Wagon Wheel Ranch

Fred Liebl of Wagon Wheel Ranch has been farming since 1970. Although he wasn’t raised on a farm, his grandparents were farmers in New York state where he grew up and worked on a neighbor’s dairy farm. His work with livestock continued during his time in the Airforce when he was stationed in Montana cattle country. While there, Fred worked on ranches helping with roundups and took the first pre-requisite courses towards his veterinary degree. After leaving the Airforce he attended veterinary school at the University of Georgia while farming hogs and cattle. Fred has remained in Georgia and settled on raising beef cattle on his 200 acres family farm, Wagon Wheel Ranch, in the Northeast of the state.

Fred’s Animal Welfare Approved cattle are a three-way cross of Santa Gertrudis, known for their mothering instinct and heat tolerance, Hereford, which have a gentle disposition and high-yield carcass, and the popular Angus breed, known for its tender meat quality. Wagon Wheel Ranch uses a sustainable pasture rotation system with natural shade and fresh water available at all times. Fred produces all of his animals’ nutrition on-farm through fresh grasses that his animals graze during the wet season and rye grass bailage that supplements their diet during times when there’s not enough grass. This system allows his animals to receive stable nutrition during times of draught and eliminates the need to purchase expensive, lower-quality feeds for his cattle.

While many people use the term ‘grassfed,’ being Animal Welfare Approved allows Fred to communicate to his customers that his beef is truly high-welfare and grassfed. His high-quality beef can be found at farmers’ markets in Northeast Georgia, direct from the farm, or online. The ranch is family operated with Dr. Fred Liebl doing most of the full-time operations, assisted by his wife Dr. Doris Liebl and son Max who both have off-farm occupations. Customers must make an appointment in advance if they desire to visit, tour, or purchase meat at the ranch. Wagon Wheel Ranch is audited and inspected by Animal Welfare Approved of A Greener World, which is one of the top two certifying agencies in the country. Only calves born, raised, and finished on the ranch are offered for sale.