The Whipple Heritage Conservation Foundation (WHCF)

The Whipple Heritage Conservation Foundation (WHCF) was established in 2019 with an initial contribution by George Whipple to protect, preserve, and perpetuate endangered and minority breeds of livestock in North America; to support and engage in educational and research efforts regarding those breeds; and to preserve land and buildings that ensure these farming efforts.                                          

Our goal is to protect rare Randall cattle from extinction by carefully maintaining and conserving land which ensures the quality of our soils and water sources. We believe wholeheartedly in organic practices. We also believe in using rotation, fallow, and buffer zones to preserve the open spaces that contribute to the quality of farmland and to allow for the greatest return on soil nutrients and clean water. As farming was once done at the edge of forests and other “wild” parcels, we hold these spaces as critical to our purpose as well.                                                     

Randall cattle are a uniquely American working farm animal. Almost extinct a few decades ago, the herd has slowly been revitalized. To assure its continued survival, we will establish a breeding herd of 15 (fifteen) heifers under a detailed program designed to promote genetic diversity through careful breeding practices. We will work with conservators to build the breed across the United States by establishing or augmenting satellite herds.                                                              

The role of a farm animal is to produce food and we will undertake studies to monitor best practices for production of Randall meat, milk and dairy products. All of this relates back to our land preservation program and farming practices aimed at creating the healthiest environments for high quality by-products. While high-end restaurants and markets use specialty products, it is our intent to promote the Randall widely as a sustainable breed that delivers the healthy, nutrient-rich product that we look for on our dinner table.                                                                    

In addition, we will serve as host for educational symposiums and lectures on genetic diversity and heritage livestock, partnering with the Livestock Conservancy and The Randall Cattle Registry, Inc.                                                               

Mr. Whipple is a  tenth-generation American farmer who has served on the boards of the Livestock Conservancy as well as Film at Lincoln Center.