Often asked Questions
Where is your farm?
We live at: E13240 East Hillsdale Dr., Fall Creek, WI 54742
We’re about 15 miles southeast of Eau Claire, WI. When you arrive, you’ll see our storage shed and a white house with a large green roof, sitting back on a ridge. Drive on up to the house!
From the North (Eau Claire Area) …….Head south on Hwy 53, passing the small town of Brackett. Go 1.7 miles past there, where you will see a sign for St. Raymond’s church. Turn LEFT, onto East Mallard Rd. Go 2 miles until the road ends at Hwy KK. Turn LEFT again and travel for a 1/2 mile. There, on your right, you’ll see a farm followed by a wooded T-intersection. That’s our road, so turn RIGHT and travel about 1 ½ more miles.
From the South(Osseo area)…….Head northwest on I94. Take the Foster Exit. Turn RIGHT on Hwy HH and go about ¼ mile. Turn LEFT on Hwy KK and travel about 3 ½ miles to East Hillsdale Drive. That will be just past a farm on the right followed by a wooded T-intersection. That’s our road, so turn RIGHT and travel about 1 ½ more miles.
Another option for directions is using google map.
Are you certified organic?
We choose not to be, and here’s the reason why. The current Organic Standards set by the USDA’s NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM, condone the feeding of corn to cattle. This government agency only requires that corn, fed to cattle, be organic corn. Then, certified farms have the option of claiming ”organic beef”, whether or not this type of corn, in any amount, was part of the animal’s diet. We know cows evolved eating grass and that’s the way we’ll keep it on our farm. Only then, can our customers reap the health benefits pure 100% grass-fed beef can provide.
Organic labels have a real value in many products. When the USDA starts to offer standards for organic 100% grass-fed beef, we’ll be the 1st in line to get certified. In the mean time, we welcome our customers to stop at our farm 365 days of the year and see just how healthy, chemically free, and humanely treated, our cattle live!
When we get our order, how long has it been frozen before we get it?
Because we schedule processing of our cattle a year in advance, we’re committed to keeping our inventory moving, and you’re assured of getting freshly frozen meat! We do not process animals, just in the Fall to avoid higher winter feed costs. You can reasonably expect our meat to have a one year ‘shelf life’ in your freezer.
Why do you say it’s important to cook the meat “low & slow”?
You can take an overly fat corn-fed feedlot steak and cook the heck out of it, and it’s still edible. That’s because all that fat acts as insulation while cooking. But if you cook a 100% grass-fed steak beyond MEDIUM, you may have just ruined your dining experience.
We include cooking tips with each new customer’s order, to help you feel at ease in using lower heat and a slower cooking style. For example, cooking steaks indirectly on the grill is a great idea! Leaving the cover off when grilling burgers is another great idea. And you can’t go wrong putting a roast in a slow cooker for the day. See, it can be that easy!
Wise consumers are committing themselves to learning how to cook grass-fed meat, are making prudent use of all parts of the animals and are becoming adept at using leftovers. Interestingly, the one kind of cooking that is actually on the rise today is outdoor grilling. Do you own a digital thermometer yet?
What is beef math and how can I comparison shop for larger beef purchases?
We certainly don’t believe cost should be the ‘deal breaker’ when shopping for quality beef! But, sometimes you may get a quote of cost by “ Hanging Weight” rather than just Price/lb. This quote will be considerably less, because only about 60% of these large, big-boned animal’s hanging weight will actually be the meat you get to put in your freezer. Please contact us if you would like a further explanation to help you make a good investment decision regarding your purchase.
Michael Pollen, author of The Omnivores Dilemma, stated he chooses to purchase 100% grass-fed beef. He recently noted that Americans used to spend 18% of their income on food and only 5% on health care in the 1960’s. Today, it’s reversed with only 9% going to our food and 17% on healthcare. Our customers realize the real value of purchasing beef from our farm.
Can you tell us the story of corn feeding to cattle? How & why did it ever get started?
Cattle raised entirely on grass is not new. Things changed in 1948, when 30,000 head of cattle were assembled in Dodge City, Kansas, loaded on rail cars and hauled to Chicago feedlots and fed grain. That was the first time large numbers of cattle in confinement were fed a corn ration to quickly and cheaply fatten them. That hauling and feeding represented the grand opening of the feedlot industry as we know it today. The U.S. had lots of stored corn that needed to be sold, and this approach was promoted in response to that corn surplus. As of 2011, 40% of the corn in America is directed toward producing ethenol gasoline. But now that corn is in higher demand, generic corn-fed beef in the grocery store costs a whole lot more. It’s time to support 100% grass-fed beef for many, many reasons!
Do you sell anything else, because we really like what you’re doing?! Yes!
- Pure Maple Syrup from our farm …. because winters are long & it’s a fun diversion to go out in our woods, and visit with family and friends while the sap is running. Available for $8.00/pint.
I want to learn more about grass-fed meats. What websites do you recommend?