Why We Process On-Farm

At Little Captain Creek Farm, we believe how an animal is treated, from birth to harvest, matters deeply. Processing is not something we rush past or hide from. It is an important part of farming, and we believe it should be done with care, respect, legality, and transparency.

We choose on-farm processing whenever possible because it aligns with our responsibility as stewards of God’s creation.

🧑‍🌾 Why Processing Matters

Stress before harvest affects meat quality. Elevated stress can lead to tougher texture, poorer flavor, and lower overall quality. That’s why we prioritize keeping animals calm — if they must experience a difficult day, we believe it’s far better for it to be a single day at home on the farm, rather than multiple stressful days during transport or at unfamiliar facilities. This approach honors both the animal and the food it provides.

🐄 Beef & Pork Processing

For our beef and pork, we work with a professional butcher who comes directly to the farm. The animals are calmly handled in familiar surroundings, without transport or holding facilities.

The slaughter takes place on-farm to reduce stress. From there, the animal is transported to the butchers for processing, aging, and cutting. This ensures both humane treatment and full legal compliance.

As part of our continued growth, we are beginning to take on some of our own processing, aging, and cutting here on the farm. Our long-term goal is to handle all of our own butchering in-house by the end of 2026. This allows us to maintain even greater oversight, consistency, and accountability throughout the entire process.

We are often asked about meat sprays or treatments. Our meat is not sprayed or treated unnecessarily. Some facilities use antimicrobial sprays as an added precaution, which is legally allowed, but we prioritize cleanliness, careful handling, and proper processing from the start rather than relying on extra interventions.

Every step is done with intention, respect, and accountability.

🐓 Poultry Processing

Our chickens are processed right here on the farm as well.

We custom-hire a professional poultry processor who arrives with a licensed mobile processing trailer. Chickens are processed in the field, in a clean, calm, and controlled environment.

This means:

• No hauling birds long distances
• Minimal stress and handling
• Professional, humane processing
• Full attention to cleanliness and care

Having the processor come to the farm allows us to maintain oversight and ensures the process aligns with our values.

💛 Transparency You Can Trust

These practices are not about convenience or cutting corners — they are about doing what is right.

We believe transparency builds trust. We want our customers to understand how their food is raised and processed, and why it matters. On-farm processing allows us to care for our animals until the very end, comply fully with the law, and provide food we are proud to feed our own families.

Better handling leads to better outcomes:

• Less stress for animals
• Higher quality meat
• Greater accountability
• Stronger trust between farmer and customer
• Animals remain in a familiar environment
• Stress is minimized
• Handling is calm and respectful
• Legal requirements are fully met

This is stewardship. This is responsibility. This is food raised and processed with faith, intention, and respect.