Wisconsin Hosts Regional Workshops on Direct Beef Sales

By Blake Jackson

Wisconsin farmers who currently sell beef directly to consumers or are thinking about getting started will have several opportunities to learn more through a series of regional workshops scheduled over the coming months.

These events are organized by the Wisconsin Beef Council in partnership with the Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors, UW-Madison Division of Extension, and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture.

The workshops are designed to connect beef producers with fellow direct marketers and local meat processors, offering both classroom instruction and hands-on learning. Each session will begin with an educational program and conclude with a visit to a nearby processing facility for a live carcass cutting demonstration, giving participants a clearer understanding of how beef moves from farm to consumer.

Workshop dates and locations include:

• February 25 - Plum City: Morning session at the American Legion, followed by an afternoon demonstration at JM Watkins in Maiden Rock.
• March 6 - Viroqua: Morning session at the Sheriff’s Office Training Room, with an afternoon visit to Nordik Meats.
• March 11 - Kaukauna: Morning session at the Grand Stay Hotel, followed by an afternoon demonstration at Haen Meats.
• March 17 - Clinton: Morning session at Boxcars, with an afternoon session at Country Pride Meats.

Check-in for pre-registered participants begins at 9:15 a.m., and the program starts promptly at 9:45 a.m. Lunch will be provided at noon, with the workshops concluding by 2:30 p.m.

Topics covered will include practical marketing tools, licensing and labeling regulations, understanding consumer expectations, strengthening farmer processor relationships, online sales considerations, and a detailed carcass fabrication demonstration.

Registration costs $25 per person, and attendance is limited to 30 participants per location. Interested producers can register by calling 1-800-728-2333 or visiting beeftips.com/directmarketing.

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