Caption: (L to R) Bruce Cobb, CAB; Joannie Grimes; Lindsey Grimes-Hall; Henley Hall; John Stika, CAB
Maplecrest Farms has been named the 2025 Certified Angus Beef Ambassador Award recipient, recognizing their leadership and dedication to quality throughout the entire beef supply chain. Operated by Joanie Grimes, her daughter Lindsey, and son-in-law Adam Hall, the Hillsboro, Ohio farm combines cattle breeding, meat marketing, and public outreach to represent Angus producers nationwide.
The family raises registered Angus cattle with two goals in mind: producing adaptable, high-quality seedstock and ensuring satisfaction for beef consumers. Their work connects both ends of the supply chain, linking genetics to the Certified Angus Beef (CAB) brand, and has built a trusted reputation for excellence and transparency.
Joanie and her late husband John began this journey in 1998 after a road trip across Kansas inspired a new vision for Maplecrest Farms. What began as 40 cows has grown into a herd of more than 300, focused on genetic progress and customer relationships. “Folks in our region want their cows to look good, but we also understand and respect the bigger picture and our role as registered Angus breeders in the beef production chain,” Lindsey says. “It’s a delicate balance and you have to be very disciplined.”
Their breeding philosophy is both practical and progressive. “There’s some thought in the industry that you can’t have both,” Joanie says. “John was very successful in breeding cattle that not only produce Prime carcasses but also are very fine individuals that you are proud to look at in the front pasture.”
Maplecrest’s proximity to the Certified Angus Beef headquarters allows the family to regularly participate in food shows, host CAB ranch days, and welcome guests eager to learn about beef production. Visitors are often surprised by the advanced science and technology involved in cattle breeding, from semen tanks and embryo storage to in vitro fertilization. “It’s so fun to see their faces light up because they had no idea we use the same technology,” Lindsey says.
The family’s outreach extends beyond education. In 2021, they launched Maplecrest Meats, a direct-to-consumer store that sells beef raised from Maplecrest genetics. The venture, one of the first CAB Ranch to Table™ licensees, connects customers directly with producers and gives local bull buyers another outlet for their feeder calves.
“When we tell people our story at the store, one of the things we tell them is that everything that is in that freezer and every mama cow and every bull we own has had a 23andMe test,” Joanie says. “We know genetically what makes them up.” Genetic testing and performance data collection through the American Angus Association have improved both their herd and their business.
Through innovation, transparency, and a commitment to quality, Maplecrest Farms continues to champion every link in the beef production chain—from pasture to plate.
