Charity Hill Farms is a six-generation, family-owned farm in Ruther Glen, Virginia, with more than 150 years of agricultural history. The Smith family has operated the farm since 1856, originally as a dairy farm and later transitioning to a beef cattle operation in 2006. Today, the farm focuses on raising and selling high-quality beef directly to consumers.
The farm raises approximately 140 brood cows and produces around 130 calves each year. Its cattle are born, raised, and finished on the farm, with the herd managed through rotational grazing and farm-grown hay and feed. Charity Hill Farms also follows conservation-focused agricultural practices, including no-till farming, cover crops, and fencing ponds and creeks to protect water quality.
About This Program
Charity Hill Farms is an agricultural livestock farm rather than a therapeutic riding, hippotherapy, or equine-assisted services provider. Its primary operation is beef cattle production and direct-to-consumer retail sales. The farm’s website does not identify therapeutic riding or equine-assisted therapy as services offered.
For the equestriantherapy.com directory, the farm may therefore be more appropriately categorized as an agricultural and livestock resource than as a therapeutic equine program.
Services Offered
- Direct-to-consumer beef sales
- USDA-inspected beef cuts
- Ground beef, steaks, and roasts
- Beef bundle boxes
- Quarter-cow beef packages
- On-farm product pickup
- Farm-to-table agricultural production
- Rotational grazing and livestock management
- Sustainable agricultural practices
Who They Serve
Charity Hill Farms may be good for:
- Local consumers seeking farm-raised beef
- Families purchasing beef directly from a local farm
- Customers interested in Virginia-produced agricultural products
- Restaurants and markets sourcing locally raised beef
- Individuals interested in sustainable livestock farming
- Visitors interested in learning more about family-owned agricultural operations
Facility and Setting
Charity Hill Farms is located at 9482 Golansville Road, Ruther Glen, Virginia 22546. The property is a working family farm with cattle, pastureland, hay production, and agricultural infrastructure. Farm visits are available by appointment, while product orders are currently fulfilled through on-farm pickup.
The farm uses rotational grazing, dividing pasture into smaller paddocks and moving cattle regularly to encourage pasture regrowth. In winter, the cattle are supplemented with hay grown entirely on the farm.
What Makes Them Unique
Charity Hill Farms is distinguished by its long family history and direct farm-to-consumer model. The Smith family has maintained the property for more than six generations, adapting its agricultural operation from dairy farming to beef cattle production while continuing to manage the farm as a family business.
The farm also emphasizes environmental stewardship. Its management practices include rotational grazing, no-till farming, cover crops, and measures to keep cattle away from ponds and creeks, helping protect the Chesapeake Bay watershed while maintaining productive agricultural land.