The vision behind Washtenaw Meats is fourfold:
- Establish connections that have been previously lacking between Southeast Michigan livestock producers
- Help small Southeast Michigan livestock producers secure regular, quality, local USDA and custom-exempt processing options for their livestock
- Partner with other small Southeast Michigan livestock producers to market products to consumers, retailers, and wholesalers in our area, which strengthens the local meat supply chain
- Educate Southeast Michigan consumers on the value and quality of locally produced meat products
Our Story
Washtenaw Meats started after two women farmers managing small farms and large families started collaborating on a number of projects. These experiences proved overwhelmingly positive as they allowed each woman’s individual farm to grow and operate more efficiently.
It became clear that the endeavors of raising animals, processing animals, direct marketing, accounting, etc., are extremely complicated for one person or family to undertake independently.
So… these women began to dream up a way for small community farms to reconnect and created Washtenaw Meats.
Washtenaw Meats, LLC is collectively owned and operated by Sarah Schloss of nkidsfarm and Colleen Dauw of Dancer Creek Farm. We partner with other local farms in order to reinvigorate the small livestock system in Southeast Michigan.
By working together, we strengthen area farmers and processors while bringing high quality, nutritious, safe, and humanely raised meat products to households, restaurants, and stores.
We are farmers working together to feed our community.
Sarah Schloss, nkidsfarm
With my husband Pat and our nine children, we run a pasture-based mixed livestock farm in Dexter, @nkidsfarm. We breed heritage Hereford hogs and Polypay sheep, and we raise pastured meat chickens and turkeys. We love farming and raising our kids in the country. We are excited about the future of small farming in SE Michigan. There are a lot of great things in the works!
Colleen Dauw, Dancer Creek Farm
With my husband Casey and our seven kids, I have been raising livestock in Dexter for almost 10 years. We recently transitioned to a centennial farm which has not had animals on it for many years. We have high hopes to add grazing animals back to the land where they belong, and continue the tradition of raising children who are connected to the land and their food source.