For several years Hadrick Ranch has delivered high quality beef to several restaurants across South Dakota, as well as through a robust direct-to-consumer business. Now all that beef can carry the Certified Angus Beef brand through the organization’s Ranch to Table program. Hadrick Ranch is the first ranch in South Dakota to be certified through the program.
“We know consumers are always talking about opportunities to understand where their beef comes from while still being able to verify the quality of that beef,” says Troy Hadrick, who owns the ranch along with his wife Stacy and their three children. “The Ranch to Table program offered by Certified Angus Beef helps to provide that information, which was key in our decision to go through the certification process. We’re extremely excited that we can start putting the Certified Angus Beef logo on our beef packages and grateful that CAB had the vision to bring this program forward.”
Through the Certified Angus Beef Ranch to Table program ranchers can go through an application process to have their beef carry the CAB label. To be eligible, ranchers must be members of the American Angus Association®, maintain a cow herd primarily influenced by registered Angus genetics, submit a current Beef Quality Assurance (or equivalent program) certificate, and provide standard procedures from their processor. Cattle going through the program must meet the brand’s live-animal evaluation—be black hided, for example—and carcasses must meet the brand’s 10 specifications verified by a USDA grader.
It was the carcass grade requirement that was the roadblock to getting the Ranch to Table certification for The Hadricks. The beef Hadricks market through their restaurant and consumer business is processed through an independent facility. While all their beef is inspected for food safety protocols by a USDA inspector, there wasn’t an opportunity to offer the optional quality grade. Troy and Stacy worked with their processor—The Meathouse in Andover, South Dakota—to enable a USDA inspector to provide a quality grade on their carcasses. That step helped the Hadricks complete the carcass requirement necessary for the Ranch to Table designation.
“Now you don’t have to take our word for it that our beef is pretty darn good. Now it’s also going to have that Certified Angus Beef label on it, so it’s all now official at this point,” says Troy. “This is a great way forward for us as our ranch continues to evolve. Our kids are the sixth generation to operate this ranch, and it’s exciting to have them be part of this.“
“We’re so grateful to all of the people that made this happen,” says Stacy. “The people at Certified Angus Beef have been great at guiding us through the program. We’re also thankful for the people at The Meathouse for working with us, and to our partners at Vanguard Hospitality for agreeing to help us market our product.”
For more information on the Ranch to Table program, visit www.cabcattle.com/ranch-
Courtesy image.
For more information on Hadrick Ranch, visit www.hadrickranch.com.
Hadrick family. L to R: Olivia, Troy, Stacy, Teigen and Reese.
Courtesy image.
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