When Shayda and Sage Howell found out they were becoming parents, everything sharpened into focus. It transformed how they thought about nourishment, land stewardship, and the legacy they want to leave behind.
That shift led them to Shayda’s family land in Lincoln, Texas, where they restored her grandfather’s property to raise their own cattle. With Sage’s background in Controlled Environment Agriculture and guidance from Shayda’s cousin Dustin at Keith Cattle Co., they stepped into the reality of building a herd, starting with their very first cow.
“The quality difference was immediate, and it made us realize how disconnected most people are from their food,” says Shayda. “We started sharing about our experience with friends and family, and naturally, people wanted access too. That’s when Mother Acres began to take shape as something bigger we could lean into and offer to our community.”
With their nose-to-tail philosophy came an expansion beyond food, leading Shayda to develop a line of skincare and soap products. Rooted in honoring the whole animal, that experience has been especially challenging and therapeutic for her, allowing her to step away from her phone, work with her hands, and tap into something real.
At the heart of it all is how the animals are raised, because that standard of care shows up in every cut. With a Mother Acres cow share, you move from buying one package at a time to stocking your freezer with high-quality beef for months.
“Our cows are sourced locally in Lincoln and are never mass-produced or raised in inhumane conditions. They live peaceful, free-to-roam lives on pasture, and the only ‘bad day’ they experience is the day they are processed,” says Shayda. “The benefits are really threefold: quality, transparency, and value. You know exactly where your beef comes from, how it was raised, and what you’re feeding your family.”
Since launching Mother Acres, the Howells have brought in their first dozen laying hens, becoming more hands-on with animal care and giving their son a front-row seat to it all. They’ve also opened their farmstand to the community through smash burger pop-ups and mommy-and-me Pilates classes.
Mother Acres is an extension of how the Howells believe life should be lived. It’s about rediscovering skills that have been lost and bringing them back into daily life. More than anything, they want to give families the tools and confidence to make more intentional choices about what they bring into their homes.
Your kids might even learn a thing or two from their book The ABC’s of Texas Land, which aims to spark curiosity about the richness and diversity of our state and food landscape.
“If we can help families eat better, support local agriculture, and feel more rooted in the place they live, that’s the impact I care most about,” says Shayda. “I hope Mother Acres becomes part of a larger return—a movement toward rebuilding local food culture in a way that feels practical, grounded, and lasting for the next generation."
Shop online at motheracres.com and their farmstand at 13402 Anderson Mill Rd, Cedar Park.