Jakes Aerial Photography, David Long, Regan Herr

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Leadership Development
Empathy Unlocked: Understanding how to Develop Emotional Intelligence

“Empathy is the starting point for creating a community and taking action. It’s the impetus

Productivity
Where do you get your work ethic from?

We’ve all heard the phrase “work hard, play hard,” but where does our work ethic

Productivity
Boosting Productivity Through Self-Care

When you have a never-ending to-do list it can feel irresponsible to engage in self-care,