News and Blog
This is THE YEAR for MeatWorks! Coming in May 2013, we will be opening a one-of-a-kind store. Part 'old world' artisan butcher shop, part main street grocer, part new world shopping experience! We will offer grassfed and finished Beef, Lamb, Goat, Pastured Pork and Chicken, Eggs, Breads, Vegetables, Fruits, Specialty Oils, Sauces, Honey, Spices and so much more. We will also offer classes, demonstrations, trainings and seminars on health related, kitchen, cuisine and medicinal topics! We are pleased to be your REAL Food connection, welcoming you back to the land, animals and knowing your farmer. Welcome to the Story of MeatWorks!
 Family, community, sharing, comforting, reaching, loving and giving are true gifts we recognize too late. After the heartache of last week in CT, we are so grateful for being able to pull our children near, laugh with friends and work with animals and a farm we love. For so many things we have no answers, but just hold tight of the ONE who does and rest and trust in that. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Youngbloods~
Some Farm News...........
Because of our educational backgrounds in agriculture and education, I have felt like we've lacked the snappy business angle to propel our farm into recognition. I just don't know how to market! So we concentrate on a supreme product and let you folks do the rest. (BTW, THANK YOU!!)
But even a blind hog finds an acorn every now and then~Last week we were asked to interview for Progressive Farmer Magazine. They are doing an article about farmers using technology to move their business forward. We, of course, agreed. They should be here this week for pictures and such!! Even though this is more of a mainstream, conventional magazine, we are truly pleased to get the word out about how we do things differently!
Last winter we were able to attend the Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group conference in Little Rock. This year we have been invited to speak and share about our farm. The conference is in Little Rock again and will be held on January 23-26th at the Peabody Hotel. We'd love to see some familiar friendly faces we know.
MeatWorks......in the Works
Last week we also obtained our city permits to begin construction on our building. We already have a retail space and have completed most of the demolition. We found out we still have another days work or so to complete cleanup before construction begins. We are tackling that this week. We are also considering bids and making decisions about the facade. Keep a lookout sometime in January for a new website, Facebook and Twitter for MeatWorks!
Last Processing Trip???
We will take animals to the processor again in January. This is quite possibly the last trip we will have to make before the opening of our own quaint butcher shop. I love passing milestones, don't you?
Matti's Newest Enterprise
Matti has always had a keen interest in the farm. She has been in love with animals since she was two. She started her own flock of hens last May and has been prudent with her responsibilities to her customers and flock. She will be expanding her flock and tackling new endeavors come the early spring. But you don't have to get it second hand from me....she has started her own blog to tell you about it. It would thrill her beyond belief to see that you've visited her site. It is www.farmgirltalk.wordpress.com She is still learning about farming and now the new website, but it sounds just like she's sitting here telling you about her day!!
We will be delivering to Little Rock and Hot Springs as usual this week.
Texarkana/DeQueen: January 31st (once a month)
Mena: January 14th and 28th
Feel free to email me your order for Little Rock Buying Group,Mena Delivery and Texarkana Delivery orders!
Little Rock: You can also order weekly through the Arkansas Local Food Network.
Hot Springs: You can order bi-monthly through the Spa City Local Farm Market.
Social Media Update We are now on Twitter! Follow @steakraiser........will be good to see you there!!
Please go check out our Products tab on our Facebook page. It has a listing of our products and prices. It does not register inventory so I might be out of something. Message me to see for sure! Tell your friends about us and share our story. We appreciate it! We are trying for 1,000 Likes !      |
|
Blessed and Thanking HIM,
Tracy Youngblood Youngblood Grassfed Farm, LLC |
Our Farm had the grand opportunity to be featured on GNOWFGLINS, a REAL FOOD blog. Check out our story and all the fabulous information here, be prepared to spend some time!!
Good News!!
Just a heads up~ we will be able to accept debit/credit cards beginning next week, November 12-16th!
We are Meat Works. This newly formed company is owned by two farm families, Greg and Lavonne Hickl of Fouche River Farm and Andy and Tracy Youngblood of Youngblood Grassfed Farm. Meat Works is an outlet for sustainably and locally raised foods. We are committed to the production of a food chain that enlivens farms and communities, nurtures families as well as soils and regenerates quality over quantity.
We have been directly marketing our products to the consumer through farmer's markets, online markets and farm sales. Meat Works has emerged as a mechanism to bring more products to more customers. We have a store-front location in Mena, AR at 816 De Queen St. This location will house an artisanal butcher shop, real food market, commercial kitchen and educational facility. Renovation is already underway.
A growing population of customers desire to know where their food comes from. We want to be able to supply them with not only meat, but various other items as well. We want to offer fresh and organically raised produce, fruits, honey, chicken and eggs. In addition to these items, we would like to offer value-added products like breads, cheeses, jams and jellies, soaps and lotions.
We cannot do this on our own. We wish to share this vision and opportunity with other farmers and producers who would like a year-round outlet for their labors. We have the location and markets and need other visionaries to complete this integral food system. If you would like to hear more about this opportunity, please come visit with us at an informal educational meeting, March 29th at 6:00 p.m. at Mena Mountain Resort in Mena, AR.
Here's some information about the beautiful Red Rubies!
Here is some information about some trials completed, notice how the Devon performed!!
Hello Farm Friends,
We've taken on another endeavor, ever learning, changing and revamping. We seem to be the forever rethinking things. Our budget shrinking, pig feed ever increasing, we decided we needed a better plan. We heard some talk about fodder back in September at the North American Devon Conference. We did some research, visited with someone actually making fodder and then found a great system. We purchased a slightly used hydroponic microgreen growing system. We then sourced barley seed which will be our fodder base. We (I used the term loosely, Andy) built the fodder bunk and the enclosure for the system. We also purchased a timer, the one that came with the system didn't work. We had lights, a small space heater, a water tub for the water system and we were on go. We've had cool days and nights, no sun and lots of learning with more to come! We had an incident with our cheaper timer which cost us about 3 days. We've also had some variation in results because we are playing around with depth of seed to see which is the best. It seems like only about 2-3 seeds deep is the best. Here are a few pics of what's been going on!
BEEF, LAMB, PORK, and GOAT
Back in stock!
Beef ROASTS on SALE thru November
$6.00/lb. ALL roasts
Check out our Products and Pricing Page!
Tomorrow we will be traveling north, cooler temperatures and a change of scenery. We will be attending the annual North American Devon Association in Tampico, IL. We have become enchanted with the history, quality and genetic quality of the Devon breed. I am sure I will have much more to share when we return. We will NOT be attending farmer's markets or making deliveries to online markets this week. Thanks for your help in letting us get away for a while!
Hello!
This week will be a little harrowing! Not really different than any others, just in a different direction. The kids will be showing their livestock animals this week in the Polk County Fair. Matti is showing a Jersey heifer and Ben is showing a steer.
I WILL be at the Polk County Farmer's Market on Thursday, Sept 1. I will be making deliveries to LR, Hot Springs and Village on Friday, Sept 2nd.
I will NOT be coming to the Texarkana Gateway Farmer's Market on Saturday, Sept 3.
Hope to see you soon!
