Eastern Iowa Farmer Fall 2021

growing local
financial experts to make sure everyone
was on the same page.
Their biggest hurdle came in the summer
of 2020 when they started looking for
building sites. Initially the family thought
they’d put the plant on their farm, which
would make it convenient for trucking.
After looking into it more, however,
they realized that managing the water
flow necessary to run a processing plant
would not be possible with their current
situation. Thus, they started shopping for
locations in Clinton and Jackson counties.
Andrew and his father looked at close
to 10 locations, narrowing the field to
three options before setting on the industrial
park near the rail tracks in Camanche.
This location not only had a viable
water source, but it also offered them
the opportunity to create their plant with
enough space to eventually grow beyond
their initial 50-head-per-day estimates and
gave them extra room for a retail shop on
site to sell their branded products.
The family officially broke ground on
the new facility in June with a ceremony
that included a visit from Iowa Gov. Kim
Reynolds, who talked about the importance
of continuing to bring agricultural
jobs to the state and about filling a niche
in the meat processing market.
On a national level, the meat packing
industry is controlled by four major
players who control prices in such a way
that leaves producers with little room for
profit.
“It has long been a frustration for us
as producers to not be paid well for our
cattle,” Naeve said. “We produce a higher
quality meat product than cattle in other
parts of the country, but that is not being
taken into consideration. With our own
brand, we will be able to highlight this
quality and pass it on to local customers
who know the difference in Iowa fed
beef.”
Naeve’s plan is to initially process 50
head of cattle per day, of which about half
will come from their own yards. The rest
will be contracted through other producers
who already have a branded product.
Different customization packages will
be offered, and meat will be cut to order
based on the customization selected.
Long term, the Naeve family would
like to expand processing to 100 head
per day and eventually use all their own
cattle, which means more than doubling
their current finishing operation.
“This is not going to happen overnight;
it is more like a 10-year plan. Right now,
our priority is developing a high-caliber
product on a small scale,” he said.
To do this, the Naeves will start by
bringing in cheaper cattle to train their
workers and themselves and then sell the
meat, mostly hamburger in the beginning,
to an established distributor.
“Our goal is to open the plant in
January, but with the way things go with
construction, we know it could take until
closer to March of 2022. We do not plan
to have our retail shop up and going until
at least June because we want plenty of
time to do quality control and train our
workers.”
The hiring of managerial staff has already
started, but Naeve is a little worried
about finding enough workers to fill the
STRUTTING OUR STUFF FOR 54 YEARS
WE RAISE OUR OWN FLOCKS OF BIRDS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GET THE BEST OF ALL BIRDS
Pictured: Owner Etta
Culver and Marie Forret
in the Schlecht Hatchery’s
incubating and hatching
room.
Chickens
Ducks
Eggs
Turkeys
Geese
Schlecht Farm & Hatchery
PH. 563-682-7865
9749 500TH AVENUE
MILES, IOWA 52064
Hatchery Hours :
Monday - Friday 7:30-4:30
Saturday - By appointment only
Closed Sundays
schlechthatchery.com
2017
Award Recipient
Farmer of
the Year
IN
JACKSON COUNTY
eifarmer.com Fall 2021 | Eastern Iowa Farmer 87
EasternIowaFarmer_Fall2021.indd 87
9/15/21 10:25 am