Our Story
"It all started with one bad ham."
We didn't set out to build a meat business. It started simply out of sheer frustration with grocery store meat—specifically, a single, utterly disappointing holiday ham that made us realize we wanted meat we could actually trust. We knew we could do better. That first small step in 2014 with three pigs turned into a full-scale commitment to raising our own meat—and shortly thereafter, sharing it with our community.
Today, that operation sits at 6,000 feet in Western Colorado, right at the base of the largest flattopped mountain in the world. We started with three pigs and some dreams, and today, we have refined our focus to prioritize excellence in cow/calf production, high-quality beef finishing, and raising exceptional pork.
Our pastured meats are raised with the respect, care, and attention that both the land and the livestock deserve. We are dedicated to providing high-quality, delicious meats to our community, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we do.
— Ben and Heather Nara
Ben
If experience teaches you anything, it’s that you never know where life will take you. I grew up helping my dad on his ranch, but back then it was all about the beef. In no way was pursuing this lifestyle on my radar. However, after years of traveling around the U.S. and Central America, working trail crews, building high-end custom cabinets… and of course, one bad ham, I found myself wanting to get back to those roots. At the time, I had no inkling of how this would evolve. There have been many chapters since then, with plenty of lessons and a few regrets, but my unexpected passion for this lifestyle hasn't changed. Someday it might, but for now, I'm going to keep living the dream, until life has a different plan.
Heather
Originally from just outside Nashville, TN, I did not grow up around livestock. I did know I loved the outdoors and majored in Environmental Science in college. Many of my first moments around livestock included me looking at Ben, with big eyes, and saying “We are not ready for this!” Ben helped me get more comfortable and has taught me a ton. Many years and hundreds of animals later, my confidence and knowledge have grown and I can handle whatever comes my way. While I'd love to be home on the ranch full-time, for now that is not in the cards. During the week I have a full-time job in town but am a weekend warrior on the ranch and work hard to balance both worlds.
