MT. JUDEA — The family farm isn't what it used to be. For Dustin and Kayla Cowell, and their three-year-old daughter, Landry Jo, their farm near here has become more of an entrepreneurial enterprise, marketing limited amounts of beef to specific markets. It takes just in time planning to raise, process and deliver their product to their customers when they want it.
The family owns 150 acres on which it is raising 65 head of crossbred cattle. They initially started as a traditional cow/calf operation, then, just over a year ago, they started a farm-to-table beef operation - Cowbell Ranch, LLC.
This proactive and adaptive approach to farming may be the reason a panel of Newton County farm service representatives selected the Cowell family as Newton County Farm Family for 2021.
For 73 years, the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year Program has honored farm families across the state. Program sponsors include: Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, Arkansas Farm Bureau, Farm Credit Services of Western Arkansas, Ag Heritage Farm Credit Services, Farm Credit Mid-South Associations and Armor Seed. Program partners are: Arkansas Agriculture Department, Arkansas Press Association, Arkansas FFA Association, University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture and Cooperative Extension Service, USDA Farm Service Agency, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and USDA Rural Development.
"Our farm-to-table beef operation provides high-quality, affordable beef to our community and surrounding areas. We offer retail cuts to customers, as well as, half/whole beef. Almost all our business is conducted via social media (Facebook) through our business page. Customers message us for questions, orders and delivery information," said Dustin.
He explained how a typical transaction for retail cuts of beef is conducted: Kayla, who is in charge of marketing, first schedules an appointment with the processor, the beef is delivered to the processor (processing takes about two weeks including vacuum sealing the selected cuts), the processed beef is picked up, stored in freezers and then its availability is announced via social media. Customers place their order and deliveries are scheduled.
The only difference in a half/whole order is the customer chooses their specific cuts and pays a reservation fee.
Along with providing retail cuts and half/whole beef to customers, the ranch also supplies ground beef to local school districts. The schools, in conjunction with the Farm Act, can dedicate a certain amount of their budget to farm-fresh meat.
"We provide meat to all three campuses in the Jasper School District (Jasper, Kingston and Oark)," Dustin said.
This business model has been accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dustin said.
The ranch started out by selling two steers in 24 hours. It then became a race keeping up with orders as the demand quickly out-gained the supply. It was a busy year, but it looks like the ranch is finally getting caught up, according to Dustin.
The major problem facing the Cowell family and other meat producers is the lack of USDA inspected facilities in Arkansas. To sell retail cut beef the processor must be USDA inspected. There are only three in the state.
Kayla said they utilize a USDA inspected processor in Cabool, Missouri. "That's a six hour round trip," Dustin added.
State meat inspection is not currently available, but Dustin was able to address this problem personally by testifying at the Arkansas State Senate in favor of establishing a State Meat Inspection program. State funds are being allocated to get a program started in the next 12-18 months.
Meanwhile, Cowbell Ranch will continue to make trips to Missouri. It has already scheduled appointments into 2022.
Sometimes the processor will call and say an appointment suddenly opened. Dustin said he likes to be prepared when such opportunities arise by always having some animals at processing weight.
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