Here’s the weekly roundup from Watson Farms and your direct connection to your farmer. Enjoy the latest edition of Pasture Posts!
🌿 A Dash of Patience Paid Off: The Cattle are Out!
If you remember from Pasture Posts #260, we were playing a bit of a “waiting game.” We spent time looking over our winter annual pastures—that beautiful mix of ryegrass and triticale—and as much as we (and the cattle) wanted to jump the gun, we had to wait for the ground to be just right to avoid “pugging” and damaging the soil.
The wait is officially over.
The cattle have finally been turned out onto that lush, vibrant green forage, and to say they are enjoying it would be an understatement. There is a certain “spring energy” in the air when the herd hits a fresh, nutrient-dense pasture for the first time after a long winter. We captured some great photos of them soaking up the sun and the ryegrass, which we’ve included below! This high-quality forage is exactly what allows us to produce the 100% grass-fed and finished beef you’ve come to expect from Watson Farms.
Here’s the weekly roundup from Watson Farms and your direct connection to your farmer. Enjoy the latest edition of Pasture Posts!
Hey everyone,
It’s been a record-breaking few weeks here in Lowrys. Our fulfillment team has been very busy trying to keep up with one of the highest volumes of orders we’ve seen in a long time, thanks to our recent event. If you’ve been eyeing those freezer-stockers, don’t wait too long—our Overstock Blowout Sale officially ends tonight at midnight!
Amid all the bustle lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about why we do what we do. You’ve probably noticed that “farm-to-table” has become a big business. Everywhere you look, there’s a new subscription box or a “digital market” promising local food with the click of a button. In many ways, that’s a win—it means more people are waking up to the importance of how their food is raised.
But as these services grow, I think it’s important to talk about what “local” and “direct” really mean to us at Watson Farms.
The Power of a Direct Connection
When you receive a box from us, it isn’t coming from a third-party warehouse or a corporate food hub. It’s coming from a family-run operation. We aren’t just “curating” items to fill a slot in a delivery schedule; we are stewards of the land and the animals.
There is a level of accountability that only exists when the person selling the meat is the same person who checked the fences this morning.
Why We Work with Our Neighbors
While we raise a large portion of our beef right here on our home pastures, keeping up with the support from families across the Eastern US means we also partner with a handful of like-minded producers in our region.
We are very selective about this. These aren’t just “suppliers”—they are neighbors and friends who follow the Watson Farms way:
Our Beef is 100% grass-fed and grass-finished (no grain, ever).
Daily Rotation (when weather permits)
No Feedlots
No Hormones
No Routine Antibiotics
Total Transparency in how every animal is treated.
By working together, we aren’t just filling boxes; we are helping more family farms stay on the land and ensuring that you get a consistent, high-quality product every single time you order.
Here’s the weekly roundup from Watson Farms and your direct connection to your farmer. Enjoy the latest edition of Pasture Posts!
The Waiting Game
Abby, Noah, and I spent some time in the past couple days looking over the cattle and the winter annual pastures. If you’ve driven down the driveway to the Farm Store lately, you’ve probably noticed the field to your right. That mix of ryegrass and triticale has done wonderfully this winter, and it is clearly sensing that the days are getting longer. It’s responding with a level of vibrancy and vigor that we haven’t seen in months.
While that high-sugar grass is “popping” and ready for the herd, we’ve decided to hold the line for just a couple more days.
With a good bit of rain forecast for Sunday, the risk of “pugging” the ground—tearing up the soil and damaging the root systems we’ve worked so hard to build—is just too high. It takes a bit of discipline to look at that lush grass and tell the cattle “not yet,” but protecting the land is a priority. They’ll get that first taste of spring energy very soon.
The Winter “Secret Sauce” (Stored Forage Recipe)
Until we turn them out, the herd is enjoying our refined winter forage recipe. This is truly a “full circle” moment on the farm. If you remember back in September (Pasture Posts #237), we were working hard in the heat to put up the haylage we are feeding right now.
This winter, we’ve improved the mix by transitioning to a higher percentage of dry oat hay. Oat hay is a powerhouse for grass-fed cattle; it is highly digestible and provides a significant boost in energy and protein compared to standard grass hays. This helps the cattle maintain their condition even when the temperatures drop.
However, there’s a catch. When we run this high-quality oat hay through the bale processor to chop it for better digestion, it creates a lot of “fines” and can be quite dusty. To protect the cattle’s respiratory systems and make the meal more palatable, we’ve started adding about 100 gallons of water to every load.
It’s a simple addition that makes a world of difference. The moisture knocks down the dust and makes the forage much easier for them to eat—so much so that they don’t have to trudge over to the water tank nearly as often to wash it down.
Just as the cattle are eagerly waiting for their spring grass, we know many of you have been waiting for the right time to restock the freezer.
The Overstock Blowout Sale is still rolling, but we are likely entering the final stages of these discounts. This past week, we added NY Strip steaks to the sale, including a NY Strip Bundle of 30 steaks for the very first time. At roughly 25% off our retail prices, this is one of the best values we’ve offered on one of our most popular cuts.
In addition to the Overstock event, we have several of our larger bundles currently on sale as well. If you are looking to truly stock up, check out the Beef Family Bundle, the 1/8 Beef Bundle, and the Quarter Beef Bundle.
Because we have currently run out of Filet Mignon, these bundles are looking a little different than usual. To make up for the lack of Filets, we have added extra NY Strip and Ribeye to these bundles. It’s a great opportunity to get even more of those premium steakhouse cuts in your freezer at a discounted price.
Now is the time to act before these supplies run low and we wrap up the blowout event. Whether you’re grabbing individual NY Strip steaks, the new 30-steak bundle, or one of our larger bulk options, we appreciate you choosing to support our family farm.
“This was my first time ordering and it was a great experience. Everything came packaged safely and frozen! I am trying to support locally and buy higher quality food, this was the best opportunity to do so. I will be purchasing again soon 🙂 Thank you!”
We would greatly appreciate it if you would be kind enough to leave us a review. It helps first-time customers purchase with confidence.
UPS Orders (all orders ship with insulation and dry ice):
UPS orders normally ship out on Mondays – Wednesdays.
Tracking: As usual, you will receive an automated email with a tracking link as soon as your order leaves the farm.
Farm Pickup (Always Free!):
If you are local, Farm Pickup is often the fastest way to get your products. Please wait until you receive an email stating that your order is Ready for Pickup (typically 1 business day after your order is placed) before heading over.
It’s now easier than ever to Give $15 and Get $15 through our Referral Program. We don’t spend a lot of money of advertising, but rather we focus on producing products that people love and are willing to tell others about. So we depend on word of mouth to find new customers and ultimately to heal more land.
So in an effort to streamline this process we have made it easier to tell others (via email, Facebook, or Twitter) about Watson Farms. And it’s all automated on the backend, so you don’t have to rely on us to issue the store credits manually. Just head over to our Referrals Page and start sharing!
Thanks again for being partners in this endeavor of local, pasture-raised proteins that has truly transformed our farm. We look forward to continuing this transition while serving you long into the future.
Here’s the weekly roundup from Watson Farms and your direct connection to your farmer. Enjoy the latest edition of Pasture Posts!
The snow earlier this week kept us busy, but our new barn upfit proved its worth by keeping the cattle warm and dry. If you missed the footage of the farm in the thick of the winter weather, you can catch the snowstorm highlights here and our update here.
With the storm behind us, we’re moving straight to the big news: a long-awaited program is finally back.
The Return of Subscribe and Save
If you’ve been with us for a few years, you might remember our Subscribe and Save program. We eventually had to hit the pause button on it to refine our logistics, but after plenty of work behind the scenes, we are thrilled to announce that it is officially back.
We wanted to make this as impactful as possible for your budget. We’ve selected several of our most popular bundles to kick things off. When you choose a subscription interval rather than a one-time purchase, you’ll receive an additional 5% savings. The “kicker” here is that this 5% discount is applied on top of the savings already built into the bundle price. It’s our way of rewarding the folks who make our pastured meats a consistent part of their lifestyle.
While you’re setting up your recurring orders, don’t miss the Overstock Blowout Sale. We are continuing to manage our inventory to make room for the busy spring season, and we’ve just added several high-demand items to the list.
If you’re looking to stock the freezer with clean, nutrient-dense protein at a significant discount, now is the time. We have select items marked down 25% to 50% off while supplies last, including:
These prices are only available as long as we have the stock on hand, and they’ve been moving fast. You can find the full list of sale items right here.
Whether it’s the peace of mind that comes with a recurring subscription or grabbing a great deal on our overstock blowout, our goal remains the same: providing your family with 100% grass-fed beef and pastured poultry that you can trust, no matter what the weather looks like.
We’re grateful for the opportunity to be your farmers. We hope to see you at the farm store soon or see your order come through the website!
To your health,
The Watson Farms Team
Check out this ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review from Jonathan:
“We are absolutely loving our food that we ordered from Watson Farms! The speed of delivery was AMAZING!!! Plus the meat is so good! I have recommend Watson Farms to all of my co-workers!”
We would greatly appreciate it if you would be kind enough to leave us a review. It helps first-time customers purchase with confidence.
UPS Orders (all orders ship with insulation and dry ice):
UPS orders normally ship out on Mondays – Wednesdays.
Tracking: As usual, you will receive an automated email with a tracking link as soon as your order leaves the farm.
Farm Pickup (Always Free!):
If you are local, Farm Pickup is often the fastest way to get your products. Please wait until you receive an email stating that your order is Ready for Pickup (typically 1 business day after your order is placed) before heading over.
It’s now easier than ever to Give $15 and Get $15 through our Referral Program. We don’t spend a lot of money of advertising, but rather we focus on producing products that people love and are willing to tell others about. So we depend on word of mouth to find new customers and ultimately to heal more land.
So in an effort to streamline this process we have made it easier to tell others (via email, Facebook, or Twitter) about Watson Farms. And it’s all automated on the backend, so you don’t have to rely on us to issue the store credits manually. Just head over to our Referrals Page and start sharing!
Thanks again for being partners in this endeavor of local, pasture-raised proteins that has truly transformed our farm. We look forward to continuing this transition while serving you long into the future.
Here’s the weekly roundup from Watson Farms and your direct connection to your farmer. Enjoy the latest edition of Pasture Posts!
Hi everyone,
With the snow piling up and temperatures dropping to frigid levels here in Lowrys, the daily rhythm on the farm has shifted into high gear. While much of the Carolinas has been blanketed with snow, our priority remains the comfort and health of our livestock.
In this week’s video edition of Pasture Posts, we wanted to take you behind the scenes to show you exactly how we’re keeping the cattle and pigs warm, dry, and well-fed during this storm. From our newly repurposed loafing shed for the cattle to the specialized windbreaks and bedding for the pigs, you’ll see the extra steps we take to ensure our animals thrive even when the pastures are white.
Here’s the weekly roundup from Watson Farms and your direct connection to your farmer. Enjoy the latest edition of Pasture Posts!
Icy Mornings and New Purposes for Old Barns
A Frozen Sunday Morning
Hey farm friends!
As you read this today, you might be listening to the sound of sleet and freezing rain hitting the roof. The winter storm we’ve been bracing for all week is officially here.
While ice storms always bring a bit of anxiety to a farm, we feel much better about the livestock this time around. We spent a good portion of this past week putting the finishing touches on a project that has been a long time coming. We’ve been working to convert one of our former turkey barns into a sturdy winter shelter for our cattle.
If you followed our Transition Series about our move away from the turkey business, you’ll be glad to know that these structures are being put to excellent use. Inside one of the barns, the cattle now have access to frost-free water and deep straw bedding and can come and go from the pasture as they choose. Best of all, they can stay completely out of the ice and wind instead of having to hunker down under a cedar tree. Seeing them comfortable and dry on a morning like this makes all the hard work of the last week worth it.
Shipping & Store Updates: With the roads in their current state, we will be monitoring UPS service alerts closely. Since all our shipping is handled by UPS, any weather-related transit delays will depend on their operations, and we’ll keep you updated via email. We’ll also post any changes to farm store hours and shipping schedules on social media and the announcement bar at the top of the website. Please stay safe and off the roads if you can!
Here’s the weekly roundup from Watson Farms and your direct connection to your farmer. Enjoy the latest edition of Pasture Posts!
The “Safety Gap” in Industrial Beef
Howdy from the Farm!
This week on the farm, we’ve been talking a lot about the “invisible” side of food safety. While we spend our days moving fences and checking water troughs, there is a complex biological world happening inside our cattle that directly impacts the safety of the meat on your dinner table.
I wanted to share some fascinating insights that our Farm Store Manager, Melody LeViner, shared on social media earlier this week. It perfectly highlights why our commitment to 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef isn’t just about better flavor—it’s about a fundamentally different safety profile.
Understanding the “Safety Gap”
Cattle are natural grazers, designed to thrive on forage. In the industrial food system, cattle are switched to a heavy grain-based diet to speed up growth. This changes their internal chemistry, creating what we call the Safety Gap.
The Grain Effect
In a grain-fed system, the starch ferments quickly, causing a major Acidity Spike in the cow’s rumen (stomach).
The “Training Ground”: Most bacteria die in high-acid environments. However, E. coli is incredibly adaptable. In an acidic gut, E. coli “trains” to become acid-resistant.
The Gap: When these “tough” bacteria enter the human food chain, they are already primed to survive the high acidity of the human stomach. Because they aren’t killed off by our natural digestive defenses, the risk of infection is much higher.
The Grass-Fed Difference
Cattle fed primarily on hay or grass maintain a more neutral pH in their digestive tract. Because their gut environment isn’t an “acid bath,” any E. coli present doesn’t develop that dangerous acid resistance.
The Result: The bacteria from a grass-fed ruminant animal are much more likely to be neutralized by your own body’s natural defenses. That is the Safety Gap—and grass-fed beef puts the odds back in your favor.
Industrial Systems Are More Likely to Have Industrial-Sized Recalls
We don’t just look at the biology; we look at the results. When you look at the national beef recalls over the past 10 years, the vulnerability of the industrial system becomes clear.
While the official “pounds recalled” number for 2025 was low at 2,855 pounds, that number excludes several massive Public Health Alerts. For example, in June 2025, a nationwide alert was issued for organic ground beef sold at Whole Foods. Because the product was already past its “use-by” date, the USDA didn’t count it in the formal “recalled poundage” statistics—even though the risk to consumers was just as high.
Our Promise: Defeating the “Numbers Game”
At Watson Farms, safety isn’t just about the diet; it’s about the scale.
Industrial recalls often involve hundreds of thousands of pounds because massive regional hubs mix meat from hundreds of different animals into a single batch. This creates a dangerous “numbers game.” If just one grain-fed animal has acid-resistant E. coli, it contaminates the entire industrial run.
We choose a different path:
Small-Batch Processing: We use smaller, family-owned processing plants. By keeping batches small and separate, we eliminate the risk of one animal contaminating a massive supply chain.
Transparent Chain of Custody: We know exactly which animals are in which batch. There is no “mixing with the masses.”
100% Grass-Finished: We never take the shortcut of grain-finishing, ensuring the “Safety Gap” remains closed for your family.
Stock Up with the Pasture Pair Bundle
If you want to take the guesswork out of the grocery store and fill your freezer with beef you can trust, we’ve made it easier than ever.
We recently launched our Pasture Pair Bundle—it’s the perfect way to get a steady supply of our 100% grass-fed beef alongside our pastured poultry. It’s designed for families who want to bridge the “Safety Gap” and enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing your farmers and their methods.
Thank you for trusting us with your family’s table.
Stay Healthy,
Matt Watson and the Watson Farms Team
Ready to secure your supply of wholesome, small-batch meats?
“So glad to find Watson Farms locally. I am beyond pleased with the meat…! I have tried several farm meat delivery services and find myself wondering why the taste and quality seems to be no better than mass produced grocery store product. Then I found Watson Farms and the difference is obvious and amazing! The two steaks I ordered were the freshest, most tender steaks I’ve had in a very long time…! Also, the chicken is very tender and juicy. Difference is like night and day! I’m signed up for a subscription box! I highly recommend 👍!”
We would greatly appreciate it if you would be kind enough to leave us a review. It helps first-time customers purchase with confidence.
UPS Orders (all orders ship with insulation and dry ice):
UPS orders normally ship out on Mondays – Wednesdays.
Tracking: As usual, you will receive an automated email with a tracking link as soon as your order leaves the farm.
Farm Pickup (Always Free!):
If you are local, Farm Pickup is often the fastest way to get your products. Please wait until you receive an email stating that your order is Ready for Pickup (typically 1 business day after your order is placed) before heading over.
It’s now easier than ever to Give $15 and Get $15 through our Referral Program. We don’t spend a lot of money of advertising, but rather we focus on producing products that people love and are willing to tell others about. So we depend on word of mouth to find new customers and ultimately to heal more land.
So in an effort to streamline this process we have made it easier to tell others (via email, Facebook, or Twitter) about Watson Farms. And it’s all automated on the backend, so you don’t have to rely on us to issue the store credits manually. Just head over to our Referrals Page and start sharing!
Thanks again for being partners in this endeavor of local, pasture-raised proteins that has truly transformed our farm. We look forward to continuing this transition while serving you long into the future.
Here’s the weekly roundup from Watson Farms and your direct connection to your farmer. Enjoy the latest edition of Pasture Posts!
Dinner at the Farm and Meeting the “Tetris Master” 📦
Last night, the lights stayed on a little later at the farm, but for a very different reason than usual. Our team gathered together for a Team Member Dinner—a chance for us to step away from the daily bustle of the fulfillment room, the pastures, and the store to simply enjoy each other’s company.
It was a full house! Kelly and I were joined by our parents, Alan and Kathy and Gary and June, along with Jay and his wife, our fulfillment manager Daniel and his wife, and Melody (who you likely recognize from the store and our social media) and her husband. We traded our work boots for a seat at the table to share a Greek-inspired feast: Greek chicken, lemon dill rice, a fresh Greek salad, hummus with naan, plenty of Tzatziki, and a light lemon mousse to finish it off.
These moments of fellowship are what make Watson Farms feel like a family, and it’s that same spirit of community we strive to pass along to you in every order we ship.
Speaking of the team, today we are officially launching our Employee Spotlight series! We want to introduce you to the hardworking folks who make sure your steaks, chicken, and pork arrive frozen, secure, and ready for your family dinner.
First up is a face (and a set of hands) many of you have benefited from over the last seven months: Jay Franklin, our Fulfillment Specialist. We sat down with Jay to get the “inside scoop” on what it’s like to manage thousands of pounds of meat and why he treats every box like it’s heading to his own family.
The Basics
Name: Jay Franklin
Job Title: Order Fulfillment Specialist
Time at Watson Farms: 7 Months
Behind the Scenes: The Freezer & The Fulfillment Room
Here’s the weekly roundup from Watson Farms and your direct connection to your farmer. Enjoy the latest edition of Pasture Posts!
Hard Choices for a Healthy Farm Leads to a Bright 2026 🚜
Happy New Year, Farm Family!
As we stand at the threshold of 2026, I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting on the past twelve months. If I had to sum up 2025 in a single word, it would be Resilience.
It was a year of incredible growth, but it was also a year where we had to make some hard calls. Today, I want to pull back the curtain on why those changes happened and show you how they’ve prepared us to serve you even better in the year ahead.
The Heart of What We Do
When I look back at the highlights of the year, one moment stands out: mid-summer, turning the herd into a fresh 23-acre paddock of lush Pearl Millet.
This video captures the “why” behind Watson Farms. You can see the 100+ head of cattle moving onto tender forage, the shade structures we built from recycled equipment, and the clean water system we’ve worked so hard to install. This is 100% grass-finishing in action—no pens, no grain, and no shortcuts.
Facing the Economic Storm: Hard Choices for a Sustainable Future
Staying true to this mission of transparency and sustainability required us to take a hard look at where we were spending our energy and resources. This led to two major shifts that I know were big adjustments for our long-time customers:
Discontinuing the Pastured Egg Enterprise: We know this was a hard change to swallow. However, it was a necessary pivot to ensure our farm remains sustainable. By narrowing our focus to our core strengths—100% grass-fed beef, pastured pork, and pastured chicken—we have better positioned ourselves to serve you with the highest quality meat possible.
Restructuring Shipping and Delivery: Transitioning our delivery structures was another significant change. While it altered the way some of you receive your orders, it has allowed us to become more efficient and reliable, ensuring that our products reach your doorstep in peak condition without the overhead that threatened our farm’s stability.
Most importantly, these changes keep the farm profitable. At the end of the day, profitability is what ensures this land stays in production and allows the next generation to continue this mission one day.
A High-Energy Start to 2026
If this past week’s “Fill the Freezer” in-store special was an indicator of what 2026 will be like, then we’re looking forward to a great year.
We had a huge response, and I want to say a sincere thank you to everyone who came out to Lowrys to shop with us. Seeing the store that busy and meeting so many of you in person was a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. If that response was a preview of the year ahead, we are ready to hit the ground running.
Here’s the weekly roundup from Watson Farms and your direct connection to your farmer. Enjoy the latest edition of Pasture Posts!
The 2026 Protein Reset: Fueling Your Goals with Integrity
Dear Friends,
As the calendar turns to 2026, many of us are looking at our plates with fresh eyes. Whether it’s a resolution to feel more energetic, a commitment to a clean-eating protocol, or simply a desire to cut out the “fillers” we consume, the New Year always brings a sense of a “reset.”
But here at Watson Farms, we’ve noticed a trend. Every January, the “Big Food” marketing machine kicks into high gear. They’ll try to sell you highly processed “health” shakes, synthetic bars, and meat with labels that require a law degree to decode.
We believe there’s a better way to reset. It doesn’t involve a lab; it involves a pasture.
Clean Fuel for a Focused Year
When we talk about a “Protein Reset,” we’re talking about returning to the basics. Your body doesn’t just need protein; it needs bioavailable nutrition that hasn’t been compromised by grain-finishing or industrial shortcuts.
Here is why 100% grass-fed beef and pastured pork and poultry are the ultimate “fuel” for your 2026 goals:
