Winter on the Farm

A Grass-Fed Winter on BF Farms

We have received many questions lately about how we keep the animals fed and cared for during the winter on the farm. These are great questions. With all of the ice and sleet everywhere how do the animals get the "green" they need to maintain their "grass-fed" status?

In order to answer those questions we followed Kamie, our Ranch Manager, during one of her morning rounds. She told us that they plant rye and barley with turnips and radishes which are green in the winter and the sheep and cattle eat right through the ice to get to the nutrition they need. The ice doesn't phase them a bit. In fact, it provides some extra hydration while they eat. They also receive salt and mineral, along with water that has to be broken up every now and then from icing over.

Our cattle handle the cold very well. Nature has a way of protecting animals from cold. Cattle will naturally grow thicker and longer hair for winter. In fact, cattle are a good indicator when a cold winter is coming as their hair will become even heavier. Then in spring they shed that winter coat of hair. Our sheep on the other hand have access to shelter under one of our large barns. Sheep have the tendency to suffocate if covered in ice, and therefore need the option of covered shelter during these cold months.

Have no fear! At BF Farms we plan ahead so our animals get exactly what they need when they need it. It takes a lot of work behind the scenes to care for the animals properly and to maintain our "grass-fed" status, and we wouldn't have it any other way!

BF-Farms, LLC, Oklahoma's source for 100% grass-fed beef and lamb.

Customer Hall of Fame

Customer Hall of Fame: Diana Webber

We would like to introduce Diana Webber to our "Customer Hall of Fame"! We have been so blessed by the overwhelming feedback from our customers on the taste of our grass-fed meat and how much the history of our farm means to them. We value every amount of feedback given. The thing is, we don't want to keep these wonderful comments to ourselves. We want to share them along with the faces they came from with everyone and thus, created the "Customer Hall of Fame".

Each month, we would like to feature one of our customers on the blog, on Facebook, or through our newsletter sharing about their BF Farms experience! This month, we have chosen Diana Webber. Here is what she has to say:

Why have you decided to choose Grass-Fed meat for you and your family?

Diana: I have always had a desire to know where my food comes from. "Grass-fed" is the beginning, but purely grass-fed, as BF Farms provides, is icing on the cake. I prefer my food not to be mass produce, and BF Farms promises to never mass produce their meat.
 

What is your favorite meal to make with BF Farms' Grass-Fed meat?

Diana: I have two favorites, it would be hard to pick one over the other. The Rib-eyes I get are phenomenal. It's like eating butter!! But the BF Farms ground beef and lamb make the best chili EVER!
 

What is your favorite thing about BF Farms?

Diana: BF Farms has a dedication to providing the best meat to their clients. Their commitment to quality and care is above and beyond. The Family also makes this generational farm what it is. Everyone I have met is full of caring, curiosity and a commitment to health and happiness. These things make every dime and every bite worth it.

Thank you, Diana! Your words are much appreciated!

BF-Farms, LLC, Oklahoma's source for 100% grass-fed beef and lamb.

Is All Grass-Fed Created Equal?

Is All Grass-Fed Created Equal?

Did you know that not all grass-fed meat is created equal? Marketing companies and the food industry have realized the trend to eating grass-fed beef. People want to eat healthier. People want ethically raised food. The problem is that in order to capitalize on these trends, they have mislead us with popular labels. If we don't ask the right questions, we may be deceived.

We are one of the only farms in our area that produce 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef and lamb. When I share what we do with friends and strangers around town, I often hear things like, "Oh, I've seen grass-fed meet sold at the grocery store or at the health food store!" to which I respond, "Is it also finished on grass?"

The loophole in the food industry right now is that as long as an animal has eaten grass at all in it's lifetime, it can be considered "grass-fed". It's marketing at its finest.

You see, all cattle begin by eating grass and nursing from mama until about 6-12 months. After that period of time, many farmers choose to fatten the animal on grain until it goes into processing. These animals are not 100% grass-fed. If they are sent to a feedlot, it also becomes a sanitary issue as mentioned in our previous blog, "Safe Beef".

At BF Farms we allow the animals to continue eating grass their entire life. The main difference is in the nutrition you are receiving. You eat what "Norma Jean" eats. Here are the health benefits to 100% grass-fed beef and lamb vs an animal finished on grain:

• Higher levels of Omega 3s - an essential fatty acid that reduces inflammation and lowers cholesterol
• Higher levels of CLA - a fatty acid that improves brain function and reduces the risk of cancer
• Higher levels of vitamins and minerals including vitamins A and E
• Lower levels of Omega 6s - a fatty acid that causes inflammation and raises cholesterol
• Lower levels of cholesterol elevating saturated fatty acids
• Lower levels of overall fat content

There is a difference and we want you to benefit from a 100% grass-fed animal and all of the nutrition it brings! We work hard so that our animals receive a grass-fed diet year round. We work hard so that we can be proud of that "grass-fed" label. So next time you're at the grocery store, health food market, or farmer's market, ask the important question: "Is it also grass finished?"

BF-Farms, LLC, Oklahoma's source for 100% grass-fed beef and lamb.

Diana's Beef and Lamb Chili

Diana's Beef and Lamb Chili Recipe

Anyone who knows me knows that I love chili!  Bean chili, meat chili and definitely one that has both, but now…using BF Farms lamb and beef it’s even better than ever.  Come with me on the journey of this awesome chili.

Ingredients:

1 lb. BF Farms lamb sausage

1 lb. BF Farms ground beef

1 ½ red onions chopped

3 cloves of garlic chopped

3 cups of black beans - I cooked these in the crockpot over night with water, salt & pepper, and 4 tbsp. of good balsamic vinegar.  I use extra water, so that I have a nice black bean liquid to use in the chili - Or use canned, with liquid.

1 can of beer

Spices - I don’t measure spices, because I do it to taste.  But in the chili I used cumin, chili powder, a dash of ground cloves and S&P.  I taste it about half way through the cooking process, for adjustments to these spices.

Preparation:

First I like to brown the lamb sausage.  It has a few of its own spices, so I don’t season it at all.  It leaves behind some nice fat, and flavor to brown the beef in next. So I remove the lamb and brown the beef.  Once that is done, I remove the beef and add the chopped onion, garlic and spices.  This softens the onion & garlic and blooms the spices.  I cook them for about 5 minutes.  I then add the black beans with liquid and the browned meats. 

A lot of times, I add canned tomatoes to my chili, but this chili I like it without.

I use the can of beer to make sure I have enough flavorful liquid to mostly cover the chili.  You could also use broth of any kind - or red wine.  I used ¾ of a can of beer.

I put a lid on this and put into a 275 degree oven for about 1.5 hour - taking the lid off the last 30 minutes, depending on the amount of liquid.

I like to serve this with a dollop of sour cream and/or shredded cheese.

BF-Farms, LLC, Oklahoma's source for 100% grass-fed beef and lamb.

Meet our Family

Meet our BF Farms Family

We would love for you to meet our BF Farms family! Here is a little synopsis of our roles here on the farm:

Doug Benkendorf-Third Generation

Doug is the visionary behind BF Farms and our land owner. He also helps with projects large and small, as the need arises. He is constantly moving our organization forward and seeking improvement.

Jayne Benkendorf-Third Generation

Jayne is the marketing and sales coordinator for our organization. If you know her at all, you know that she is gifted in sharing about our grass-fed beef and lamb and is always building relationships with everyone around her.

Kamie Sallee-Fourth Generation

Kamie is co-owner and ranch manager for the farm. She cares for the animals, making sure they are fed and healthy, moving them around from pasture to pasture to receive a well balanced diet. She also handles the administration for the farm.

Ephraim Benkendorf-Fifth Generation

Ephraim is co-owner, working closely with Kamie to fulfill the regular ranch chores. More importantly, he is responsible for planting the grasses our beef and lamb feed on. He makes sure that we can call our animals "grass-fed".

Ashley Mantz-Fifth Generation

Ashley runs the chicken coup and the family garden. She calls the chickens her babies and collects the eggs for direct market.

Brian Sallee-Fifth Generation

Brian is a photographer and web developer. You can see his skills for photography and web development on our website, Facebook, and other marketing materials we have sent out. Brian also helps out as a farm hand when needed.

Nicole Sallee-Fifth Generation

Nicole is our co-marketing director and helps with sales. She manages the Facebook page, blog, newsletter, and events for the farm. She also helps Ashley in the garden.

"A family that farms together, stays together."

BF-Farms, LLC, Oklahoma's source for 100% grass-fed beef and lamb.