Born and raised just north of the Tennessee border, Joe Neely is the sixth generation to make a living on his family’s farm near Franklin, Ky. He grew up showing Angus steers and later purchased an Angus cow and heifer calf with his younger brother, Ben, forming the partnership of Charles R. Neely and Sons. In 1951, Neely became a member of the American Angus Association and continued to show cattle at the local, state and national levels under the name Meadowbrook — the farm’s current name.

Angus cattle and farming have provided Neely’s sole livelihood for his entire life. Neely served as president of the Kentucky Angus Association in 1973-1974 and was instrumental in founding the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE). He later served on the Board of Directors of the American Angus Association from 1980 to 1986 and served as president in 1987. Neely and his wife, Deanna, have three children, Dave, Polly and John, all of whom were active in the National Junior Angus Association. The Angus breed has been a large part of their lives. Today the legacy continues with Neely’s son, Dave, who maintains a small herd of Angus cattle.