By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

Colby and Ashley McClendon are sixth-generation farmers and ranchers who have made it their mission to preserve their family’s legacy while adapting to the challenges of urban growth in Collin County.

“Our county is one of the most rapidly growing counties in the entire state of Texas,” Ashley said. “We have been experiencing exponential growth over the last 20 years.”

As neighborhoods spring up and farmland becomes scarce, the McClendons continue their work on the farm and ranch, carrying forward a legacy that spans more than a century.

“In our area, growing rooftops is more common than growing crops,” Colby said. “But where others saw the end of agriculture, we’ve seen the evolution of it.”

What started with just 150 acres and a small herd of Herefords in 2013 has grown into a diversified farm and ranch after Colby took the reins from his grandfather..

“I learned everything I know about farming through my grandfather,” he said. “It’s important to me to carry on what he started while continuing to modernize and grow.”

Meet Colby and Ashley McClendon. They grow row crops and hay. The couple also raise cattle and sell their beef through their meat market located on their farm. The McClendons are finalists in our Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher contest.

Today, the McClendons raise cattle and grow row crops, including wheat, oats, corn, sorghum, soybeans and hay. They also provide custom planting, spraying and harvesting services.

The growth hasn’t come easily for the young couple.

“The most difficult business challenges we’ve faced is local urbanization,” Colby said.

Modern growth has meant adapting to not only urban pressures but also to consumer demand.

The couple raise Angus and Hereford cattle, selling locally sourced beef through their farm-to-table storefront. Their market, located adjacent to the family pasture and barn, gives customers a front-row seat to see where their food comes from.

“Our meat market provides an opportunity to educate and engage with our community about the importance of supporting local farmers and locally raised goods,” Ashley said. “We are passionate about educating the public about agriculture and showing our community first-hand where their food comes from.”

In 2024, the McClendons’ storefront saw record sales, leading to herd expansion and the addition of 44 Farms bulls to strengthen their Angus genetics.

They diversified further by introducing beef suet and tallow products, like cooking oils, soaps and face balms, which quickly became top sellers.

Their next phase of growth, guided by customer surveys, includes adding a produce operation.

Meet Colby and Ashley McClendon. They grow row crops and hay. The couple also raise cattle and sell their beef through their meat market located on their farm. The McClendons are finalists in our Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher contest.

“We want to create a ripple effect of showing why supporting local farmers matters,” Ashley said. “Farming in an area with a large population of people who have little to no exposure to agriculture, we see it as our responsibility to show others the importance of local farming in their communities.”

But challenges are never far away.

“In 2024, we saw one of the toughest farming disaster years in recent years related to weather,” Colby said. “High cattle prices helped offset low grain prices, but it’s a reminder why diversification is so critical.”

Through it all, Colby and Ashley remain committed to advocacy and community.

The couple are involved in Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Young Farmer & Rancher events and activities. Colby serves on the Collin County Farm Bureau board of directors and is also on the TFB Feed Grains & Oilseeds Advisory Committee.

Their daughters, Clara Nelle and Campbell, are the seventh generation to live on the farm and are already a big part of the family’s legacy.

“We are proud of our rich farming heritage and view it as our responsibility to honor and carry that legacy forward,” Colby said.

But they believe agriculture is more than just crops and cattle. It’s about stewardship and advocacy.

“Our goal is to provide a sustainable, profitable operation that enriches our community and inspires others,” Ashley said. “We want to continue growing, expanding and honoring the legacy that came before us.”

Watch a video with the McClendons.

Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher Contest
The McClendons are finalists in TFB’s 2025 Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher Contest.

The contest recognizes young men and women ages 18 to 35 who are involved in agriculture but do not earn their primary income from a farm or ranch enterprise.

Information on the contest and TFB’s YF&R program can be found online at texasfarmbureau.org/YFR.

Meet Colby and Ashley McClendon. They grow row crops and hay. The couple also raise cattle and sell their beef through their meat market located on their farm. The McClendons are finalists in our Outstanding Young Farmer & Rancher contest.