Tag Archives: beef cattle

Harvesting Cattle

Enloe Farms, ,

Well, this year is quickly passing by, harvesting cattle is an annual event that happens right smack dab in the middle of the year, and we just had it. Last week our customers visited the farm to pick up their beef. Each year as the time approaches, I envision meeting our new customers and embracing our old friends (not “old” but, well-acquainted friends). Unfortunately, it never works out like I imagine.

In my mind… I see The Farmer and I greeting our customers and leading them over to their nicely packaged frozen beef. Telling them the history of their calf, showing them the grazing fields, and letting them enjoy the serenity of the farm.

But in reality, The Farmer and I get up early to make a mad dash to the processor’s. Finding all of our orders, the workers bring the frozen meat outside (in 75 degree weather), and The Farmer and I frantically throw the beef (over 2,000 pounds this year) into all different sizes of boxes. As The Farmer quickly loads the boxes, I’m busy checking off all of the orders and making sure everyone has everything expected.

We jump into the truck, and rush back to the farm, taking all the shortcuts we can, over crooked, curvy back roads. Approaching the farm, we see everyone eagerly awaiting our (their beef’s) arrival.

I get out to greet everyone (and collect money), The Farmer begins to unload boxes, and in a whirlwind of activity, smiling faces, and joyous farewells, I find myself standing on the porch waving goodbye to a late-coming customer, and watching The Farmer take off to do another chore.

Not quite the “Rockwell” moment I had envisioned.

But maybe we’ll have more time next year.

Thanks to everyone who purchased our beef. We do appreciate your business!

calf number 8 lwaf logo

Harvesting Cattle

Enloe Farms, , ,

Farming can be so unstable. No matter what we are doing, the final result is usually out of our hands. Although the Farmer is a very hard worker, everything he does around here depends on the weather, the seasons, or the money 🙂

Last year we informed our beef customers that we would have meat around April or May, but had to push back the date because the calves weren’t gaining quickly enough.

This year we slacked off of weighing them–mostly because it was so wet and we didn’t want to have to swim to the scales. But we went out and weighed them this past weekend and they are ready to go!

We have one topping out at 1200 pounds, which is really the max weight of what we like to get them to. Another one weighed 1,180 pounds, so these two can go to the processors today!

Fortunately, the rest of them are just right, weighing 1,035-1,075 pounds. We have an appointment at the processors set for the end of May and these calves should be ready to harvest at that time. I guess I should give an honorable mention to the two calves that are still in the 900 lb. range. We seem to always have a couple of late bloomers.

So bottom line…we will be taking orders for the next two weeks. If you would like homegrown, naturally raised, grass-fed, grain-finished beef, we’ve got some available.

Take a look at the “Buying Beef” tab at the top of the page (under Enloe Farm) for more information on ordering beef. Or Click >>Here<<