Make sure to sign up for the Spring Webinar Series, where we are sharing strategies on how to better sell your meat! Learn more here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/blog/2025-meat-marketing-webinars

In this episode of the Meat Success Podcast, Katie Olthoff interviews Margaret Schwartz of Schwartz Meat Company, a family-run lamb farm in Eastern Kentucky. Margaret discusses the farm's six-generation sheep-raising legacy, which she and her husband expanded into a meat business just before the COVID-19 pandemic. The episode covers unique aspects of lamb marketing, crafting recipes, and customer education on cooking lamb. Margaret shares insights into organizing successful farm-to-fork dinners in partnership with Hatmaker Homestead, where they offer seasonal meals featuring their meats and local produce. They also delve into raising children on the farm and leveraging photography to enhance marketing efforts. The conversation encapsulates the Schwartz’s dedication to sustainable farming, community engagement, and innovative culinary experiences.

And learn more about ChopLocal and ChopLocal University Below!

• https://choplocal.com/
• https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/

Make sure to sign up for the Spring Webinar Series, where we are sharing strategies on how to better sell your meat! Learn more here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/blog/2025-meat-marketing-webinars

In this episode of the Meat Success podcast, Katie Olthoff talks with Kate Ahl from Simple Pin Media about leveraging Pinterest for business marketing. Kate explains how Pinterest has evolved from a platform for creative ideas to a powerful search engine and marketing tool, particularly useful for businesses like farms and butcher shops. They discuss the importance of treating Pinterest as a long-term investment and a search engine rather than a social media platform. Key topics covered include creating effective pins, using keywords strategically, the benefits of Pinterest for driving traffic and sales, setting up a Pinterest profile properly, and the potential of Pinterest ads. Kate emphasizes the need for businesses to produce content that educates and informs users, aligning with their planning behaviors. Practical tips for creating and scheduling pins, using Canva for visual content, and the integration of Pinterest with other marketing tools and platforms are also discussed. The conversation highlights Pinterest's potential as an essential part of a comprehensive digital marketing strategy.

And learn more about ChopLocal and ChopLocal University Below!

• https://choplocal.com/
• https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/

Grab our mEat-Commerce Essentials to start making money in your direct to consumer business today with $100 off the course with code: POD100

Snag Access Here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/meat-commerce-essentials-1

Episode 20 | In this episode of the Meat Success podcast, Katie Olthoff, co-founder of Chop Local and Chop Local University, is joined by Kelly Stanze as they focus on Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and its importance for farmers and butcher shops setting up their own websites. Kelly is an SEO expert with nearly 15 years of experience, particularly in the agriculture and food industries. They discuss the basics of SEO, the importance of using customer-friendly language, and the role of AI in search engines. Kelly emphasizes the need for local listing management, effective use of images, and the benefits of various website platforms like WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix. They also touch on advanced topics like URL optimization and the significance of making websites accessible to visually impaired users. The episode is packed with actionable tips tailored to help rural and small-scale businesses enhance their online visibility.

Learn more about ChopLocal and ChopLocal University Below!

• https://choplocal.com/
• https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/

Grab our mEat-Commerce Essentials to start making money in your direct to consumer business today with $100 off the course with code: POD100

Snag Access Here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/meat-commerce-essentials-1

Episode 19 | In this episode of the Meat Success podcast, co-founder of Chop Local, Katie Olthoff, interviews Ty Gustafson, a co-owner of Story City Locker. Ty discusses the inception of Story City Locker, which he and his business partner Bobby started in 2013 to achieve a more balanced life and stay closer to home. They transitioned from corporate jobs to opening a custom meat-processing facility in Story City, Iowa, after extensive planning and community support. The locker focuses primarily on beef and pork, performing both custom and state-inspected processing. Ty emphasizes the importance of good communication with farmers, the need for proper employee management, and the adoption of Temple Grandin's animal handling principles to ensure meat quality. They also address seasonal business fluctuations and strategies for maintaining operations year-round. The episode offers valuable insights into managing a meat-processing business and highlights the significance of quality, customer satisfaction, and community engagement.

Learn more about ChopLocal and ChopLocal University Below!

• https://choplocal.com/
• https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/

Grab our mEat-Commerce Essentials to start making money in your direct to consumer business today with $100 off the course with code: POD100

Snag Access Here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/meat-commerce-essentials-1

Episode 18 | In this episode of the Meat Success podcast, Katie Olthoff from Chop Local interviews Kayla Lewis of Pleasant View Beef. The conversation explores the role of women in the family farm business, particularly focusing on marketing and store management. Kayla details the history of Pleasant View Beef, which transitioned from dairy to beef in 2023 due to economic challenges. The farm began selling beef direct to consumers in 2018, starting with small-scale cuts and gradually expanding to a dedicated retail store. The interview highlights the impact of COVID-19 on local food businesses, with Pleasant View Beef seeing increased demand leading to the establishment of a larger store in 2021. Key points discussed include the importance of location, customer education, and seasonal sales strategies. Kayla also shares insights on managing customer relations, product diversification, and continuous growth achieved through innovative marketing and community engagement.

Learn more about ChopLocal and ChopLocal University Below!

• https://choplocal.com/
• https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/

Grab our mEat-Commerce Essentials to start making money in your direct to consumer business today with $100 off the course with code: POD100

Snag Access Here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/meat-commerce-essentials-1

Episode 17 | In this episode of the Meat Success Podcast, Katie Olthoff, co-founder of Chop Local and Chop Local University, is back for Season 2! In this first episode, she chats with Deb Gress of Vintage Beef. Deb shares how she and her husband launched their farm-to-table beef business in 2017, starting with just 10 head of cattle and a few freezers. Today, they butcher about 75 head annually and run an on-farm store supported by a Choose Iowa Grant, offering beef, pork, lamb, honey, and local goods on consignment. Deb discusses the role of social media, word-of-mouth, and customer relationships in their growth, as well as adapting to pandemic challenges, shifting to online sales with Chop Local, and experimenting with events and collaborations. She emphasizes steady growth and learning from fellow farmers as keys to success in direct-to-consumer meat sales.

Learn more about ChopLocal and ChopLocal University Below!

• https://choplocal.com/
• https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/

In this episode of the Meat Success podcast, host Katie Olthoff, co-founder of ChopLocal and ChopLocal University, interviews Matt LeRoux, a resident expert on direct-to-consumer meat marketing and meat pricing. Matt shares his journey from being a vegetarian to becoming a meat marketing expert, working extensively with farmers in the northeast. They discuss Matt's roles at Cornell and the Dyson School of Applied Economics, his project 'Meat Suite,' which is a directory for bulk meat sales, and tools like the Meat Price Calculator and Bundle Builder designed to help farmers price their products effectively. The conversation also covers the importance of marketing techniques, consumer demand, and strategic pricing, as well as insights from Matt's farmer's market research, emphasizing booth setup, customer interactions, and the benefits of accepting credit cards. The episode is a rich resource for meat producers looking to optimize their direct-to-consumer sales strategies.

Make sure to sign up for the Spring Webinar Series, where we are sharing strategies on how to better sell your meat! Learn more here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/blog/2025-meat-marketing-webinars

And learn more about ChopLocal and ChopLocal University Below!

• https://choplocal.com/
• https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/

In this episode of the Meat Success podcast, Katie Olthoff interviews Aaron Steele, founder of Goats on the Go, a national targeted grazing service. Aaron explains how his goats and sheep are used to control unwanted vegetation for diverse customers, from suburban backyard owners to government agencies concerned with wildfire prevention. He discusses the economics of combining meat goat production with commercial grazing services, emphasizing how multi-revenue streams can make goat farming more profitable. Aaron also shares insights on market segmentation, pricing strategies, and the importance of understanding customer values. He highlights the necessity for affiliates to provide great customer service, value their time appropriately, and be enthusiastic about their business. Katie connects these ideas to selling meat direct to consumers, stressing the significance of meeting customer values and providing a quality product. Aaron plugs his audiobook, 'Goats for Good,' which outlines the benefits and enterprises associated with raising goats.

Make sure to sign up for the Spring Webinar Series, where we are sharing strategies on how to better sell your meat! Learn more here: https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/blog/2025-meat-marketing-webinars

And learn more about ChopLocal and ChopLocal University Below!

• https://choplocal.com/
• https://www.choplocaluniversity.com/