Tokeena Angus

From Cotton Fields to Cattle Country In 1922, prompted by the decline of the cotton economy and the loss of top soil across the upstate, Walter Houlu McPhail left Clemson College to start what would become Tokeena Angus. Houlu believed that cattle, not cotton, would be the crop of the future and had the foresight to recognize the importance of a cool season grazer, planting fescue grass on his farm. Neil’s passion for cattle began early. The youngest of seven children, he started showing cattle as a young child, learning firsthand the discipline, patience, and responsibility that shape good cattlemen. That early foundation has guided every decision since. In the 1960’s and 70’s, the farm and Tokeena herd were run together with the 3 eldest brothers, Walter, Floyd and Steve McPhail. Neil was much younger so he learned the value of hard work through mechanics, operating farm equipment and tending to the cattle herd from a young age. In 1981, Neil married Gwen, and together they began stewarding the herd with intention — building what would become today’s Tokeena program. Their focus has always been clear: sound, fertile cattle that work on grass and thrive in the realities of the South. The backbone of the current cow herd traces to proven genetics, including Basin Max 602C and Vermillion Payweight J847. Neil deliberately built the Payweight influence at Tokeena by traveling to Basin Ranch in Montana, bringing home the very best blood he could find — genetics known for calving ease, fertility, structural soundness, and the ability to adapt to Southern heat and fescue-based environments. Payweight genetics still run deep throughout the Tokeena herd today. At the same time, the program continues to evolve with the thoughtful introduction of complementary lines from EXAR, 44 Farms, Sitz, Coleman, and others. The goal remains unchanged: line-breed for efficiency on grass without sacrificing carcass quality. Today, the next generation is actively involved. Daniel and his wife Paige, along with their four children, operate alongside Neil and Gwen, carrying forward a program built on consistency, practicality, and trust — ensuring that the values established over a century ago remain firmly rooted in every generation to come. Psalm 50:10 — For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.