Team Member Spotlight

For Liz Ladshaw, being active is more than a hobby—it’s a way of life. Whether she’s running the country roads around her Hallettsville farm, biking and swimming, tending her garden, canning the harvest, or volunteering in her community, Liz believes in this one simple mantra: “Just keep going.”

A Texas Beef Team member since 2017, Liz has spent a decade sharing her love of beef, fitness, and the Texas ranching lifestyle with everyone in her communities. She says some of her favorite memories have come from meeting fellow Beef Team members from across the state. She has attended one Prime Cuts Retreat—and it made quite an impression. “It was so much fun meeting all the members, team bonding and eating delicious beef meals!” Her years with the Beef Team have allowed her to combine several things she loves: beef, fitness, Texas agriculture, and community. And while she may have retired from her career with the City of New Braunfels, Liz clearly has no plans to slow down.  

Liz and her husband, John, have been married for 47 years. They have two grown children, Genie and Andrew, and one granddaughter, Kinsey. After retiring from the City of New Braunfels, Liz became self-employed as a consultant with a skincare company. When she’s not working or training, you’ll likely find her on the farm. Gardening and canning “anything and everything” are among her favorite hobbies.

Liz’s Early Connection to Beef

Liz’s connection to cattle began when she was growing up in Shiner, Texas. “My dad always had a few calves that I helped feed with a bottle,” she recalls. “We always had about three cows.”

After marrying John, the couple moved out to his family’s farm in New Braunfels where they lived for a time, and the property was home to more than 50 head of cattle, along with an impressive collection of animals—including chickens, ducks, pheasants, peacocks, and turkeys. Their children grew up, got married and moved back to the farm for a while too!

The historic property eventually had to be sold, bringing a memorable chapter of Liz and John’s lives to a close. The couple eventually purchased a smaller farm in Hallettsville, where they live today. Life on the farm brings its share of trials and tribulations, but it also offers plenty of rewarding moments and simple joys. From working cattle and tending to the land to tackling the unexpected challenges that come with farm life, there is always something that needs doing—and plenty of reasons to appreciate the life they’ve built together. 

Beef on the Table 

Beef has always had a place around Liz’s family table. She remembers beef being served at family barbecues and get-togethers growing up, and those traditions have continued through today. Her two favorite cuts are Tenderloin and Ground Beef, while beef stroganoff and beef-and-vegetable soup rank among her favorite recipes.

And beef isn’t just something Liz enjoys eating—it’s also an important part of her training routine. “I love beef, so it’s easy for me to eat beef every day,” she says. “This supports my training and recovery and just ensures I’m getting enough protein.”

Through various Texas Beef Team trainings, Liz has also learned that enjoying great beef doesn’t necessarily require buying the most expensive cut. She’s discovered that less-expensive cuts can still be flavorful and tender when prepared properly, which is knowledge she’s happy to bring back to her own kitchen.

Running, Riding, and “Just Keep Going”

Liz has been an athlete for much of her life. She started running track in high school, following the example of her sister, who was three years older and already on the team. The sisters weren’t competitive with each other. Instead, they encouraged one another to stay active and enjoy the sport. “Sometimes I knew she wanted to win, so I would just lay back,” Liz jokes.

Liz put more focus again on running and about 13 years ago. Following back surgery approximately five years ago, however, her doctor advised her to stop running and said “fast walking” was okay. Liz finds other ways to stay moving and these days, she walks, bikes, and swims nearly every day.

Her favorite race distance is a 5k and she calls it “short and sweet”. Typically, Liz trains on her own, walking and biking around her entire Hallettsville property as well as the surrounding country roads. And when she’s out there, she often makes sure people know exactly where her loyalties lie. “I also go down all the country roads wearing one of my Beef Team shirts,” she says, or a past jersey from the Great Cycle Challenge which she likes to participate in every September.

Her must-have running gear includes Asics shoes and a running belt to carry essentials such as her phone and lip balm. Before a race, she keeps breakfast simple with Cheerios and a handful of nuts. Her advice to other runners is just as straightforward as her personal mantra: “Just keep going. Don’t look back. Keep moving forward.” And if you need a little extra motivation, there’s her favorite song for that: Sawyer Brown’s “Step by Step.”

When asked what celebrity she’d like to run with, Liz answered: George Strait. “He doesn’t look like the running type,” she says. “So maybe I could stay ahead of him and later tell everyone George Strait was chasing me!”

Her favorite race is closer to home: the Shiner Beer Run, which takes place in her hometown and has become a family tradition. For Liz, running and fitness are about much more than competition. They’re about staying active, enjoying the journey and sharing those experiences with the people around her.