Our Story
Douglas Cattle Company EST. 2018
Douglas Cattle Company was named in honor of a great man, Douglas Samuels.
Doug was Linda’s husband and Gina’s father. He loved his family, taught and lived by great principles, and always left everyone better than he found them.
In 2010, Doug bought about 10 acres behind his family’s home in Melbourne, Florida. It was a jungle, but Doug bought a 55-horsepower tractor, and with Linda, Gina, and her younger sister, they got to work clearing it, turning it into a little farm. As was his way, Doug also recruited the help of young men who needed some refining and was always able to leave them a little better than he found them.
Then came the horses, and then two small calves Gina found on Craigslist. As the calves grew, they made their way into the hearts of Doug and Linda. Those two cows went to market but sparked a passion that has now grown into the operation we have built.
In 2015, we bought 2 heifer calves since we missed the original 2 calves. From there, we added a few more and a few more.
Doug passed away in 2017, leaving a wonderful legacy of service and hard work. When we bought the ranch in 2018, we felt that Douglas Cattle Company was a fitting name and strive to shape our business decisions based on the principles he held dear.
The ranch is now about 180 acres, plus 50 mama cows, along with the bulls, yearlings, and calves. It gets to be a busy place. We definitely feel Doug's influence in much of what we do out here.
Our Brand
Our brand is actually a symbol that Doug created in his early 20s, and he marked all his tools with it throughout his life. Doug was very responsible; he took great care of that with which he was blessed.
Having his symbol as an integral part of our ranch is always a reminder of Doug's legacy of hard work, respect, and diligence. We use this brand on our logo and freeze-brand our cattle with it.
Meet the Team
We are very small in number but are building something great.
Owner
Linda S.
I came to my love of animals through my children—first dogs, then horses, and finally cattle. My daughter Gina convinced us to buy two calves. We raised them and sold them, but I found I really missed having them around. So, we bought two more calves. Then two more. I was hooked. I took classes so I could be a good steward. We built facilities to help us care for them. I am awed by the miracle of the birth of each calf and the beauty of each mama caring for her calf. I’ve loved watching the different personalities they each have. I am continuing to learn about the industry and the animals. It has been a great journey so far. I truly love being part of the agricultural world. I am BQA Certified and an active member of the Florida Cattlemen's and Cattlewomen's Associations.
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Ranch Manager
Gina M.
I believe strongly in research and innovation in the agriculture industry and have a deep passion for the cattle I raise and the beef I produce. I graduated from Utah State University in 2018 with a Bachelor's degree majoring in Agricultural Systems Technology, with minors in Animal Science and Ag Business. My education exposed me to many different elements of the agricultural industry, and since coming on-site to manage Douglas Cattle in 2019, I have been able to grow so much as a person and a rancher. I am an active member of the Florida Cattlemen's and Florida Cattlewomen's Associations.
Assistant Manager
Tanner L.
My background is in show cattle, but since being in college have had opportunities to be active in many parts of the beef industry. I am working on a Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science at the University of Florida. I have worked for Douglas Cattle Company since 2021.
I did an internship at Deseret Cattle and Citrus. I also have traveled throughout the state and country working with other ranches in their show cattle programs.
What We Do
We are small scale, so try to diversify. We are passionate about all aspects of the beef industry, and are honored to be a part of many stages of the process.
We have some of the only Fleckvieh cattle in Florida, so offer a very unique element to many facets of our program
We have great cows, both registered and commercial, known for their reliability and durability. They know their job and do it well.
