Telling stories about Kosciusko County is the reason this website exists. When Crestview Farms reached out to me about their new program selling beef in bundles and individual cuts, I knew this was a story I wanted to tell. The people of this community make the towns of Kosciusko County what they are. When those local folks pour their efforts into a business, it becomes my responsibility to tell that story. From farm to fork, if you order from Crestview Farms, you’ll know where you beef came from – a neighbor, a friend, an acquaintance, a family member … a member of our community where the money stays local. That’s a story I’ll tell every time.
All responses provided by Katie Lechlitner.
Tell us a little bit about Crestview Farms.
Crestview Farms has been involved in agriculture for over 75 years in Syracuse, Indiana. We raise beef cattle and also produce corn, soybeans and hay. In fact, we raise the feed the cattle eat, too. Currently, the third and fourth generations are working together in the day-to-day operation of the farm.
How long have you been selling freezer beef (please explain what freezer beef is)? How successful has that program been?
We have been selling quarter, half and whole beef amounts for many years. We have a list of appointments with local processors to harvest our cattle throughout the year. Each year we have a list of customers who know the amount they usually want and the time of year that works best for them. We coordinate delivery of the cattle to the processor and help people decide how they want their beef cut and packaged. Until 2020, this was the only way we sold our beef to individuals.
What made you decide to start selling bundles and individual cuts? What has the initial reaction been?
We decided we wanted to start making individual cuts and bundles available for customers that did not want a whole freezer full of beef at once. Depending on the weight of the animal, a quarter beef will be about 100 pounds of beef at once. Large amounts of beef take freezer space, meal planning and a larger financial investment at once. We had enough people asking us for smaller amounts that we decided to start offering individual cuts, as well as continuing to offer the larger bulk options. We have been able to market our beef to a larger group of customers by offering the option to purchase smaller amounts. We also have people who buy in bulk once a year and then just purchase individual cuts that they use the most to bridge the gap until their next bulk beef appointment. Customers have been happy to have more options for locally-grown beef, direct from the farm.
How important is it that the people of Kosciusko County purchase locally-grown beef? What are some of the benefits? What makes your cuts and bundles stand out?
We had a customer recently tell us how much they enjoyed the beef and said they felt like they could taste how much time, care and effort we put into raising it. It’s a lot of responsibility each day to care for our cattle, but each time we hear a review like that, it makes us remember why we work so hard. We feel like you can truly taste a difference and hearing customers confirm that really makes it all worth it. Buying local gives our customers a connection to where their food comes from; personally knowing the farmer and knowing the beef was raised sustainably, responsibly and humanely is important to consumers. We want to be that farmer they have a connection with and can answer questions they have about agriculture.
How has the current pandemic affected what you do on a daily basis or how the farm operates as a whole?
The pandemic has made beef processing appointments harder to get, but fortunately we have spaces reserved locally for the next two years. We have tried to plan ahead for all our current customers and also make room for new customers who want to experience beef from Crestview Farms.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell the readers?
To order, visit our website at www.crestview-farms.com, call or text 574-529-4005 or email katie@crestview-farms.com. We are happy to help answer any questions and look forward to meeting new customers.
