Whispering Hills Farm Turns Overgrown Kentucky Property into Award-Winning Operation

Mike Wilson says years of hard work and stewardship helped transform the farm for future generations.

LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. (National Cattlemen’s Beef Association) — As National Beef Month continues, one Kentucky cattle operation is being recognized for turning neglected land into a productive farm focused on stewardship and sustainability.

Whispering Hills Farm, owned by Mike Wilson and his family, was named a 2025 regional winner of the Environmental Stewardship Award Program.

Wilson purchased the original 75 acres in 1999 after the prhttps://www.beef.org/operty had sat largely untouched since the early 1970s. He says that improving the land and keeping the farm sustainable have remained priorities ever since.

“If you don’t take care of the land, it’s not going to take care of you,” Wilson says. “So I’m a firm believer in taking care of what you have.”

He says transforming the property took years of work, but he is proud of what the farm has become.

“I’m grateful for what I’ve got,” Wilson continues. “I’m grateful for what I’ve managed to accomplish — getting it cleaned up — but it took a lot of sweat and blood to get it to where it’s at now. But I can look back on my accomplishments, and I’m very satisfied with my results.”

Wilson says he hopes the farm will continue being passed down through future generations of his family.

All month long, RFD News is highlighting beef producers who help feed families across the country and around the world. To find more stories and recipes that celebrate beef, CLICK HERE: May is National Beef Month!

Related Stories
Lean Ground Beef, fresh parsley, and cumin are formed into meatballs and served in flatbreads for a light and fresh summer main dish.
These Easy Roast Beef Sliders are perfect for potlucks and parties, or a quick and easy dinner main dish you can prepare in advance. Thinly sliced Deli Roast Beef is sandwiched between rolls and baked with cheese until golden and delicious.
This quick and easy beef recipe comes together in under 30 minutes and celebrates peak-season summer produce.
Ready for grilling season? Throw beef Strip Steaks and corn covered in a spicy, smoky seasoning mix on the grill for an easy, flavorful Mexican-inspired meal.

Knoxville native Neal Burnette-Irwin is a graduate from MTSU where he majored in Journalism and Entertainment Studies. He works as a digital content producer with RFD News and is represented by multiple talent agencies in Nashville and Chicago.


LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Dr. Jeffrey Gold discusses the recent hantavirus outbreak linked to a South American cruise ship and Nebraska’s monitoring efforts on this week’s Rural Health Matters.
The Unger family says the operation focuses on land stewardship and on keeping more Hawaii-raised beef on the islands.
Andy Tauer from the National Pork Board discusses efforts to boost pork demand and how the industry is responding to trade restrictions related to pseudorabies.
Dr. Robert Ellis joins us to discuss economic challenges in agriculture, available resources for farmers, and ways producers can evaluate practices to strengthen their operations.
While there is no guarantee a House vote will happen today, the measure has officially been placed on the congressional calendar.
Sinagra Family Dairy is focused on expanding local milk production and supporting its rural community.
Agriculture Shows
RFD-TV has partnered with a handful of agricultural social media influencers whom we have dubbed The New Crop. These folks have taken to the internet to tell their stories and to raise awareness of where our food comes from and all that goes into feeding the world population.
The goal of “Where the Food Comes From” is as simple as its name implies — host Chip Carter takes you along on the journey of where our food comes from — and we don’t just mean to the supermarket (though that’s part of the big picture!). But beyond where it comes from, how it gets there, and all the links in the chain that make that happen.
Join markets specialist Scott Shellady, better known as the Cow Guy, as he covers the market-close, breaking down headlines that drive the commodities and equities markets with commentary from respected industry heavyweights.
Tara Beaver Coronado (formerly known as Beaver Vineyards) is a farmer in Northern California. She raises grain crops with her dad. Tara planted her very first vineyard in 2018. Her channel is centered around her daily life on the farm, as well as promoting the diversity and scale of California agriculture.