The Lovelady Family, Talladega County

By Marlee Jackson

As Whit and Amanda Lovelady look over peaceful pastures in the shadow of Pope Mountain, it's hard to believe the livestock-laden farmland was covered in briars, privet and pines a decade ago.

Soon, they'll build their forever home on that land - another checked box in a long list of dreams-turned-reality for the Talladega County farmers.

"We both knew we wanted to have a family farm," said Amanda, 30. "We wanted to raise our children on the farm. We wanted to work on the farm together. Now, here we are. We are living out that dream, and it's so rewarding."

This year, the Loveladys will bale 10,000 rolls of hay while managing Angus, Charolais and commercial cattle herds at Cedar Roost Ranch. They'll accomplish that and more with two tiny farmhands in tow.

"I love to see Annagrace (4) and John Luke (2) just running around on the farm. They are country bumpkins," Amanda said with a smile. "They might be rolling around in the pig feed or in the water trough or in the dirt, but I would not trade that for the whole world. I know they are making those memories I still hold on to from when I was little."

Similar childhood experiences laid the foundation for Whit and Amanda's appreciation of agriculture. Whit inherited a love of cattle farming from his grandfather, the late Windle Batchelor. Meanwhile, Amanda spent precious days in the cotton field with her father, the late O.E. Williams Jr., in Autauga County.

"What I live and breathe for is those young'un's to have a better start," said Whit, 33. "If they want a farm, they have an opportunity to come back. Our vision is to have a place that is for these kids and future generations."

The Loveladys' farm has grown slowly from humble beginnings. After graduating from Auburn University in 2013, Whit spent hundreds of hours reclaiming overgrown land while juggling an off-farm job. When he and Amanda married two years later, they'd already achieved one goal: To have 30 cows by their July wedding. Starting that fall, they taught agriscience at local high schools, pouring extra income into the farm.

"We tried to build enough collateral that we could start operating on a bigger scale," Whit said. "Everything we have, we had to buy."

In 2018, their reputation for hard work gave the Loveladys the chance to add a local Charolais herd to their operation, a jump in responsibility that meant Whit could farm full time. Amanda followed in 2020.

The Loveladys believe in diversification. In addition to managing their own grazing and hay land, they custom bale and fertilize fields for neighbors. They also sell freezer beef and pork and are investing in equipment to improve efficiency and expand production.

"If you buy a place, every single acre needs to be productive," Whit said. "If it's not good enough for hay ground, we're going to put cattle on it. If it's too steep or rocky for pasture, then we'll leave it in timber."

The Loveladys share their passion for agriculture through Facebook, YouTube and involvement with farm organizations. They've honed advocacy efforts through local Young Farmers and Women's Leadership committees, in addition to Whit's role as Talladega County Cattlemen's Association president.

The Loveladys complement each other, too. Whit is a visionary, unafraid to see potential in unlikely places. That entrepreneurial spirit is tempered by Amanda's patient, thoughtful personality.

"One of the things I love about Amanda is her focus," Whit said. "She reels me in, and her focus is always putting God first."

Their teamwork is an answered prayer, said Pamela Batchelor Lovelady, Whit's mom. Her family's homeplace is the base of operations for Cedar Roost Ranch.

"As a mom, you want your children to grow up, be healthy and strong, find what they truly love and hopefully find someone who loves the same things," she said. "Well, Whit did."

The Loveladys credit their farm to the Lord, counting each success and struggle as joy.

"Sometimes, we can get overwhelmed because it's a lot of pressure," Amanda said. "But it's also really cool to take a step back and reflect. God has allowed us to be where we are, and that means so much to us."

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