CEDAR BLUFF, VA – FEBRUARY 11, 2025 – Providing excellent quality, affordable beef to its customers is the primary goal of Triple J Angus Farms LP in Tazewell County, VA, according to Grace Fuller, who operates the new business along with her husband, John; and mother-in-law, Judy.
Triple J Angus Farms LP is a recent recipient of a $10,000 Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) Seed Capital Matching Grant. Seed capital grants are funded from regional funds received by VCEDA which are paid by the natural gas industry.
“Triple J Angus Farms LP offers the opportunity for people in our region, as well as for tourists in the area, to purchase locally-sourced beef and other locally produced goods,” said Jonathan Belcher, VCEDA executive director/general counsel. “The business projects three full-time employees and three part-time employees within five years.”
Currently, John Fuller oversees the cattle, land, hay, equipment, scheduling or butchering and all operational needs of the new business, while Grace Fuller operates the store and oversees the sale and preparation of products offered to customers. Judy Fuller helps out in the store as needed.
The beef sold is grown on the family farm where cattle are grass fed and grain-finished, resulting in a high quality meat product. Beef sold is USDA-approved and no growth hormones are used. The Fullers stay up to date on industry trends and Grace Fuller noted they practice regenerative farming which rotates their cows among three fields and uses less chemicals for fertilization.
Triple J offers beef by the pound or by the cut – from hamburger, sirloin and ribeyes to filets, beef tips, cube steak and roasts. Hamburger is available in pre-cut patties, as well as by the roll and by the pound. Individual steaks, cut to customer specifications, are available, as are whole beef or half beef sides. Farm fresh eggs, seasonal vegetables and fruits are also sold at the store and limited quantities of USDA-approved sausage and bacon are also available.
In the future, plans are to grow the business to also sell baked goods (breads, pies, cookies and cakes), as well as Home Remedy Salves from locally grown herbs; sugar and salt scrubs (exfoliating treatment for skin); homemade vanilla flavoring; and handmade wooden cutting boards.
Beef is sold by appointment from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and the store, located at 3288 Kents Ridge Road, is open on Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
“Our love for the land and our desire to provide a high quality, affordable meat for our community is what drives us in this business,” Fuller said.
The VCEDA seed capital grant has made a difference, she added.
“We can breathe a little more and dream bigger,” she said. “It helps us to boost sales and grow more at a pace sooner than we would have been able to grow otherwise.”
Fuller said Triple J plans to use the seed capital grant to put an awning over the door, to put a new sign up by the entrance, to expand parking and to expand the store on the other side of the building to be able to store more beef.
The Fullers worked with the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC) in developing their application to VCEDA and received a letter of support from the Tazewell County Industrial Development Authority
“The Southwest Virginia Community College Small Business Development Center (SWCC SBDC) is proud to have partnered with Triple J Angus Farms LP,” said Denise Harmon SBDC director at SWCC. “With a mission to provide high-quality, farm-raised meats to families of all income levels in Tazewell County and the surrounding areas, their dedication to serving the community is truly inspiring.
“SWCC SBDC was honored to assist Triple J Angus Farms in securing the resources needed to grow their business,” Harmon added. “Supporting passionate local entrepreneurs not only helps their ventures thrive, but also strengthens the communities they serve.”
“Triple J Angus Farms; Tazewell County; and the Tazewell County Industrial Development Authority are pleased with VCEDA’s support of Triple J Angus Farms business growth with the Seed Capital Grant program,” said Tazewell County IDA Executive Director Tim Danielson. “This business is a valuable addition to Tazewell County and offers fresh local meat products among other local products for our tourists and residents. We appreciate the partnership and support of VCEDA in our efforts to develop a healthy and growing community.”
Triple J Angus Farms LP may be reached by calling or texting 276-210-4018. The business also has a page on Facebook.
About Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and Southwest Virginia’s e-Region: The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1988 to enhance and diversify the region’s economy and help create jobs, markets Southwest Virginia’s e-Region and its focus on electronic information technology, energy, education, emerging technologies, and entrepreneurship. VCEDA is a unique economic development organization that manages funds for economic development projects from a percentage of the coal and natural gas severance taxes paid by coal and natural gas companies that operate in the region. Located in southwestern Virginia, the region includes Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise counties and the City of Norton. www.vceda.us or www.e-Region.org.
About the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority Seed Capital Matching Grant Fund: VCEDA region for-profit businesses, within qualifying business categories, one year and under with less than 10 full-time employees are eligible to apply for dollar-for-dollar matching grants up to $10,000 from the VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Fund. Applicants work with the Small Business Development Centers at Mountain Empire and Southwest Virginia community colleges to prepare the applications to VCEDA that include detailed business and financial plans. Businesses must be located in or plan to operate in the VCEDA region in southwestern Virginia that includes Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise counties and the City of Norton.