OUR STORY
Major W. Stevenson Jr.’s vision and inspiration for the Taylor Stevenson Ranch Meat Co. truly began in 1875 with the Taylor-Stevenson Ranch. Taylor-Stevenson Ranch is a historic 640-acre working ranch located near NRG Stadium (home of the Houston Texans and Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo) Almeda Rd. in Houston, TX. The ranch was officially designated in the Congressional Record as a "Texas Century Ranch" which recognizes ownership by the same family for over a century. It was also recognized as the only African-American owned ranch in Texas with the century ranch designation.
The ranch was originally purchased in 1875 by Edward Ruthven Taylor, a former Confederate Soldier, at the persuasion of Ann George, who was one of the family's former slaves charged with overseeing Edward after his capture and during his illness after the American Civil War. They planned to raise hay, livestock, and farm the land. They lived openly together as husband and wife, although they never officially married because at that time interracial marriage was a violation of Texas law. They raised six children, Pinkie, Major Julius, Samuel, William E, Nettie C., and Burt, all of whom received a college education. Their granddaughter and Major Jr.’s grandmother, Mollie Taylor Stevenson Sr., was a graduate of Fisk University. She was the direct inspiration and influence for Major Jr. developing his passion for agriculture and ranching. She was inducted into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in 2001, and together with her daughter, Mollie Taylor Stevenson Jr., became the first living African-American women to receive the honor.
Major W. Stevenson Jr. was introduced to and developed a passion for agriculture and ranching through his family at the Taylor-Stevenson Ranch. That legacy has been passed down for 7 generations. Because of Major’s passion for all things agriculture and the family tradition of excellence in education, Major pursued and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Prairie View A & M University and holds a Master of Science in Agricultural Education from Texas A&M Kingsville.
Major, applying the Taylor-Stevenson spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation, established the Taylor Stevenson Ranch Meat Co., a direct-to-consumer meat company. Together with his wife, Anitria and children, Major is committed to continuing the legacy of excellence through ranching. Major has set out to do something very simple: Raise the best pork in the best land. Period. Taylor Stevenson Ranch Meat Co. raises Berkshire, Mangalista and Berkshire Mangalista First Cross pigs- which is highly regarded for juicy, tender, flavorful, marbled pork. Known as Kurobuta pork in Japan, Berkshire and Mangalista are to pork what wagyu is to beef.
