In a quiet pocket of Tennessee, the hum of a tractor often mingles with laughter spilling from the barn — grandson, father and son working side by side. It’s the kind of generational story that feels increasingly rare. But for Adam Jordan, former Navy work center supervisor and recruiter, it’s the life he fought to return to.

I had to move to the other side of the country to realize how much of a blessing coming home was.” — Adam Jordan

Before taking the reins at Cedar Ridge Angus, Jordan spent nine and a half years in the U.S. Navy, first managing high-tech sonar systems aboard ships, then serving as a recruiter for roles like Nuclear Propulsion and Naval Special Warfare. His service took him across the country and the globe, including three deployments to the Middle East, experiences that shaped his resilience and gave him new outlooks on life.

“The first time you deploy, there’s a lot of anxiety because of all the unknowns,” Jordan says. “How many 22-year-olds do you know that have written their own wills?”

During those deployments, Jordan developed an ability to stay calm under pressure which continues to serve him well in farm life. Whether navigating a tense moment aboard ship or diagnosing an issue with a tractor, he learned staying composed and adaptable is key.

“Something happens on the farm, and it feels like the worst thing ever — but it’s not,” he says. “The Navy gave me the mentality of, ‘It’ll be OK. Figure it out.’ Life is problem-solving.”

Those years in uniform also gave Jordan something else: love. While stationed in Jacksonville, Fla., he met the woman who would become his wife, Jamie. They’ve been married since 2014.

“She’s been with me through a deployment, relocations and now the farm life,” Jordan says.

Together, they have a son, Thomas, and a daughter, Brooke.

Looking back, Jordan sees his military service not only as a career, but as a time of immense personal growth. He entered the Navy without a clear direction, having realized engineering school wasn’t the right fit. But the structure, challenge and camaraderie of military life opened doors and grounded him in purpose.

“At that point in my life, I had no clue what I wanted to do,” he says. “The Navy gave me the opportunity to live, and blessings unfolded in ways I never could’ve imagined.”

After nearly a decade in the service, Adam received news his father, Ray, had been diagnosed with colon cancer.

“That season put a lot into perspective,” Adam says. “It’s when the idea of farming with Dad really started to grow.”

Returning home

Determined to be there for his family, Adam took a recruiting assignment in Birmingham, allowing him to be closer to home and support his father through treatment. During that time, what began as a vague idea of returning to the farm slowly turned into a concrete plan.

Eventually, Adam made the difficult decision to leave the military and come home for good.

Ray, who started his career in the dairy industry before transitioning into animal nutrition and eventually Angus cattle, still remembers the conversation vividly.

“Adam kind of grew up as a city kid,” Ray says, chuckling. “When he said he wanted to come back to the farm, it was a bit of a shock. But to have a young person come back these days and want to carry something forward — that’s pretty special.”

What started as Ray’s retirement project with just two cows and a few open heifers has transformed into a full-fledged seedstock operation. Cedar Ridge Angus now markets cattle through private treaty sales, regional consignments and freezer beef with a loyal customer base that grows each year.

“We pick [up] new customers every year just by building relationships,” Adam says. “It’s really a relationship business.”