50 Years in the Making: Peter & Heather Sheppard of Sheppard Farm on Apple Hill

In this episode, we sit down with Peter Sheppard and his daughter Heather Sheppard-Lunn of Sheppard Farm on Apple Hill in south-central Pennsylvania as they look ahead to a milestone 50th anniversary celebration. Peter shares how the fold began in 1976 with just six cows and one bull—and how decades of intentional breeding built a program centered on traditional Scottish Highland standards, calving ease, and foraging ability, resulting in 560+ registered animals in the National Herdbook.Heather talks about launching their direct-to-customer grass-fed Highland beef sales in 2008, growing the herd to serve both beef buyers and brood cow clients, and preparing the next generation as her daughters get involved. Together, they discuss why they carefully screen buyers and what it means to bring home an Apple Hill Highland—clean genetics, classic conformation, and a long-term commitment to the breed.Sheppard Farms on Apple Hill: http://www.sheppardfarmonapplehill.com/Send us Fan Mail From the Pasture with Hired Hand:Hired Hand Websites (@hiredhandwebsites): https://hiredhandsoftware.comHired Hand Live (@hiredhandlive): https://hiredhandlive.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiredhandwebsites/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiredHandSoftwareTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hiredhandwebsitesNewsletter: https://www.hiredhandsoftware.com/resources/stay-informed