Counter Culture Farms, owned and operated by Austin Dillon in deep East Texas, began with a foundation of commercial Brangus cattle raised by his grandfather. In the early days, the farm followed conventional management practices that relied on grain and other inputs to keep the herd in condition. But once Austin started transitioning to a low input, forage based system, it became clear those big boned, long legged Brangus cattle were not built for the job. They struggled to breed annually, lost flesh on grass, and made profitability almost impossible without constant supplementation. Removing those crutches revealed the truth: the herd needed to change.

Austin began introducing shorter framed, moderate bulls known for staying fat on grass, and over time he transitioned entirely away from Brangus genetics. Today, Counter Culture Farms runs a highly adapted herd of Horned Herefords, Red Angus, and Mashona, each chosen for their ability to thrive in the heat, humidity, and pressure of East Texas without grain or hand holding. The Horned Herefords trace back more than a century to a closed line herd in the Chihuahuan Desert, selected for survival on harsh forage and minimal inputs. The Red Angus carry the same emphasis on slick hair, moderate frames, and natural efficiency. To strengthen heat tolerance and parasite resistance even further, Austin has incorporated elite Mashona genetics, creating a composite built specifically for his environment.

Selection at Counter Culture Farms is simple and strict. A cow must calve every year, raise a good calf, stay in condition on grass, and remain trouble free. Any issues such as bad udders, hoof problems, pinkeye, calving difficulty, or poor performance result in immediate culling. Bulls come only from proven cows that bred young, calved on time, bred back as three year olds, and have never missed. Preference goes to bulls out of older cows that have demonstrated long term fertility and durability. Parasite resistance is non negotiable. Any bull requiring routine deworming is culled.

The entire ranch operates on a forage based system. Cattle graze through the growing season, rely on stockpiled Bermuda and Bahia during the winter, and receive hay only when the stockpile is gone. The only supplementation provided is free choice salt mineral and an all natural protein tub, nothing formulated to prop cattle up or hide inefficiencies. The result is a herd built on cattle that have proven they can thrive on grass, stay productive, and fit the environment naturally.

Counter Culture Farms represents a deliberate shift toward cattle that make a living off the land. The herd is adapted, efficient, and profitable under low input management, offering a practical and sustainable option for ranchers who want cattle that work with the environment rather than against it.