Hello from Pleasant Shade Farm,
The last few weeks have been full — the kind of busy that feels like progress.
🌿 Growing Better Pasture
If you’ve driven by lately, you may have noticed some big changes. We’ve had portions of our woods selectively logged to open up additional pasture. It’s a little rough-looking right now, but it’s all part of the plan.
By spring, we’ll have the cleanup finished and new grass seeded. More pasture means healthier cattle, better grazing, and continued improvement in the quality of beef we raise. Everything starts with good ground.
🥩 What Do Prime, Choice & Select Really Mean?
We also wanted to share a little about beef grading — because quality matters.
USDA grades beef primarily on marbling (the intramuscular fat that creates tenderness and flavor):
- Prime – Abundant marbling, exceptional tenderness and flavor
- Choice – High quality, slightly less marbling
- Select – Leaner, less marbling
Our goal is for every steer we raise to grade Prime. That doesn’t happen by accident — it comes from genetics, nutrition, careful finishing, and daily management.
We’re proud to share that we’re working with the first butcher in Tennessee to officially score USDA graded beef, and our next steer will be USDA graded and stamped. That means verified quality and added transparency for you.
🐓 Meat Chickens Are Arriving Soon
Spring also brings something new — our next batch of meat chickens will be arriving soon!
These birds will be pasture-raised right here on the farm, moved to fresh grass, and raised with the same care and attention we give our cattle.
To celebrate and say thank you for supporting us, we’re offering:
15% OFF all pasture-raised chicken
Use code: CHICKEN15
(Valid for a limited time)
If you’ve been wanting to stock your freezer or try our chicken for the first time, now’s a great time.
We’re grateful for every order, every share, and every family that chooses to support local agriculture. What we’re building here takes time — and we couldn’t do it without you.
Thanks for following us and allowing us to serve you. If you have questions, give us a shout! Have a wonderful week!
