By Charlie Miller

Collegiate Senior Warner Lewis’s (‘24) family owns the meat business Lewis Cattle Company (LCC), one of the most popular meat businesses around Richmond. Warner’s parents Libby and John Lewis have always had a special interest in the world of business. For years they owned a farm that they devoted a great deal of time to, and they always knew that this business was going to take plenty of time and effort, but if it was something they loved, so they were all in. If you know the Lewis family, they are passionate about everything they do.  

Lewis’s farm is located in the Shenandoah Valley near Lexington, and both Warner and his brother Porter will be attending nearby the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) next year. This will be convenient for both of them, because they are a quick drive away. As brothers they are extremely close, so they are excited about being at the same school next year. The farm first started off in the Lewis family with John’s parents owning a 550-acre property. Passed down to John, it now stands at around 1,000 acres of land, and the house has also been remodelized by Libby.

According to their website, “Lewis Cattle Company is a cherished part of the land since its inception in the 1780s. Here, on our sprawling farm, which spans around 1,000 acres, nature herself plays the role of the artist, providing our cattle with vast meadows to explore, lush grass to nourish them, and a pure, bubbling spring where all creatures can find refreshment.”

The farm.

The land is home to around 450 cattle that are taken care of, and eventually professionally butchered, at the farm. The Lewis family has staff that helps them drive to Richmond for deliveries and checks up on everything at the farm during the week. 

In 2015, Warner’s grandparents passed the farm down to John, and the Lewis family embraced the responsibility of owning the farm that created this journey. The connection runs deep for John; his family is in the roots of the land because he was raised there alongside his family. 

The whole Lewis family lives in Richmond, but having both brothers near the farm next year will be a significant help. Warner is a hard worker in everything he does, especially when it comes to taking care of the farm. Warner said, “It’s a place where cherished memories are made,” where he has shared much laughter and bonding with his family.

Their meat is some of the best I have ever tasted, and the family-owned meat truck is a welcome sight around Richmond, with the LCC logo on both sides. The company even sells merchandise, which most of my friends own and wear. 

Lewis Cattle Company logo.

In their garage, the Lewis family has several meat fridges filled with different types and cuts of beef. They have almost every single cut of beef that is possible, all cut by their butcher, which you can view and order in their butcher shop.

Warner explained, “I love it. It’s great, because we are supplying people with what they want and what they deserve, with fresh products that they can rely on.” Warner is learning more and more about the business side of it each day from his parents. 

Warner explained that in the beginning of LCC, in 2020, “we couldn’t sell to restaurants and vendors, and it was difficult. We had to find a butcher that was USDA-certified. For a little while, we had to sell only to families, and no stores at all.” He went on to say that, “The government has standards that need to be met, and the butcher that we found helped us process the meat into stores.” After finding a butcher, the Lewis family now has meat that can be found in area stores, including at Yellow Umbrella, a market on Patterson Avenue that specializes in fresh meat and seafood. But most of their revenue and orders comes through their website.

Lewis Cattle meat.

Libby shared her experience with the business, saying, “The best part about our business is that the people that are concerned about what actually is in the meat are meant to buy from us, because we know everything about the animal, and we can guarantee customers clean and healthy, good-tasting meat.” She went on to say that, “instead of purchasing meat from a regular grocery store, meat you don’t know about, we can provide any questions about any piece of meat, because each animal is raised and fed here at the farm with us.”  

Dinner at the Lewis house is always a great meal; some of the best beef I’ve ever had was at Warner’s house, and I am grateful after each one. The meals are so delicious that the Collegiate varsity football team had Lewis Cattle burgers for team dinner the week before we played Norfolk Academy. The Lewis Cattle meal helped us come up with a big 38-7 win over the Bulldogs. If you ever need any type of beef, you know where to get it. 

All photos courtesy of lewiscattleva.com.