Welcome to the Ranch!

Just recently Food Safety News came out with a disturbing report about honey. To read more, you can go to another article I wrote called, “Fake Honey?” to get the details of this news. The gist of the report is that most honey offered at grocery and other retail stores is not what bees make. Instead it is ultra-filtered sometimes diluted with water, which the FDA does not even recognize as honey.

The study also found that all the honey sold at farmer’s markets and health food stores was indeed honey. Therefore, all the honey enthusiasts out there need to track down good and trustworthy sources of honey from local beekeepers.

The honey scandal is just one more reason to support your local food producers. Looking for food produced by local farmers and ranchers not only insures that you receive the freshest products, but also supports them so that they can continue to provide food for your family. It is a mutually beneficial system for all involved.

At Cross Creek Cattle Company, we take pride in our grass fed beef. It is a pleasure to be able to produce lean, healthy beef for other families. The beef is raised in a natural way without man-made interference. It has no antibiotics, no grain, no hormones. The cattle live as nature intended on fresh water and a diet of grasses. It is the real deal, just like the honey I want in my morning coffee.

It is more challenging to find reliable sources of food, but a good place to start is at your local farmer’s market. The internet is second best, which is where most of our customers find us. Buying naturally raised food by local farmers requires some time and traveling. This is no one-stop shopping, but the rewards are priceless.

For one, you can rest assured that you are actually eating what you think you are eating. After reading the results of the honey study, this peace of mind is worth ever penny that I spend. It does not take a degree in nutrition to instinctively know that eating organically-grown, fresh vegetables, meat, and other food is better for the health of your family.

If you are looking for a source of grass fed beef, consider Cross Creek Cattle Company. We plan to harvest our first batch of grass fed beef in early spring. Right now, everything is already sold. Therefore, you have plenty of time to plan and find freezer space. Regardless whether you order beef from us, support your local farmers and ranchers when you can.

Cross Creek Cattle Company had to raise our price per pound from $3.50 to $4.00 a pound based on hanging carcass weight. In order to stay in the grass fed business, we had to increase our price in order to make some profit on the sale of our beef. It was a decision that we did not take lightly, and it is one that we stand by. For more information on the particular reasons, please read “Necessary Price Increase.”

One factor that we have not shared with you that played a role in our decision-making process is the cattle population in the United States. As our human population continues to increase, our cattle population has fallen to the levels of the 1950s. If you do not believe me, please read this report out by AllGov. This is not good news for anyone who likes red meat, grass-fed or not. Based on the rules of supply and demand, the price for beef of any kind is going to rise.

Now I just read in the Drover’s Cattle Network about the prices of retail beef based on a study done for 2011. For the last four months of 2011, the price for choice beef set a new high. The month of December saw a record high of $5.02 a pound. There is no way to imagine how high the price for grocery store beef is going to climb this year.

I don’t want to make an argument for choosing grass fed beef over retail beef. I have shown in countless articles, videos, etc. the differences between the two choices. However, I do want to make the case that investing in a deep freezer and ordering a whole, half, or split quarter is a smart move for any family who loves beef.

A half from us requires approximately 9 cu ft of freezer space. A whole would be double the amount. A quarter if packed neatly could fill a refrigerator freezer with 4 to 4.5 cu ft of space. These are of course estimates and not exacts. Each animal is slightly different, but we have enough experience to be able to confidently publish these amounts.

We will begin harvesting beef, both grass-finished and grass-fed, in the early spring. We have several customers who have already secured their orders. If you are interested in our grass fed beef, please contact me. I will answer your questions to the best of my ability. We only require a $100.00 non-refundable deposit to secure your order; therefore, you will have plenty of time to find room in your freezer.

Not only does this video by Bryan Marcel accurately show the conditions on a committed grass fed ranch operation, but he is a big proponent on eating healthier as a lifestyle.  Beyond his catchy motto, “Look Better Naked,” he has a healthy diet plan that includes grass fed beef.  For more information, check out The Bryan Marcel Healthy Diet and/or read his article, “Unhealthy Americans.”

For most of our customers, they seek out grass fed beef because of a desire to eat healthier.  They instinctively know that the more naturally an animal lives the better.  They believe the adage, “You are what you eat.”  If you eat meat filled with antibiotics and growth hormones, then it stands to reason that the meat will eventually have an adverse effect on your health.

On Cross Creek Cattle Company, we raise our beef in a natural setting in Grimes County.  The herds graze natural grasses, and they are currently enjoying planted rye grass.  They have access to fresh water and loose minerals. There is no feed-lot setting on our ranch.

To see for yourself, we invite you to tour Cross Creek Cattle Company.  Contact me for an appointment so that I can make myself available to you and your family.

A storm came early Monday morning.  It woke us up in the middle of the night with swirling winds, lightning flashes, and rumbling thunder.  Our youngest boy, Andrew, knocked on our bedroom door as he sought our parental comfort.  Our puppy was whining.  Typically this scenario would not be welcome.  I mean, I treasure my sleep.  However after the year we have had, it was a sheer joy to wake up to the sound of the downpour on our metal roof.  I did not mind the inconvenience of a whining dog and scared child.

The storm was not short lived.  It lasted most of the day, but by noon the really hard rain had left.  Instead, a soaking rain set in for a few more hours.  We watched as puddles spilled into larger ones, which then eventually led to some minor flooding as the once dry creek beds filled and spilled over.

This was not our first rain during this drought.  We have been blessed this fall and winter with occasional showers.  They have had an incredible effect on our winter grass.  These rains have provided a steady soaking of the ground.  In spite of these showers, our ponds and lakes have been lower than we have ever witnessed.  Run-off had not really begun to refill them.

We cannot say that anymore.  Just look at the before and after photos of the same lake on our ranch.  If you will recall, we built the pier this summer in the hopes that we would once again have a full lake.

Taken in late August. The lake dropped another four feet, but I failed to take a picture of it.

Water level as on January 9th.

In literature, a rain like we experienced Monday symbolizes a rebirth or fresh start.  This is exactly how we feel.  It is like we have turned a corner.  Our land is on the mend from the devastating effects of such a severe drought.  To receive 6.6 inches in one day is truly a blessing.  Cross Creek Cattle Company is looking forward to watching as God heals our land and restores it.  What a wonderful way to start this new year!

This steer took time to pose while feasting on rye grass.

Our calves are in rye grass heaven.  With all the rain that we have been getting lately, our winter grass has grown well.  After our past summer, it is a wonderful sight to see fields of deep green.

Most people at the turn of the year reflect on the past year.  News shows are notorious for this.  They run specials and many segments on “The Year in Review.”  I don’t feel compelled to look back.  Last year was a hard one for ranchers and people in general.  Instead as we stand in the threshold of 2012, Cross Creek Cattle Company chooses to focus on the future.  We are excited about 2012.

We have many things going for us this year.  We have spent a good part of this year already meeting new grass fed beef customers and seeing some repeat customers again.  It is one of my favorite duties that my job requires.  I love hearing how you became interested in grass fed beef.  The reasons range for one extreme to another.  For some, there are health reasons.  For others, you watched the video, Food Inc. And for others, you are interested in eating as healthy as possible.  There are as many reasons as there are customers.

We are looking forward to continuing to offer grass fed beef to the public.  As our business grows, our customer base does in proportion.  Most of our customers come from the Woodlands and Spring area.  Some come south of Houston.  Many come from the Bryan/College Station area.  We have a great customer as far as Georgetown and quite a few from the Dallas/Ft.Worth area.  We are so thankful for the growth of our customer base.

If you have been telling others about us, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  If you are one of our customers, we cannot express how appreciative we are.  I can say this with all honesty, we would not be in the grass fed business if it weren’t for you.  So as we look forward, we want to thank our customers, first and foremost.

Then we want to tell you what is happening at Cross Creek Cattle Company.  Our family’s ranch has expanded.  We have acquired more land on which to raise our herd.  More pastures means more grass.  More grass means more beef we will be able to offer.

We now have a water well on the ranch.  We will no longer be completely dependent on our natural waterways and man-made ponds to supply our herds with water.  The well will keep fresh water available for our cows come what may.

Exciting things are happening and I hope that exciting things will keep coming our way.  2012 may be the predicted end of the world, but we are working to make every day count with a vision to keep working for decades longer.

Finishing Out on Rye Grass

At Cross Creek Cattle Company, we have always wanted to keep our grass fed beef affordable for the average American family.  For years, we have raised grass fed beef for our own family.  Even though we never gave hormones or unnecessary antibiotics to our herd, it only made sense that would reserve the healthiest beef for our table.  Therefore, the calves reserved for our consumption ate grass and hay.

Our grass fed business came into existence with the realization that there was a demand for this healthy beef.  Allow me to paraphrase what I said in my Think Natural interview with Dr. Ward Bond, “We realized that not everyone had acreage on which to raise their own beef and Cross Creek Cattle Company could provide grass fed beef, the kind we raised for our own consumption, to the public.”

The rest is history.  Every year we sell more and more beef.  Our customer base is growing and spreading all over the state of Texas.  Our ranch’s name is getting out to the public by word of mouth, by this blog, and by our interviews in magazines, newspapers, and a television show.

Throughout our years in this business, we have struggled to stay affordable to the typical family.  We have kept our prices at $3.50 per pound based on hanging carcass weight.  Even through the worst drought in recorded history, we stuck to our price despite the fact that everything was costing us more money.  For example, the price of hay went through the roof.

We never expected to make millions on grass fed beef sales, but we did expect to make some profit.  Unfortunately, we are not even breaking even.  Therefore, we are being forced to raise our price per pound effective January 1, 2012.  We hope that our customers will not begrudge us this change; it is necessary if we are going to continue to offer grass fed beef to the public.

As of January 1, 2012, we will be offering our grass fed beef for $4.00 a pound based on hanging carcass weight.  It will be the same great grass fed beef sold in the same manner as before.  We still offer a split quarter, half, or whole options.  The former receive standard cuts.  The cuts for a half and whole orders can be fully customized based on the customer’s needs and desires.  We will still be using K&C Processing in Navasota, Texas.  The only that has changed is a necessary price increase.

The Most Beautiful Sight

I know that the Thanksgiving holiday has already passed.  However, we still have blessings to count here at Cross Creek Cattle Company.

You might get tired of me writing about the drought, but I cannot reiterate enough how difficult this past year has been on ranchers and farmers.  Any occupation that is dependent on good weather has suffered this 2011.  It has been extremely hot and dry here in Texas while other parts of the United States have had too much rain.  Weather patterns are beyond our control, which is why I feel that people in these businesses tend to be dependent on God and His provision.

We planted winter grass seed in faith.  Even though it did not rain seemingly all spring and summer, we took a chance and invested in seed.  Since then, God has blessed us abundantly with rain showers.  We have received close to eight inches of rain this fall.  We are still far behind in our annual rainfall, but you have to start somewhere.

More rain is expected even this week.  Sunday and Monday have high chances of rain as more fronts sweep through the area.  We could not be more happy.  Our rye grass is growing.  Its rich green color is such a beautiful sight in the midst of the gray and browns of the surrounding area.

After this next rain, we are going to put our calves that are being finished for beef on this pasture.  They will think we let them into a candy store.  With proper rotation and management, we will hopefully be able to resume our usual pasture rotation program.  We are very excited about that prospect.

Things are looking up this winter.  As we continue to count our blessings, our hearts are filled with gratitude for the recent rain and the protection we enjoyed throughout this year.  We know from whom all are blessings come and we thank God for them.

In the midst of an exceptional drought, Cross Creek Cattle Company is thankful for the rain we have gotten. We are thankful that we have not been driven out of business.

With the cost of hay rising through the roof, we are thankful for securing our needs at a relatively good price. We are thankful for all the friends and neighbors, who sent us names and phone numbers of possible hay suppliers.

We are thankful for our customers. Without you, we would not be in business. We especially thank our repeat customers and those that refer others to us. We greatly appreciate you. As the person who writes, speaks, and meets with our customers, I can honestly say that it has been a pleasure meeting with you at the ranch. I love to hear your stories and meet your families.

Cross Creek Cattle Company is thankful for the attention in the press it has received this year. Thank you, Dr. Ward Bond, for committing a large portion of your show, Think Natural, to focus not only on grass fed beef, but our ranch in particular. Thank you, Shauna Lewis, for writing about our business in the Bryan Eagle. And, thank you Beefmaster Breeders United for getting the word out.

I was jumping up and down Tuesday afternoon because I was so thankful for the rain.  The Good Lord blessed us with 3.5″ of rain!  The ground soaked up as much as it could and the rest ran off into the creeks and ponds.  The water level in our big lake rose about 4 feet.  It was such a beautiful sight watching the precipitation fall to the ground.  Now our rye grass will really take off.

Family is so important to us at Cross Creek Cattle Company.  We are thankful for each other.  Our family wants to extend warm holiday wishes to yours.  Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Alton Brown, host of Good Eats on the Food Network, prefers grass fed beef to grain fed beef.  As usual, he presents his argument in a humorous way.  Enjoy this clip as Alton explains why he loves the texture and flavor of grass fed beef.

If you have never tasted the true flavor and texture of beef, there is no time like the present.  Cross Creek Cattle Company is still harvesting beef.  Please contact Lara DeHaven, our Business Manager, today.  Her phone number is 936-870-5798 or her email address is lndehaven@aol.com.

Rye Grass is Growing!!

Last week, I so enjoyed sharing with you the blessing of rain on our newly planted winter grass seed.  Since then, I put out one more bag of seed in the smaller pens used to finish our grass fed beef calves.  Even though there was no chance of rain in the forecast, it rained that night giving us an additional 1/10 of an inch.  Early Tuesday morning, it rained again a little.  My husband and I are now in the process of watching the grass sprout and grow.  It is an exciting time for us.  Apparently we are easily entertained!

It just goes to show how important grass is for us.  Many people don’t seem to understand the implications of a drought like the one we are experiencing.  To them they just have to water their yard more often.  Grass in any form is life-sustaining for our herd, our horses, and the wild animals.   Of course, grass directly affects our livelihood of raising and selling grass fed beef.  We have to have grass.

Another form of grass that we needed was hay.  We had some already put up in the barn, but we did not have enough to make it through the winter.  We still needed to acquire over 200 round bales.

Prices on hay have gone through the roof.  Every day that passed, as my husband spent hours on the phone and internet trying to find hay, the prices kept going up.  In fact, one of the last people my husband spoke with wanted $145.00 a bale.   Yes, $145.00 a bale!  That is obscene.

Last week I asked for any tips that would allow us to find the amount of hay we needed for a reasonable price.  We had been praying about this source of grass for our herd as well.  I am happy to announce that we secured a source for all of our hay needs.  Already an 18-wheeler has brought us the first load.  The great news is that the price quoted to us before they brought out the hay was about less than half what the last person wanted.

When Lane asked for the amount owed, the driver shaved off some of the delivery fee.  Needless to say, we were thrilled with the decrease in price.  Most of all we are thrilled and thankful with God’s provision for us as winter is soon to be approaching.  After the summer we have had, it feels like nothing short of a miracle.  And, I just wanted to share this true story with you.

In addition, the first cold front of the season blew in this week.  We put on light jackets and stayed outdoors just to relish in the cold wind.  After a record-breaking summer with day after day temperatures soaring to well over 100 degrees, the gusty wind and cool temperature is completely refreshing.  Everyone was feeling good.  The horses frolicked, the dogs acted like puppies, and the calves played in the pastures.  Everything seemed to feel younger.

God is sending rain at the perfect times.  The rye grass is growing in the pastures.  Our hay needs are secured for a good price in today’s market.  We are finally getting relief from the heat.  All just in the nick of time as the first cold front blew through our area.  Praise God, who gives exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20)!