Little Springs Cattle Co

Meet the Farmers

Growing up on a farm in central Georgia, Paul Ellard has been involved in the cattle business for as long as he can remember. His family had a herd of beef cattle and grew peaches, soybeans, wheat, and cotton. His father-in-law also had a dairy that Paul helped out with until they transitioned away from the dairy business. Prior to purchasing Little Springs Cattle Co. in Jan 2022, he operated a small herd of cattle which has since been integrated into Little Spring’s herd. In addition to raising cattle, Paul owns a successful grading and underground utility company, which marries well with operating a 2,500-acre farm. Paul is excited to have a sustainable farm operation that he can pass down to future generations of his family.

Patrick Greene is the farm manager of Little Springs and long time friend of Paul’s. Growing up in Northeast Georgia, Patrick’s interest in cattle started in middle school when he began showing livestock. Patrick attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College where his passion for cattle only grew. Much of Little Springs' success can be attributed to Patrick’s diligent management of the land over the past decade. In October of 2022, Patrick will have managed this farmland for 12 years, overseeing its transition to regenerative practices. This farm is very much a family operation, where Patrick’s wife Tamara manages the farm-store and their two kids are always helping out on the farm. 

Regenerative & Sustainable Practices

Until just five years ago, this 2,500 acre piece of land was conventionally farmed, using synthetic inputs and running the cattle through the fields with little focus on soil health. Since making the transition to regenerative agriculture, Little Springs Cattle Co. now focuses on improving their land, drawing carbon back into the soil, and using rotational grazing to rebuild soil quality. Today, their regenerative practices include: