Where are you based? +
Prole, Iowa, in Warren County. Our processor — Maxwell Custom Beef — is about 15 minutes away in Des Moines, IA.
Who runs the operation? +
Dan Brownlee, owner and operator of B & D Ag Enterprises, LLC. He grew up helping his dad on the farm and has run his own operation since 1994. Reservations and orders go through Shannon Micek, our sales manager. The decisions you read about on this site are made by the people doing the work.
Are you certified organic? +
No. We're hormone-free, antibiotic-free, raised under roof, and bred from our own genetics — but we don't carry the USDA Organic certification, which has specific feed-source requirements that don't match our current setup.
How long does a share last? +
A whole feeds a family of four for a year, a half feeds 2–4, a quarter feeds two for 6–12 months, an eighth feeds 1–2 for 4–6 months. Beef holds well in a properly-set freezer for 12–18 months.
Can two households split a half? +
That's effectively two quarters. Just have each person reserve a quarter share.
What if I want a share bigger than whole? +
Multiple wholes are doable in a single harvest window if we have the inventory — contact us before reserving so we can confirm.
Do you have a rewards or subscription program? +
Yes — we're rolling out a repeat-customer rewards program. Reserve now and you'll be first in line for member perks and priority harvest windows as it launches. Want in? Mention it when you reserve or drop us a note.
Where do I pick up? +
Maxwell Custom Beef in Des Moines, IA. We assign a 2–3 day pickup window per harvest. Prefer delivery? It's available for an added charge.
Can you ship? +
Not today. Pickup at Maxwell Custom Beef in Des Moines, or delivery for an added charge. Our roadmap includes a Cumming, IA retail store and a Florida outlet — see Pickup & Delivery.
What if I can't make my pickup window? +
Reach out before the window. The locker can hold your beef for a short period; for longer holds, we can sometimes arrange storage at the farm. Don't ghost the window — beef left uncollected becomes our problem fast.
How is the price calculated? +
Hanging weight (lbs) × $7.49 per lb, with processing at Maxwell Custom Beef included. Your 60% holding fee and two follow-up payments cover that total — there's no separate locker bill.
What do I pay to reserve? +
A holding fee of 60% of the low end of your share's price range: $3,370.50 for a whole, $1,685.25 for a half, $844.87 for a quarter, or $211.22 for an eighth. Once hanging weight is confirmed, the rest of your total comes in two equal payments. Every dollar counts toward your final total; nothing is a separate fee.
Can I pay over time? +
Yes. Beyond the standard 60%-plus-two-payments plan, you can split any share or bundle box into smaller installments with Klarna or Afterpay. You'll choose your plan when we send your invoice.
Do you accept EBT/SNAP? +
We're working on EBT/SNAP approval. If that applies to you, contact us and we'll handle case-by-case while approval lands.
Refunds and cancellations? +
See our refund policy. Short version: your holding fee is refundable up to the harvest window cutoff date; after cutoff it covers our committed costs.
Can I customize the cut sheet? +
Yes — for whole, half, and quarter shares. Eighths come as a curated bundle.
What's the default if I don't customize? +
Standard cut: 1" steaks, 3-lb roasts, 80/20 ground in 1-lb packages, soup bones included. See the Cut Sheet Guide.
What about organ meats? +
Liver, heart, tongue, kidneys, oxtail are all available — just say so on the cut sheet. Free of charge.
Do you sell pork or lamb? +
Seasonally — typically around the holidays. We work with two partner farmers who raise their pork and lamb to the same standard we hold ourselves to. Reach out if interested.
What about chicken? +
Not at this time.