Southern Ohio farm offers beef for sale during national shortage

News of the temporary closures of meat processing plants around the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic has left some store shelves empty and some people looking for alternative ways to stock their freezers and feed their families.

One local farm owner said the issue is not the amount of cattle available but is an issue of limited ability to process cattle. As production slows because of plant workers testing positive for COVID-19 it is creating shortages in some areas of the country.

“Local butcher shops also are seeing an increase in demand,” said Dr. Stephen Walker, owner of Double Shoe Ranch in South Point, Ohio. “We have steers available but appointments for slaughter are now into July.”

Walker began promoting his grass-fed beef for sale this year and has seen a surge in interest and sales. With a background in chemistry and veterinary medicine, he and his family have worked for more than 75 years to perfect their herd as well as their process to produce some of the best tasting, lowest fat, healthy beef available today.

“We want to be proud of what we produce,” Walker said. “That is what drives us to look at every step of production and make it the best it can be.”

Although the price for beef is rising nationally, Walker continues to offer his grass-fed beef at a reasonable cost and at nearly grain-fed prices. Orders of whole beef, half beef, quarter beef and eighth beef are available to reserve at https://doubleshoeranch.com/beef-for-sale/.

Double Shoe Ranch, located in the foothills of Southern Ohio, was started by the Walker family in 1943. What began on just 65 acres has grown into what now is nearly 1,000 acres of owned and leased land used to foster an exceptional herd of cattle. Find out more at https://doubleshoeranch.com/ and follow them on Facebook at @doubleshoeranch.

Huntington In Bloom brightens city during COVID-19 pandemic

Every spring, the streets of Huntington come alive with bright flower pots and hanging baskets lining the streets of downtown. This year, while the ‘how’ and ‘when’ may have changed, the streets will still be filled with blooming flowers once again. 

Huntington in Bloom plans to start planting flowers again the first week of June but due to the ongoing pandemic, and the risk of volunteers contracting the virus in a group setting, volunteers will not be used to plant this year. Instead, two local landscaping businesses have stepped up to complete the work.

“The Huntington in Bloom tradition brightens Huntington every year,” said Mayor Steve Williams. “During such a difficult time to many – this is a simple way to uplift spirits and show that we are and will be open for business.”

Also, for the second year, Goodwill Industries has agreed to provide watering services. A new watering truck was purchased prior to the pandemic and will eventually be wrapped in the HIB logo.

Due to the closure of so many downtown businesses, and the number of people in the community affected by COVID-19, the “Adopt a Pot” fundraiser has been canceled this year, but donations are always accepted on our website www.huntingtoninbloom.org. 

Huntington in Bloom (HIB) is part of the City of Huntington, West Virginia and a fund of the Foundation for the Tri-State Community. A local volunteer organization, HIB was founded in 2013 to improve the quality of life in Huntington, promote community involvement and unity, and identify opportunities for improvement. HIB is responsible for the city’s year-round, seasonal decorations.