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!
Employee Spotlight: Melody LeViner
While the weather has us looking inward, it’s the perfect time to continue our Employee Spotlight series. In Pasture Posts #255 we featured Jay, and today we’re excited to introduce you to Melody LeViner, a vital part of the Watson Farms team.
If you’ve stepped into our on-farm store, you’ve seen Melody’s passion in action. She loves “playing store”—from stocking the shelves to creatively displaying new items and making signs that help our customers find exactly what they need. For Melody, working here is about more than just retail; it’s about creativity and community.
We asked Melody a few questions to help you get to know her better:
The “Hidden Gem” Recommendation
We asked Melody what “must-try” product she recommends to first-time shoppers.
“My favorite cut in the store is the Filet Mignon, but the ‘hidden gem’ that doesn’t get enough attention is the Pork Filet. Because it’s a filet, it’s just as tender as the beef version and comes as a whole tenderloin so it can be grilled or baked and then sliced. It’s juicy and has its own flavor personality, plus it has its own heart health benefits!”
The Art and Science of the Pasture
Since joining the team, Melody says she has learned that regenerative farming is as much an art as it is a science.
“When you see the animals out on pasture, they aren’t just on grass that grew on its own. Where they dine is meticulously planned and sown according to the time of year and the age of the animal. I can even see the animals’ own satisfaction and happiness when I watch them. They are cared for with love!”
Connection Over “Big Corp”
Melody lives just a few miles down the road and says she’s found a sense of belonging here that you just can’t find in the corporate world.
“I feel a kinship to this family that cannot be felt working for big corp. My favorite part of interacting with customers is finding out where they are from and what brings them here. I love learning about people, whether they are first-timers or long-timers.”
Creativity and Conversation
When she isn’t in the store, Melody loves visiting the animals. She says the cows offer a “peaceful curiosity” while the pigs offer “good conversation and a laugh.” She even takes photos of them to make up captions for their “sass and grand personalities.”
We are so grateful for Melody’s integrity and the creativity she brings to Watson Farms every day.
Stay warm, stay safe, and enjoy the peace that a quiet, icy Sunday can bring. We look forward to seeing you at the farm (once the ice melts!) and serving your family with the best 100% grass-fed beef, pastured pork, and chicken.
Overstock Blowout: Stock Your Freezer and Save
While you’re hunkered down inside today, it’s a great time to do some digital “pantry” stocking for the weeks ahead. We are currently running an Overstock Blowout Sale on select items that have been in our freezer for a little while.
As a working farm, we occasionally need to clear out some of our aging inventory to make room for the fresh beef, pork, and chicken constantly coming in from our pastures. To help move these items quickly, we’ve marked them down significantly—with savings ranging from 25% to 50% off! These are the same 100% grass-fed and pastured products you know and love, just at a price that makes it easy to fill your freezer for the next winter freeze.
Shop the Overstock Blowout Sale Here
Quantities are limited to what’s on hand, so be sure to grab your favorites before they’re gone!
Check out this ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review from Joe:
“What a great product and great people. We had been kicking around the idea of buying local, better quality meat for a long time. I’m so glad we decided to make the move. Watson Farms does a tremendous job throughout the whole process. They always answer all our questions, provide great updates on orders and deliveries and the quality of the product is superb. We even took our girls (4 and 2) on the farm tour and we all enjoyed it. It’s so great knowing where our meat comes from and the time and attention they put into their whole operation. We have been a customer for about 2 years and will be continuing to order our meat from Watson Farms. We just got our 1/4 beef today and can’t wait to dig in!!”
We would greatly appreciate it if you would be kind enough to leave us a review. It helps first-time customers purchase with confidence.
Shipping Timeline and Store Hours
UPS Orders (all orders ship with insulation and dry ice):
UPS orders normally ship out on Mondays – Wednesdays. (Weather permitting)
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.
Farm Store & Pickup Hours: (Weather permitting)
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10:00am – 6:00pm
- Saturday: 10:00am – 2:00pm
- Wednesday & Sunday: Closed
Farm Store Address: 713 Colony Road, Chester, SC 29706
Tell a Friend!
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!
