by
Shreene Johnson
| Nov 11, 2025
This article was written based on a podcast interview on From the Pasture with Hired Hand. You can listen to the full interview here or wherever you get your podcasts.
When Chase and Elizabeth Lunsford founded 2020 Cattle Company in southern Kentucky, they knew they wanted to build something meaningful—something rooted in family, herd quality, and long-term vision. Both graduates of the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture, the couple blended their backgrounds (he’s a beef cattle guy, she’s a dairy girl) into a unique program raising registered Texas Longhorns and Wagyu beef cattle, all while raising their daughter, River, alongside them. The name 2020 Cattle Company is a nod to the year they purchased their first farm and officially started their herd. For Chase, though, the story of Longhorns goes back much further.
“My dad got me a couple of Longhorn steers for Christmas when I was seven. From then, pun intended, I was hooked.” – Chase Lunsford
Starting the Herd: Pedigree Meets Phenotype
Like many breeders, Chase entered the breed with strong ideas about pedigree. Early on, he focused heavily on lineage—pairing genetics he admired and chasing proven families he had followed since childhood. But experience reshaped his approach. “Phenotype matters just as much as pedigree. Just because something is related to a great one doesn’t mean it is a great one.” Now he looks for balance: cattle that look the part and carry genetics with purpose behind them.
A standout in the herd today is Horseshoe J Manage, a cow Chase describes as nearly ideal in both structure and family line. Their senior herd sire, Jaguar Chex (owned in partnership with the Tallies and Morris family), is another highlight—producing color, horn, and consistency. “Everybody says you wish you could have a herd full of one cow. For me, that’s Horseshoe J Manage.”
A Kentucky Operation With Two Breeds and One Vision
The Lunsfords run Longhorns on one side of their program and Wagyu on the other. The Wagyu enterprise started in partnership with Elizabeth’s family dairy, where they bred lower-genetic Jerseys to Wagyu AI sires, producing high-value F1 beef calves. Their Wagyu beef is sold directly to customers—even featured as the 2020 Wagyu Burger at her family’s agritourism-based restaurant. “Ground beef is usually the hardest part of direct-to-consumer beef. Having the burger on the menu has been a game changer.” Running two breeds comes with challenges: bulls to separate, breeding groups to manage, and fences that must actually work. But it also provides flexibility, market reach, and year-round purpose.
The Power of Community and Networking
Chase is quick to credit the breeders who helped him early on, especially Ken Morris of KCCI, whom he jokingly refers to as his “Longhorn Dad.” “The people you meet in this breed turn into the people you call for advice, ideas, and sometimes just to talk cattle.” Sales and futurities like Cherry Blossom, Bluegrass, and East Coast are regular events for their family—and their daughter River has already attended her first Millennium Futurity.
Looking Ahead: Quality Over Quantity
The plan moving forward:
Keep the Longhorn herd at 25–30 elite cows
Expand the Wagyu herd to support processing ~5 head/month
Raise more homebred bulls that can influence herds beyond their own
“If it hurts to sell one, that means you’re selling the right ones.” Artificial insemination and IVF will continue to play a strategic role, helping accelerate progress while staying true to the families and traits Chase values most.
How Hired Hand Helps
Chase uses his Hired Hand Website to track measurements and reference pedigrees all in one place. “I’m a nerd about growth and horn data. Having one place where it’s all recorded is huge.” Ready to market your herd online?
Visit Hired Hand Websites to see examples of breeder sites, manage pedigrees, and connect your herd with more buyers.
Learn More About Hired Hand Websites
Whether you're raising Longhorns, Wagyu, goats, horses, or other registered livestock, Hired Hand offers pedigree-powered websites that help breeders market animals professionally and efficiently.
Explore:
• hiredhandsoftware.com
• hiredhandlive.com (view sale consignments, bid from home, research pedigrees)
And, be sure to follow our Podcast, From the Pasture with Hired Hand.