Well, our original butcher, Conrath Quality Meats, has been bought out and is now Farm Country Butchery. (If you’re unfamiliar with our long search for a butcher we could trust, check out the story on the blog.)
And while I've talked a lot about buyouts and mergers in the food industry being a terrible thing, this is different.
I talked with Sean Graese, the new co-owner and plant manager, to make sure Farm Country will continue to be a family-owned, Animal Welfare Institute Certified operation that focuses on integrity, transparency, and respect for both the animals and customers.
And I'm happy to report that after about 3 hours of discussion they are! But not only that, they have plans to be even better.
Whew! This is actually a GOOD change, for a change.
Here are a few highlights of our "new" butcher:
They’re satisfied with being mid-sized. “We want to be better, not bigger,” Sean said.
They process about 20-25,000 pounds per week, which is tiny compared to the giant corporations but makes them one of the largest mid-sized operations in Wisconsin.
Capacity is small, only one line, so only one farm’s animals come through at a time. Everything is tagged and kept separate, with cut sheets that follow the animals from breaking down to packaging into the box. This is how we can know we are getting our animals back.
But the thing that makes them very different and the reason we chose them and drive past dozens of other butchers many hours closer is because:
They do NOT use any preservatives, MSG, nitrates, or nitrites in their products.
Avoiding nitrates and nitrites is essential because these chemicals have been linked to cancer, among other things. And did you know, when nitrates/its are added from celery the levels tend to be HIGHER than if they just added the pure stuff?! Yeah, so don't let "celery" fool you, think of it as a trojan horse.
And of course, many of us are sensitive to flavor enhancers like the excitotoxin MSG, and if we want natural and health-promoting products, then we gotta keep all that stuff out.
Our animals eat exceptionally clean and truly diverse diets. We chose breeds that grow slower so the are develop more flavor! We do NOT need to artificially make it taste like something.
We also bring the meat straight to our freezer and then hopefully right to yours. We don't need a crazy long shelf life to ensure safe transport over 1,000's of miles in semis and warehouses.
And a vacuum-sealed and frozen product stays fresh indefinitely (as long as the seal remains unbroken).
Almost no butchers do what Farm Country doesbecause it takes a lot of time and costs more (since they can't do as much). But we drive way out of our way to do business with them because: There's NO way we're going to work this hard at raising animals that are good for you and full of flavor, just to cover it up with artificial crap.
We also spent a great deal of time talking about all the ways they hope to improve this incredibly unique operation, which we'll talk about later! (How do my emails always get so long?!)
So, even though our butcher changed hands, we are thrilled with the way Sean and his family practice the art and science of butchering and processing.
Your kitchen and backyard are full of powerful plant allies! Join us on February 22 at Together Farms for a hands-on class exploring common culinary herbs and backyard “weeds” that support heart health and overall wellness. 🌱💓
🌟 In this class, you’ll discover:
🍃 Herbs that promote heart health, circulation, and vitality
🍃 Simple ways to incorporate healing plants into your daily routine
🍃 The hidden benefits of common "weeds" growing in your own backyard
🍃 PLUS: Make & take home TWO herbal remedies to support your well-being!
📅 Date: February 22, 1-2:30pm
📍 Location: Together Farms
🎟️ Tickets: $20 – Purchase in-person at Together Farms but RSVP is required (email togetherfarms@gmail.com) or purchase online at Temperance Herbals & Healing.
Nourish your heart and body naturally—let’s explore herbal wellness together! 🌿💚
We have sooo many awesome non-meat products in our store now so if you are looking to buy ONLY non-perishables and nothing we have to worry about keeping frozen in shipment? Do this!
Good morning from Together Farms!Well, the end is here. Seems a bit surreal this year.Perhaps because it's basically still summer-like outside? Maybe it's because it's finally stopped raining (although we have now swung a little too far in the other direction 🙄)? Perhaps because we had such a fun team this year that we do not want the end to come?
They got you.
Maybe we just don't want to stop seeing your smiling faces? Maybe it's because we have no more trees left to fall on anything? 😂Hard to say for sure. All I know is that it's time and we are going to eek out every last bit of the 2024 season that we can!! As we have done every year, this week's BOTW is Dealer's Choice.
Burger of the Week: Dealer's Choice
You've trusted the kitchen this long. (I mean, look at those faces.....how could you not trust them??)You will have the option to say spicy or not spicy. You can tell us if there are things you loathe but otherwise, you have to sit back and wait for the results.
A surprise burger! 🥳
Farm Store Sales 🍔
Don't worry!! We are NOT going to leave you hanging all winter! In the farm store everything you need for an EPIC Burger Night at HOME is on sale!!
Ground beefBaconCheeseBacon-onion jamBreadGluten-free bunsSaltPepperButter
The only real question is what kind of burgers are YOU going to make???
Thursday, October 3
Open 4pm - 8:30ish pmDealer's Choice BOTW is 20% off!!
Friday, October 4
LIVE MUSIC with Ethan Todd, 5-8pmAn acoustic mix of country, country rock, and heartland rock. Ethan is a 22-year-old singer/songwriter proudly from MN. His music incorporates artists from styles ranging from country, bluegrass, blues, rock, and folk. Some of the covers you could expect to hear….Tyler ChildersRandy TravisMerle HaggardBuck OwensEaglesBuddy HollyJohnny CashTom PettyJohn MellencampBruce SpringsteenJohn PrineJim CroceTurnpike TroubadoursHank Williams/Hank Jr. etc, etc, etc!
Live music has been added to Friday night!! Weather is looking perfect!
Saturday, October 5
LIVE MUSIC from Jeff White, 5-8pm
Jeff began honing his songwriting skills working the red-eye shift as a taxi driver. Railroad conductors, heartbroken men & women after bar close and wild out-of-towners were all frequent riders who freely opened up about their personal lives. Their late night conversations were all inspirations to the genesis of his upcoming career as a songwriter and entertainer.Jeff has toured the lower 48 from coast to coast as well as England, Scotland and Wales, singing about the realities, illusions and the wide emotional spirit of love and life in America. Much in the vein of Johnny Cash, Jeff writes and sings his own songs but also performs unique interpretations of other songs he admires. He has 6 albums under his belt and one is with Charlie Parr & international folk music legend, Greg Brown.
Americana/Alt-country from the hills of Western Wisconsin. Blending warm tones, reverbs, delays & vibrato with outlaw grit, Jeff White sings of love, loss & lust with an Americana vibe.We are so excited to have Jeff back on our stage!!
Sunday, October 6
Family Day! Buy one get one FREE kids meals all day!
UPDATES & REMINDERS
Sunday, October 6th is our official last Burger Night of 2024. We may do pop-ups if the unpredictable weather cooperates but since we have no idea what tomorrow might bring, much less 2025, we'd recommend that you plan accordingly!! Bring a flannel! It's getting chillier now and even if it's nice while the sun is out, once it goes behind our hills it cools down fast.If you are coming after 8pm, call or text to make sure the kitchen will be ready for you!The bar and fire keep going until everyone's had enough though. So no hurry there. :)The farm store is open all winter! We just don't know our hours yet, we'll announce them as soon as we have a solid plan.Thanks for doing life with us! Hope to see you on the farm for some fall fun!!
Your farmer & friend,
Stephanie Schneider
Burger Night is open, rain or shineThursday & Friday 4pm-8:30ish pmSaturday noon-8:30ish pmSunday noon-7pmMonday & Tuesday farm store only open: 10-6pm
