Starr Livestock Farm is a livestock operation in Bells Bend focused primarily on sheep. Bells Bend is one of the last rural strongholds in Davidson County, and one of the last places in the Nashville city limits where food is produced for Nashvillians on continuous acres of farmland. This bend in the Cumberland River, defined by its fertile soils, has long drawn farmers to its fields. Archaeological artifacts from Paleoindian settlements found in Bells Bend prove that this land has been a favored place for community settlement since before the last Ice Age.
Many Bells Bend residents recognize the importance of conserving the land for sustainable agricultural production. Even those who don’t farm sometimes lease their land to farmers who don’t yet have land of their own. One such “landless farm” is Starr Livestock Farm. At the helm is Samuel Starr, a Texas native who brought his ranching experience to Tennessee with a vision for regenerating pastures while supporting wildlife. Samuel farms on multiple properties in Bells Bend, but his “home base” farm is owned by the Weprin family. It’s roughly 300 acres of open pasture, ponds, and forests.
With land and animal health as his north star, Samuel uses intensive rotational grazing to manage his herds. Using this technique, a farmer moves livestock through a series of small pastures, mimicking natural herd movement. Rotational grazing enriches soil, reduces soil compaction, and prevents overgrazing. Such practices are especially vital in the riverbound pocket that is Bells Bend, where land management directly impacts the health of the Cumberland River.
River Friendly Farm Certified
In 2025, Starr Livestock LLC was certified as a River Friendly Farm by the Cumberland River Compact.
“We are passionate about raising sheep while carefully stewarding the land and ecosystems entrusted to our care. If we want to live out our calling to be stewards, then we must strive to be truly exceptional ones. Working with the Cumberland River Compact to become a River Friendly Farm is how we ensure we’re meeting that standard and protecting these precious natural resources.”
The River Friendly Farm certification program with Cumberland River Compact recognizes farmers who are good stewards of water and land resources, connecting them with consumers who value a healthy environment. As a River Friendly Farm, Williamson Family Farm is ensuring cleaner water, healthier soil, and a more resilient climate for the people and creatures living in the surrounding environment.
Protecting Wildlife and Water
A defining feature of the Weprin farm is the large ponds throughout the landscape. To protect the farm’s ponds—which are hydrologically connected to the Cumberland River—Samuel uses portable electric fencing to keep animals out of the water. This prevents erosion, limits manure from entering the water, and protects aquatic life. It is also beneficial to the sheep, which are prone to contracting parasitic worms in marshy conditions.
Thanks to the large ponds and Samuel’s farm management practices, the farm is a haven for wildlife.
Five bald eagles call the land home, and ospreys visit seasonally to feast on the ponds’ fish. Apex predators like these can only flourish when a healthy ecosystem exists. The presence of the predatory birds is a testament to the link between sustainable farming and habitat conservation.
A Low-Cost and Healthy Management Strategy
Through rotational grazing, Samuel is able to avoid using fertilizers and herbicides for weed control. This low-input strategy protects the water from chemical runoff and saves money: a win-win for the farmer and the land.
Managed grazing is how he “tames” financial inputs, as he explains. His sheep provide natural fertilizer through manure, and they also control weeds as they munch through pastures. Because rotation allows his pastures to regenerate, his animals exclusively eat a forage-based diet. If he were using traditional grazing methods, he might need to purchase hay or other feed sources to supplement their diet.
Finally, managed grazing is how he maintains his flock’s health and vigor. Sheep kept in a single pasture for too long contract parasites, so Samuel moves his sheep every three days. Pastures get plenty of rest after they’re grazed, sometimes as long as six months. This ensures that plants have time to develop a deep root system, which curbs erosion and allows water to penetrate deeply into the ground. It also ensures that any parasites left in manure die out, so the sheep do not get sick or require de-wormers.
Healing the Land
The pastures at the Weprin farm were once damaged by the dumping of hot, spent brewery grain from a local beer brewer who was the previous owner. The heat and acidity of the grain “burned off” large portions of the grass, as longtime land manager Ben Capps describes. Where the burnt ground wasn’t bare, it was often overrun with ragweed.
Since Samuel began rotating sheep through the fields, the pastures have made a strong recovery. The once-barren areas are now beginning to flourish with deep-rooted grasses and improved soil structure. The rapid improvement is likely due to the sheep’s impact: They graze down ragweed and other undesirable plants, while leaving behind manure, a natural fertilizer. After the sheep move on, Mr. Capps follows with a bush hog to cut any remaining vegetation, and then the pastures are given several months to rest and regenerate.
Land Sharing in Bells Bend
The Weprin farm isn’t the only one where you’ll find sheep in Bells Bend. Neighbors from all over the area—the Jacobsons, Segrists, Graves, Mays, Tarletons, and more—have all lent their land to Samuel.
Samuel is quick to credit this generous land policy to Zach Richardson, Nashville’s original “urban shepherd” who raises a flock of sheep whose primary purpose is landscaping. Affectionately called “The Chew Crew,” you may have seen this bahh-ing bunch at Nashville’s Fort Negley or on the Cumberland River Greenway in Metro Center.
Zach is headquartered in Bells Bend, where his amiable personality has opened doors, or rather pastures, amongst the local landowners. Samuel notes that Zach has paved the way for him to function as a “landless farmer” in Bells Bend. Samuel takes this gift seriously and strives to treat the land and landowners with the same care that Zach has shown.
Support Starr Livestock
Starr Livestock raises grassfed, grass-finished sheep without de-wormers or vaccines, using practices that protect water and regenerate soil. You can support this kind of agriculture by purchasing meat or wool from Samuel.
To avoid waste and respect the lives of his animals, Samuel prefers to sell lambs in whole, halves, or quarters. If you buy from him, you receive all pieces of the animal—organ meats, steaks, and more.
Ground lamb can also be purchased through the Bells Bend Farm Store, which is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Although Samuel’s sheep are a meat breed, they are still sheared once a year to reduce heat stress. The wool is currently being used for insulation on a green building project happening elsewhere in the neighborhood, but more may be available in the coming years.
Get in touch with Samuel by direct messaging him on Instagram or email him at Samuelstarr99@gmail.com. He can leave orders at the Bells Bend Farm Store for pickup, or you can meet him and the sheep at one of his farm sites. Samuel is a wealth of knowledge and wants to connect non-farmers to his family’s way of life. He encourages you to schedule a visit and meet the sheep.
