Meet Michael Lee

“It’s a tremendous opportunity but also a tremendous challenge at the same time,” said Michael Lee of the growing number of consumers who want to purchase food locally and know more about the way it was raised and grown.

Michael Lee is the manager of Flying C Ranch in Conway, Arkansas, where his stepdad began raising cattle in 1980, but the farm has been in the family much longer. Michael knows he grew up in the best way possible by being on the farm, surrounded by agriculture and a farming family.

“I tell people all the time, I have one of the greatest jobs ever, working in the industry I love because I get to be around animals and be around people,” he said.

Flying C Ranch is a vertically integrated commercial cattle operation, raising cattle to finishing weight selling directly to consumers. They also have a small pecan orchard. Michael, his mother, and his wife operate the farm and a farm store which was opened in 2022 to sell their products in addition to selling them at farmers markets. Recently, they’ve expanded the store to sell an abundance of local goods such as local fruits and vegetables, other proteins, spices, sauces and preserves.

“I think local people have to support local people,” Michael said. “And adding those products allows us to tell those producers’ stories as well, and we invite people to leave literature on their products so customers can learn about them.”

Michael’s passion lies in advocating for the industry and sharing his experiences with consumers. The number one question he is asked about Flying C’s beef is about antibiotic use and hormones, followed by what the cattle eat and how they are raised. It’s easy for Michael to ease consumers’ worries because customers can view a pasture of grazing cattle right from the window of the farm store.

“It goes back to being transparent; that’s how you bust up all these conspiracies [about farming] is with transparency,” Michael said. “That’s another reason we wanted to begin the store; when you pull up, you’re looking at cattle in a wide, open space.”

Flying C Ranch began selling freezer beef in 2014, and at that time, they had one calving season in the fall. But as their freezer beef program began to gain popularity, they soon realized they needed to calve in the fall and the spring to supply beef year-round. They’ve done this for four years now, and they still have challenges meeting the demand. Michael believes part of this is due to the mindset shift COVID-19 instigated and the worry about food security post-COVID. Michael’s relationship with his consumers gives him influence to explain how producers raise beef safely and humanely.

Twelve years ago, Michael took his love for advocacy to the state level and joined the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association (ACA). He is actively involved in NCBA and has leadership roles with ACA, Farm Bureau, and county programs like 4-H and Farm Roundup.

“I love the people; I love the industry; and I think it’s so important to be involved. It is time to put some skin in the game and make your voice be heard,” Michael concluded.