Our History

Four generations of the Dawson family have worked this land since 1947.

The Dawson Legacy

The story of Red Clay Cattle Company is really the story of one family's stubborn refusal to do things the easy way. When Harold Dawson came home from the Pacific in 1946, he had a little money saved, a new wife named Eileen, and a conviction that he was done taking orders from anybody. He bought 80 acres of scrubby pasture land that nobody else wanted, and he got to work. That was 1947. Four generations later, we're still here, still working the same land—though we've added to it over the years—and still raising cattle the way Harold figured out through trial, error, and pure cussedness.

Our Story

1947

Harold Plants His Flag

Harold Dawson buys 80 acres of rough pasture land outside Attalla with his Army savings. He and Eileen move into a two-room house that's more optimism than structure. They start with twelve head of mixed cattle and a lot of determination.

1958

The Angus Decision

After a decade of trial and error with various breeds, Harold buys his first registered Black Angus bull from a breeder in Tennessee. The decision to focus on Angus would define the farm for the next six decades.

1972

Second Generation

Harold's son James takes over day-to-day operations after returning from Vietnam. He expands the farm to 180 acres and builds the red barn that still stands today. James and his wife Betty raise three children on the farm.

1995

Third Generation

Bobby Dawson, James's middle son and the only one who wanted to stay on the farm, takes over operations. He marries Sarah, a teacher from Gadsden, and they begin raising their own family on the land.

2008

Expanding the Legacy

Red Clay Cattle Company acquires an adjacent 100-acre parcel, bringing the total to 280 acres. Bobby implements the rotational grazing system that had been his grandfather Harold's instinct but never formalized.

2020

Direct to Families

The pandemic changes everything. With restaurants closed and supply chains broken, Bobby and Sarah pivot to selling directly to families. What started as a way to survive becomes the future of the farm.

2024

Fourth Generation Rising

Bobby and Sarah's daughter Emma, 24, returns to the farm full-time after college. Their son Jack, 21, splits time between the farm and studying agriculture at Auburn. The next chapter is beginning.

The Dawson Family

Bobby Dawson

Third Generation

Bobby grew up on this farm, left for a few years to see what else was out there, and came back knowing there was nowhere else he'd rather be. He's been running Red Clay Cattle Company since 1995 and still gets up before dawn every morning to check on the herd.

Sarah Dawson

Operations & Sales

Sarah taught high school English for 20 years before the direct-sales pivot in 2020 gave her a new calling. She handles the business side, customer relationships, and makes sure Bobby actually takes a day off now and then.

Emma Dawson

Fourth Generation

Emma has a degree in Animal Science from Auburn and a natural gift with the cattle that her dad says she got from her great-great-grandmother Eileen. She's focused on herd genetics and sustainable practices for the next 77 years.

Jack Dawson

Fourth Generation

Jack is finishing his agriculture degree at Auburn while helping on the farm during breaks. He's interested in the technology side—pasture monitoring, record keeping, and figuring out how to get Red Clay beef to more families.

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