Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael & Amanda Cox.
Michael & Amanda, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
We moved to this community four and a half years ago, as a family of four (Myself, Michael, Ben (8), and Addi (4)) with a dream of building something meaningful together. When we first purchased our property, there wasn’t much here except the house, cabin, a utility building, and land. We built a barn and did all fencing ourselves, learning as we went and putting a lot of hard work into creating what is now our family farm.
Everything really began to take shape in April of 2023 when we purchased our first Highlands Fiona and Ruby. We instantly fell in love with the breed- their personalities, their. calm nature, and of course their beauty. By July of that same year, we decided to start offering photography sessions with cows at our farm, which was something fairly unique for our area at the time.
As interest started to grow, we reached out to other farms to learn more about the agritourism side of things. One of those connections was Dewberry Farms in Kernersville, North Carolina. We asked if we could be a small part of their annual sunflower event offering photography sessions through our farm, and that opportunity helped introduce us to a larger audience.
From there, things really began to expand. We started attending festivals and weddings with our animals while continuing photography sessions at our farm.
At the beginning of 2024, we introduced farm tours so guests could come out and have a more personal, one-on-one experience with our Highland cows and calves. Over time, we added more animals to the farm, including Nigerian Dwarf goats, Kune Kune pigs, and Miniature Donkeys, which made the experience even more special for visitors.
Later in 2024, we purchased the property beside of our farm and turned it into a guest house for families visiting the nearby North Carolina Zoo and surrounding areas. We wanted to create a peaceful place where guests could enjoy the serenity of the countryside while still being close to the animals, with opportunities to feed the cows and calves during their stay.
In 2025, we built an event center on the farm, which allowed us to start hosting birthday parties, bridal and baby shower, and private celebrations surrounded by Highland cattle of all ages. That same year, we also began partnering with Millstone Creek Orchards, bringing our Highland calves to their events and creating opportunities for families to experience them in a fun, seasonal setting.
Then in the fall of 2025, we began offering micro weddings and became affiliated with the knot, which was an exciting milestone for us.
Another exciting step in our journey has been the development of our breeding program. As our knowledge and experience with the breed grew, so did our desire to contribute to the highland community in a meaningful way. In 2026, we began adding American Highland Cattle Association registered cattle to our herd, which was a big milestone for us. Our goal with the breeding program is to focus on temperament, quality, and healthy animals that not only represent the breed well but also maintain the gentle personalities that make highlands so special for families and visitors.
Building a breeding program has been both exciting and humbling. It represents how far we’ve come-from purchasing our very first cow in 2023 to now intentionally planning the future of our herd. We’re passionate about continuing to learn, improve, and grow in this area while sharing that journey with the people who support our farm.
We are also very proud to be a veteran-owned and operated farm. My husband, Michael, served in the United States Army, and that experience shaped so much of who we are as a family – especially the values of hard work, resilience, and service to others. Recently, he became a board member of the North Carolina chapter of the Farmer Veteran Coalition, where they work to help connect veterans with resources and opportunities in agriculture. Being able to support other veterans who are interested in farming has become something very meaningful to us.
One thing that has always been important to us is creating a farm that feels personal. We don’t just want people to come for an activity- we want them to have an experience. We strive to create an environment where guests feel welcomed, where they can slow down, connect with the animals, and truly enjoy their time here. Our staff is small and consist of ourselves and two other family members. Our hope is that when guests leave, they don’t feel like they just visited a business- they feel like they know us, like they’ve spent time with our family.
Honestly, this entire journey has flooded our family with so much joy. We feel incredibly honored to be able to share our farm with others and to receive so much love and support from the community. Watching families make memories here, seeing children experience farm life up close, and being part of people’s special moments has meant more to us than we ever imagined when we started with just one cow.
What began as a simple dream has grown into something truly special, and we’re just very grateful for it all.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the biggest challenges we faced early on was simply affording more cows. When we first started, highland calves and cows were already expensive, but prices have increased significantly since then. that reality really pushed us to think outside the box. We realized that if we wanted to continue growing our herd, we needed to create additional opportunities to support that goal. And that’s truly what led us into agritourism. Offering photography sessions, farm visits, and events wasn’t just about creating experiences for others, it was also about building a sustainable way to continue doing what we love.
Another major learning experience for us was the knowledge side of caring for cattle. We didn’t come into this with a lifetime of cow experience, so there was a lot to learn about proper handling, safety, nutrition, land overall care- especially with Highlands. While it wasn’t necessarily a struggle, it was definitely a steep learning curve at times. We’ve been very fortunate to have the support of an incredible veterinary team at Lexington Large Animal in Lexington, North Carolina, and having knowledge professionals we trust has made a huge difference for us and for our animals.
Another challenge was simply getting our name out there and finding ways to build our brand. In today’s world, so much of business growth happens through social media platforms, and that was something we had to learn and adapt to. We had to figure out where we fit, how to share or story, and how to connect with people in an authentic way. Over time, we realized that the best thing we could do was just be ourselves-share our animals, our family, and our everyday farm life- and that’s really what people connected with.
Looking back, every challenge has really just been an opportunity to learn. Each step has helped us grow not only as farmers, but as a family and as business owners.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We specialize in agritourism centered around our Highland cows. Everything we do- from visits to events- is built around creating meaningful, hands-on experiences with them.
We’re probably best known for our Highlands and their personalities. We hear all the time that ours are some of the friendliest around, and that’s something we take a lot of pride in. We spend a lot of time with them from the beginning, which helps create that calm, gentle temperament people connect with so easily.
What we’re most proud of is that we’ve always been able to offer a different style of service. We’ve created a place that can adapt to all walks of life and all ages. Whether someone is coming for a wedding, a farm tour, a photography session, or staying overnight at our Airbnb, we try to make every experience feel personal and special to them.
We aren’t a huge operation, but we have big personality here. We truly love what we do. We may not have the largest herd of highlands, but we have a deep love for them and for the people who come to visit, and we feel like that shines through in everything we offer. Our goal is that when someone leaves, they don’t feel like they just did an activity- they leave with a memory, a keepsake moment that they’ll cherish for years to come.
That connection is what really sets us apart.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Whatever you do, if it doesn’t succeed at first, learn to adapt. This is not a quick, turn-key business. It takes time, dedication, passion, and a lot of resilience. There will be moments where things don’t go the way you planned, and there will be people who might tell you that your ideas are unrealistic or even a little crazy. But if you truly believe in what you’re building, you have to keep pushing forward-even when you can’t see the light yet. Eventually, your persistence and hard work will speak for itself.
Another piece of advice is to research everything. From equipment, to infrastructure, to animal care, to potential unexpected challenges- learn as much as you possibly can. Look at the worst-case scenarios and ask yourself honestly if it’s something you’re willing to handle, because farming and agritourism aren’t always sunshine and rainbows, There are hard days, unexpected challenges, and lessons you only learn through experience.
But if you believe in yourself, stay committed, and are willing to put in the work, better days will come. The journey may take longer then you expect, but it can also become more rewarding than you ever imagined.
Pricing:
- All pricing can be found on our website at www.cellarcreekfarm.com
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cellarcreekfarm.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cellarcreekfarm
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cellarcreekfarm
- Other: https://www.airbnb.com/h/cellarcreekfarm
