What started as weekends at his grandparents cattle operation has grown into an industry leading family farming operation in Hope Hull, Alabama. Chuck Madaris, alongside his wife, Katie, have built and grown CK Cattle into an industry-leading operation. Although the opportunities that lay ahead were unknown to him at the time, Chuck was passionate about approaching each day with the mindset of doing as much as possible, in the best way possible. Starting with a small herd of Angus cattle and 35 acres, the operation now spans over 3,000 acres and supports their three families. The Madarises raise Angus, ChiAngus, and SimAngus cattle with their children, Charlie, Kathleen, and Kathleen’s husband, Bradfield. For four decades Chuck has worked to make CK Cattle a sustaining operation that can support a family, and his dedication to developing the business along with his passion for the cattle industry demonstrates what’s possible with hard work, commitment, and a strong faith.
When Chuck was young, his father was in the Air Force. His family found themselves overseas often. During the Vietnam War, his father was sent to Thailand but his mother, himself, and his brother had to remain in the states. During this time, he spent a great deal of time at his grandparent’s farm in Braggs, Alabama. On the weekends, Chuck would catch a bus to get to the farm because he enjoyed being there so much.
“My enthusiasm for cattle began on my grandfather’s farm,” said Chuck.
His father knew he loved cattle but stressed the importance of a college education to him. Chuck attended Auburn University and graduated with an Animal and Dairy Sciences degree in 1976. He took his first job with a H.R. Ellis & Sons, located in the same county as his grandparents. His job was managing the farm, including responsibilities such as cattle breeding, healthcare, pasture management, hay production, show cattle, and more. It was here he met his wife, Katie Ellis, holding a flashlight one night while he pulled a calf. Two years later the couple married and the following year Chuck purchased his first four Angus cows with heifer calves and rented a nearby 35-acre pasture. A decade later in 1989, the opportunity arose to purchase 307 acres in Hope Hull which was the beginning of CK Cattle. Chuck, Katie, and their two children, Charlie then nine, and Kathleen then seven, moved to the farm’s current location and have been there ever since.
The land the farm now sits on had been foreclosed on. It required a great deal of restoration, but Chuck saw the potential of a viable operation and was able to see it through to completion. Through the years barns, cattle working facilities, water sources, and electrical fencing have been added to the property.
“Through hard work and with the Lord’s guidance, we have grown our farm,” said Chuck, “Today we raise cattle on more than 3,000 continuous acres. Our greatest accomplishment is that we work alongside Charlie, Kathleen, and our son-in-law, Bradfield.”
CK Cattle truly is a family operation where everyone plays an active role in the day-to-day responsibilities of the farm. Charlie graduated from Auburn with an Agricultural Economics degree and he now handles cow herd management, equipment upkeep, and facility maintenance. Kathleen also graduated from Auburn University and after teaching for several years she returned home to work on the farm. She manages freezer beef sales, cattle records and registrations with the breed associations, and advertising and design. After working in real estate development, Bradfield joined the farm full time where he oversees bull development and marketing. Katie has been keeping the books for over 50 years and joins in on all the cattle work activities as needed.
The main goal of CK Cattle is to breed quality cattle and properly care for them. This process involves constantly improving breeding genetics of cattle while carefully protecting the environment that provides for the cattle and the Madaris family.
Going back 50 years, Chuck’s first employment involved the newly introduced into the United States Italian breed, Chianina. It took years of careful selection in genetic qualities and switching to an Angus breeding cross to correct initial problems and public perception related to their original introduction to bull buyers. Although predominantly Angus now, the Chiangus bulls raised at CK Cattle remain vital to customers for their muscling ability and growth. CK Cattle currently tops the list for registering the most Angus cattle in Alabama, and is the largest Chiangus breeder in the United States.
The fourth Friday of October, CK Cattle hosts their annual sale at their headquarters located on the farm. Private treaty sales begin the first Saturday of December. Farmers from across the country know they can trust the genetic strength of CK cattle, and all cattle sold through the sale are born and raised on the farm.
In the past few years, CK Cattle has expanded their freezer beef portion of the business, now selling around 60 head annually through custom harvest. Individual cuts of CK beef are sold in the community through Facebook advertising and word of mouth.
Aside from the cattle side of the operation the farm also includes 14 horses, hay production, and corn silage. All hay and silage is used to feed animals on the operation but CK Cattle does sell bermudagrass hay to repeat customers and horse owners.
Chuck and Katie care greatly about changing the farm over to the next generation. The farm provides a great opportunity to teach responsibility while also leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come.
“We have had a great opportunity to instill hard work and humility in our children and grandchildren,” said Chuck. “Katie and I hope to impart a great sense of worth, love of agriculture, and contentment of a job well done into our grandchildren.”
On the local level, Chuck is involved with the Lowndes County Cattlemen’s Association, served as president of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association in 2023, and is an active member of Hayneville Baptist Church. He’s been involved in a variety of statewide organizations and accomplishments including being named the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Hall of Fame Inductee in 2026 and the Alabama Angus Association Breeder of the Year in 2019. Chuck has served on the American Chianina Association Board, was the 2004 American Chianina Association Cattlemen of the Year, and is involved with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
Chuck was nominated for the 2026 Alabama Farmer of the Year award by Guy Hall from the Alabama Farmers Federation.
“Chuck Madaris built one of Alabama’s largest seedstock operations from scratch by following the guidance of seasoned cattlemen and embracing innovation,” said Guy. “Now, he’s paying those blessings forward by mentoring not only his family but countless young farmers who’ve visited CK Cattle for sales, judging clinics, and field days. As the leader of the family, you can tell Chuck is a man who doesn’t just read the Good Book, but lives it out.”
A distinguished panel of judges will visit each finalist in August and the winner will be announced during the 2026 Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year Luncheon.
Returning program sponsors in 2026 are Harper Family Holdings, the Alabama Farmers Federation, Arkansas Farm Bureau, Florida Farm Bureau, Georgia Farm Bureau, North Carolina Farm Bureau, South Carolina Farm Bureau, Virginia Farm Bureau, the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts, Ag Georgia Farm Credit, Ag South Farm Credit, and SW Georgia Farm Credit and Arkansas Farm Credit. New sponsors for 2026 include Phoebe Putney Health Systems.
As the state winner of the Sunbelt Expo award, they will receive a $2,500 cash award and an expense-paid trip to the Sunbelt Expo from the sponsors. A vest from the sponsors will be given to each state winner and nominator. The Moultrie Colquitt Co. Chamber of Commerce will give each state winner a local keepsake.
The state winners are now eligible for the $15,000 cash prize awarded to the overall winner by the sponsors. Massey Ferguson North America will provide each state winner with a gift package and the overall winner with the use of a Massey Ferguson tractor for a year or 250 hours (whichever comes first). A jacket from the sponsors will be given to the overall winner. Hays LTI will award the overall winner with a HAYS Smoker/Grill. In addition, the overall winner will receive a Henry Repeating Arms American Farmer Tribute Edition rifle from Reinke Irrigation and a diesel prize package from Howes.