10/24/2026
Today I’m proud to be in Kansas City where my dad has been honored as a Golden Breeder. The Golden Breeder award recognizes Hereford breeders who have stood the test of time and have been dedicated to raising Herefords for more than 50 years. Congratulations Tommy Mead, what an accomplishment!
Tommy Mead and his father transformed their commercial Hereford herd into a registered operation in the mid-’70s, starting with a show heifer from J.L. Hadden & Sons. Tommy spent years exhibiting cattle and aquiring females from leading breeders, which would become the foundation of Mead Cattle Enterprises.
Tommy co-founded the Partners & Progress Sale in Wadley, Ga., with Charles Smith, which was held from 1985 to 1996. Tommy then marketed cattle through consignment sales, until he hosted the first Mead Program Sale in 1999. With the exception of 2000, the sale has been held every Memorial Day weekend since.
Today, Tommy runs 300 registered Hereford, 100 registered Red Angus and 150 crossbred cattle. He focuses on fertile, functional cattle that are built for longevity — cattle that will not merely survive, but thrive in real-world, working conditions.
Tommy dedicated more than 35 years to the Georgia Hereford Association, where he’s served three terms as president and is a Hall of Fame inductee. Tommy served on the American Hereford Association Board of Directors from 2016–2020., and in 2009, Mead Cattle Enterprises was recognized as Conservationist of the Year. In memory of his mother, Hazel, and his wife, Valarie, who passed in 2020, the Mead Family Memorial Scholarship was established to give back to Hereford youth.
Tommy’s greatest legacy is his family. He shares his love of the industry with his daughter, Tommie Lynne. Together, they’ve exhibited cattle throughout the country. Following in his footsteps, Tommie Lynne served on the Georgia Junior Hereford Association board, including a term as president, and the National Junior Hereford Association board. Tommy looks forward to showing cattle with his grandsons, Walker and Kohen Jones, and continuing the family legacy.
