By Michael Howell
Right now, according to Julie Foster of the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority, there is no state licensed poultry processing facility in the state of Montana. But if Beau McLean of Living River Farms and Laura Garber of Homestead Organics Farm are successful, the first licensed facility in the state may be right here in the Bitterroot Valley.
Recognizing the need for such a facility, McLean and Garber put their heads together and made a plan to provide locally grown poultry meat to western Montana.
“This would be a first and a great model for the state,” said Garber.
Homestead Organics Farm, located south of Hamilton, already has a processing facility they use for their own flock of birds. Her husband Henry Wuensche raises heritage turkeys. They sell both chicken and turkey meat.
But a state licensed facility would allow other small poultry raisers an opportunity to have their chickens butchered locally.
“The mantra of the nation and the state is ‘local food systems’ are important,” said RCEDA Director Julie Foster. “However, new regulations make it more difficult and costly for small local farms to produce and sell their products. Remember that you used to be able to buy local eggs at Rainbow’s End? You can’t do that anymore. A state licensed facility would help many small farms and hobbyists as well as the commercial enterprises.”
Between Garber and McLean, over $30,000 in necessary equipment has already been acquired. They also enjoy the assistance and support of the Department of Livestock and have accumulated the equipment they need for the butchering.
What is needed is the building, built to state licensing standards, to house a butchering room completely separated from an evisceration room and a room for a hatchery and classroom.
Foster helped McLean and Garber in a grant application to the Montana Growth Through Agriculture program but it was unsuccessful. According to Garber, the state wanted to see more local dollars in the match.
So, unwilling to give up, Garber and McLean started a Kickstarter campaign online, looking to raise $21,000. The Kickstarter page, already up, has brought in over $1,000 so far.
Homestead Organics Farm is a small, family run vegetable farm located three miles south of Hamilton. They grow a wide variety of vegetables and greens. The farm serves the community through a summer and fall CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program, an onsite farm stand open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 7 p.m., and booths at both the Hamilton and Missoula Saturday Farmers Markets.
Homestead Organics is working hard to help build the local food system and to educate the community about the importance of local agriculture. The farm hosts several community celebrations each year including an annual May Day Celebration and a Fall Harvest Festival. The Youth Roots Project at the farm brings area youth and children to the farm to learn about and experience locally grown, fresh foods. The farm also plays host to children aged 6-12 for one week of ‘Farm Camp’ in July. Other youth groups, such as Girls Using Their Strength, a program of WVE for middle school aged girls, stay at and participate in the farm in the summer. The farm has been certified organic for the past five years.
Garber’s partners in the processing venture are Beau McLean and Christopher Green who hope to start up Living River Farms in conjunction with the new facility.
McLean got his degree in animal science at Oregon State University with an emphasis in poultry. If the planned processing facility gets up and running, he plans on raising a lot of chickens. Green grew up on his aunt and uncle’s waterfowl hatchery in Oregon. He has worked with the operations of this farm most of his life and has gained excellent experience in the proper care of livestock. He obtained a B.S. in Marketing at Oregon State University.
“We will be raising all natural, pasture raised poultry and beef,” said McLean. “We will raise the animals with a sustainable holistic approach that is best for the animal, the land, and most importantly, the consumer. We plan to raise the chickens on pasture in movable structures.” He said the chickens can graze while being protected from the weather and from predators.
“We like animals to be outside,” he said. He said the mobile pens also cut down on parasite problems and the chickens get the chance to fertilize the whole pasture.
They plan on selling grass-fed beef which will also be raised all-natural and antibiotic-free.
“This facility is the key for us to continue with our business plans because without it, we won’t be processing any poultry in the near future,” said McLean. “We are happy to work alongside Homestead Organics Farm as we create a poultry processing hub in western Montana.”
An open house was held at Homestead Organics Farm on Monday, April 27, to help boost their Kickstarter campaign and to give the community the chance to see what has already been accomplished at Homestead Organics Farm and what is planned for the future.
McLean said anyone interested in the project can go online to http://www.livingriverfarms.com/in-favor-of-local-flavor and learn more about it. Or you could call McLean or Green, at 406-565-1809. You may contact Garber at 363-6627 or email: homesteadorganics@earthlink.net.