About Bluegrass Beef

We started Bluegrass Beef in 2011 with the desire to raise quality, 100% grass-finished beef for our friends and family. Josh is a veterinarian, and grew up on a small farm in Winchester, KY. Melissa grew up in Frankfort, KY, in a neighborhood (not on a farm). We met while getting our undergraduate degrees at Murray State University. We married while Josh was in veterinary school at Auburn University, and eventually settled down in Shelby County, KY. In 2007, Josh had been practicing for a few years, and Melissa was pregnant with our son, Eli, when Josh thought it would be a good time to start a herd of beef cattle. Melissa was admittedly unsure about this, but begrudgingly said “OK”. We slowly grew our herd (and our family), finishing our first grass-finished steer and welcoming our daughter Ruby in 2011. Melissa quickly embraced the farming lifestyle, and now handles all sales and marketing for the beef business, as well as farm duties as needed. Josh heads up the cattle side of the business, and continues to practice as a veterinarian full time. We have no full time employees, but we do have some amazing part-timers that help us during farmers market season and with order fulfillment when we need them (which is often!). Farming is a lifestyle that isn’t easy. We work hard, every day, in all sorts of weather. Our kids have learned from a young age what it is to work, and the realities of life and death on the farm. We don’t make every social event or get to take a vacation every year. But they are also learning the joys that farming brings. A brand new baby calf or lamb. The feeling of a cool creek on a hot day. The satisfaction of a job well done. It’s a hard, sometimes frustrating, sometimes glorious, most days rewarding kind of life and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Thank you for the privilege of raising your food! You can listen to Melissa share more of our family’s story on the Ranching Brunette Podcast by clicking the button below.

Our Story

We are the Ballard family. We started Bluegrass Beef in 2011 with the desire to raise quality, 100% grass-finished beef for our friends and family. Josh is a veterinarian, and grew up on a small farm in Winchester, KY. Melissa grew up in Frankfort, KY, in a neighborhood (not on a farm). We met while getting our undergraduate degrees at Murray State University. We married while Josh was in veterinary school at Auburn University, and eventually settled down in Shelby County, KY. In 2007, Josh had been practicing for a few years, and Melissa was pregnant with our son, Eli, when Josh thought it would be a good time to start a herd of beef cattle. Melissa was admittedly unsure about this, but begrudgingly said “OK”. We slowly grew our herd (and our family), finishing our first grass-finished steer and welcoming our daughter Ruby in 2011. Melissa quickly embraced the farming lifestyle, and now handles all sales and marketing for the beef business, as well as farm duties as needed. Josh heads up the cattle side of the business, and continues to practice as a veterinarian full time. We have no full time employees, but we do have some amazing part-timers that help us during farmers market season and with order fulfillment when we need them (which is often!). Farming is a lifestyle that isn’t easy. We work hard, every day, in all sorts of weather. Our kids have learned from a young age what it is to work, and the realities of life and death on the farm. We don’t make every social event or get to take a vacation every year. But they are also learning the joys that farming brings. A brand new baby calf or lamb. The feeling of a cool creek on a hot day. The satisfaction of a job well done. It’s a hard, sometimes frustrating, sometimes glorious, most days rewarding kind of life and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Thank you for the privilege of raising your food! You can listen to Melissa share more of our family’s story on the Ranching Brunette Podcast by clicking the button below.

Meet Josh Ballard, Melissa Ballard

Farm Owner · Since 2011