This is gonna be a tough read, but its in my heart and i need to get it out.

March - June 2020 most protein producers experienced the biggest increase in customers probably in their businesses lifetime. Butchers were booked Out years in advance. People saw the fragility of our food system and went local which was amazing. Local economies and producers got much needed cash flow. 

However when the pandemic slowed and things went back to a “new normal”. Most of the pandemic buyers dried up. As producers we expanded raised more direct to consumer proteins, we are left with the bag . those customers that panic bough 10 chickens in march 2020, haven’t bought diddily since. Which is fine , we can take the risk and lose sometimes. But its not like the ranch direct prices aren’t comparable to the big box store right now. Prices are high right now. The grocery store product and the ranch raised direct meat aren’t the same.

Do you know who makes the money on grocery store meat? the packer conglomerates. Not the rancher, or producer or feed yard. They are barely squeaking by on what the packers are offering them for their live beeves.  

Is the current administration throwing money at trying to bust the packers, yeah a little bit will it make some change maybe. But the bottle necks of 2020 might happen again. Butchering is a skilled trade as much as an art form, its hard freaking work and i. But dang if it ain’t rewarding to honor an animal by nourishing your local community and family. 

I am a NOT agricultural reporter or expert. I am a millennial 1st generation regenerative rancher that’s trying my darnedest to make the planet a better place for my kids. I raise a dozen hogs, a handful of cattle , and a mess of chickens every year. My impact it small, but i believe in what I am doing for my family and my community.

Even pivoting to make our product available to be shipped hasn’t seen much movement. As far as our product you’d be hard pressed to find pastured organic fed pork in a box store, or anything close to the quality of our product. YOU can choose were your money goes, you can send you money at Wallyworld and line the conglomerate packers pockets.

You can support a local farmer and help them pay their mortage, feed bills or make Christmas happen for some awfully deserving farm kids.  If you don’t support local businesses when it feast, they won’t be there when your in famine. I’ve had people reach out on social media to connect wit me in case SHTF they have a farmer to buy food from directly. Welp, we have ride or die customers that support us when times are lean and when times are fat.

Something I stand by I know our price point isn’t in everyone’s budget nbut I WANT YOU TO EAT LOCAL! I will help you find a 4H kid or an FFA kid that has an animal to be purchased for harvest. I will reach out to my next work of farmers and ranchers, and find food local to you, in your budget.

-Julia