Community Supports Family Raising Beef

Becky Mills
Contributing Editor

HOPE MILLS, N.C. (DTN) -- On Feb. 19, 2024, Ryan Kennedy sat in his idling Case IH Patriot 3300 spray rig at the intersection of Chicken Foot and Canady Pond roads. The two-lane country roads have turned into commuter central for nearby Fayetteville, North Carolina. While he was cussing under his breath, Kennedy had an epiphany. "This, this is where we need to put the meat market."

Spoken like a true farmer, he added, "We already owned the land but it's sandy and doesn't grow anything. The irrigator doesn't reach this far."

Kennedy and his sister, Paige Smart, had already decided to put a shed and a freezer or two at their Hope Mills, North Carolina, farm shop and let customers serve themselves on the honor system. Neighbors had been eyeing the steers and heifers in their custom grazing enterprise and asked to buy beef.

GOOD TIMING

Their timing couldn't have been better. Between the sour outlook on corn and soybeans, as well as houses eating up their leased crop land, they were looking for an enterprise to replace their row crops.

They had already arranged delivery for the shell of a used storage building, they just had to change the address. On March 1, it was in place. By Memorial Day, S&K Farm Market was open.

"We have that same mindset. Whenever we decide something, it's a go, 100%," said Kennedy.

HARD WORK LEADS TO RESULTS

More accurately, after hours and hours of work put in by the two of them, and David Kennedy -- their father and major support system -- and around $50,000 to $60,000, it was ready. "We'd have a quarter million dollars in that place if we had hired somebody to come in and do all the work," said Kennedy.

Even with their speedy startup, the two had a well-thought-out business plan. Still, there were surprises.

OVERACHIEVERS

"Our goal, when we sat down and decided to do this, was to process 20 beeves in a calendar year," said Smart. By February 2025, she added, "We're on target to do 65. It's way more than we expected."

STICKER SHOCK

Those extra head came with a surprise. With custom grazing, Smart said, "We didn't keep up with the cattle market whatsoever because we got paid per pound of gain. So, when we took our crisp little contract grazing money and bought cattle so we could start our market, I was shocked." In early 2024, they paid $2.05 a pound for 950 lb. grass-finished heifers and $2.15 a pound for 1,100 lb. steers.

Kennedy added, "We raised 150 cows and bought 20."

OVERNIGHT SUCCESS

Kennedy and Smart used the money from their hay business for starter bucks. While it would be simple to say they've already paid themselves back, that's not the whole story. "It took us about four months, but we reinvested the money back into expansion and we just did it again," said Smart. Their February addition to the original storage shed is their third so far.

DIVERSIFICATION ROCKS

A far cry from their original plan of a couple of freezers in a storage shed, the duo now stock pasture-raised pork, eggs, milk, ice cream and butter from a dairy/creamery, home-baked goods, gourmet snacks and high-end skin care products. Almost all are produced within 150 miles of their market and Kennedy estimated most are made within 10 miles.

"Another thing that is really working for us is tallow," said Smart. "There is a huge market for it in skin care." They get it from their processor in 3- to 5-pound vacuum-sealed packs. "I sell it for $6 a pound and can make another $120 per beef. Anytime you can use more of that hanging weight, you're really increasing your profitability."

The profit from the extra products pays their hefty electric bill; the cost of running coolers and freezers isn't cheap, and pays Trever Ivey, an entrepreneurial-minded, home-school student who helps in the market.

PEOPLE PLEASING

It isn't all profits and unicorn dust. While Smart and Kennedy don't dwell on the negatives, they recounted the tale of a woman who staked out their market on opening day. Parked at the gas station across the highway, she posted on the community Facebook page that there were no tents and no farmers present and accused them of false advertising. Kennedy reported, "The community came for her. The support for us has been amazing."

Smart added, "The community has been awesome."

While they expected to run into the occasional testy customer, Smart has been taken back by a vendor or two. "Some definitely take more hand-holding than others."

While she can laugh about it now, at the time it wasn't at all funny. Two of their vendors with similar products absolutely detest each other. On a cold January day, when snow was moving in and Smart and her father were struggling to put up temporary fence so they could move the cattle to fresh forage, she got a call from one of the vendors who reported their rival's product was touching hers. "That's a conversation I expect from my 2-and 3-year olds," said Smart.

FINISHED -- OR NOT

While they were putting the finishing touches on their newest addition, Smart and Kennedy insisted they're done with expansion. With 400 acres available, they're maxed out with 240 head of contract cattle and 60 of their own.

"We are very pleasantly surprised at how things shook out," said Smart. "But we're done with expansion."

However, there is the 5-acre tract they're clearing, so they can grow vegetables to add to their product mix.

"Since we don't have anything else to do ..." Kennedy just joked.

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