The process: purchasing beef

1. Put in order with $350 deposit to reserve your meat.

2. Ask friends, family and neighbors to “go in” on an animal with you to fulfill whole order quickly. I try my best to fill whole orders but sometimes it can take a few weeks.

3. Once a whole animal is reserved, I travel to one of many local (NE and Eastern IA) farmer/producers and pick out your animal. Since I go directly to the farmer, you and I get the pick of the herd. Clients are welcome to come along and observe and/or help.

4. Once the animal is safely loaded, I transport it to one of a handful of local meat lockers to have it dispatched and dressed.

5. Once it is halved and inspected, a trained individual will contact you from the meat locker to discuss your cut instructions. This may seem daunting, but it is much easier than it sounds.

They make it effortless and it is actually pretty fun. All you really need to know is how thick you like your steaks and how big you like your roasts! They break everything else down for you right there on the phone.

6. Once the animal has a chance to “hang” for a determined amount of time (2-3 weeks for beef, 1-2 days for pork) the butcher(s) will custom cut your meat just the way you like it.

7. Once it is packaged and frozen, I go pick up your order and deliver to your home. A few days before delivery, I will contact you to schedule a delivery time. I will make deliveries in the evenings as I understand that everyone works or can’t be home during the day. Also, since the product is heavy and cumbersome, if you're unable, I will gladly pack it all away in your freezer for you.

Other important details

A “quarter” beef is one fourth of ALL the meat in a cow. Every customer gets equal proportions (same amount of inches and or pounds) of the same sections (sections 1-7 on diagram). How you decide to have your custom quarter butchered is completely up to you!

I can bring a freezer along when I deliver if you don't have a freezer or enough space in the current one.

• 5 Cubic Feet Chest Freezer (plenty for 1 quarter beef) = $199
• 7 Cubic Feet Chest Freezer (perfect for 2 quarters/half beef) = $219

      --Dustin Davis, Owner