HOPE HULL, Ala. (RFD News) — What started as a simple branding decision in the 1980s has grown into a multi-generation cattle operation in south Alabama.
CK Cattle, owned by Chuck and Katie Madaris, raises Angus seedstock and commercial cattle across more than 3,000 acres in Alabama’s Black Belt region.
Chuck Madaris says the ranch’s name came together after running into problems registering a different cattle brand.
“Kind of a standard thing most people do with their initials, but I went to register the brand, and it was just no way I could get the ‘CM’ brand. So I had to get creative. Me and Katie’s initials, and our kids, Charlie and Kathleen, both had the initials. So we came up with the CK.”
The family operation was recently named Alabama’s 2026 Farm of Distinction for its impact on the local community.
The Madaris family says stewardship remains a major focus across the operation, from rotational grazing practices to fencing and water systems designed to improve efficiency and help protect the land for future generations.
