Windy Ridge Cattle: Benefits of Supporting Small Farms

We are so excited to introduce you to Windy Ridge Cattle! They are one of our local family farms, and we can’t wait for you to begin to enjoy the high-quality products they bring with them!

There are so many benefits to supporting small-scale farmers as they put in the work to bring the best products to the world’s food supply while also supporting the local communities they live in. Teaming up with local farms is a good way to promote sustainable food production while also remembering that purchasing local food supports more than just that single farm.

About the Farm

Braden Fuller is working on making his small family farm one that future generations can enjoy for many years to come. He works on using his conventional wisdom learned from growing up in Utah, as well as what he saw out exploring the world before he returned to lower his overall carbon footprint, have shorter distances from farm to table, and keep up the family tradition of living life on the ranch.

There are only about 4% of beef cattle in the United States that can be labeled as 100% grass-fed from start to finish, and this family-owned farm is included in that number. This isn’t the easiest way to do things, but it’s a great way to set family farmers apart from large operations.

Taking advantage of their open space and rolling pastures in Cache Valley, Utah, as well as in Bloomington, Idaho, Windy Ridge Cattle might be newer to the small farmers' niche. Still, their family has been a part of the local community for decades.

We know that partnering with them here at the Co-Op is a great way to get their amazing products to the local markets and do our part in trying to support small businesses in the area.

Benefits of Grass-Fed Beef From Windy Ridge Cattle

There are so many benefits to the beef you will get from Windy Ridge Cattle, but we don’t have enough time or pages to list them all, so we will go over a few that we feel are most important.

• Small-scale farming is the best way to create sustainable agriculture.
• With fewer steps in food supply chains, you are increasing food security, creating positive steps in climate change, and supporting the health of the land your food is coming from.
• When you purchase locally-grown foods, you know exactly where your beef was raised. They even encourage local families to stop by and get to know them and their farming practices better!
• So many health benefits, including being higher in Omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and vitamins. It also includes a fat known as conjugated linoleic acid, have been found

 to be helpful in building up your immune system and lowering overall inflammation in your body.

In recent years there have been a lot of issues when it comes to meat being recalled and other supply chain issues due to mass production and quality oversight. When it comes to finding healthy foods for your family to eat, buying from local farmers is a great place to start!

Working Together to Keep Small Farms Going

At the Co-Op, we are always looking for ways to keep you out of the big box stores and supporting smaller farms and other local businesses. Together, we can make a huge impact in the lives of our community members that are working to create high-quality products as well as grow the local economy.

Rural communities can come together and help local producers by supporting their businesses with purchases of beef, fresh produce, fresh fruit, and other goods. You can also always try out your local farmer’s market before heading to the grocery store if the season is right.

With an owner that used to work in the global legislative sector, he also encourages you to advocate for farms by supporting policies that look out for the smaller, family-owned ranches.

We know that you are going to love the high-quality, healthy grass-fed beef from Windy Ridge Cattle, and we are excited about this partnership!

If you are wondering exactly how the co-op works, be sure and reach out with any questions! We have so many great products and plans in the works, and we would love for you to join us!