A lot of people in the area are excited, that’s what I’ve been hearing. That’s good to hear. I’m excited for that too.”

Matt Derks

Things will soon be more convenient for Derks Farms Beef in Boyd. A new building is being constructed for the beef operation that will soon house a processing area and a retail storefront. Construction by Schneider Construction began in August and the new building, soon to be known as Derks Meats, is expected to be completed in early 2024. The 50x66 building will include a processing room, slaughter room, cooler and freezer section, and a retail area. The outside area will have a porch awning and a cattle pen in the back.

Matt Derks, co-owner of Derks Farms Beef, is excited for the extra time the new building will provide. “It will save me an hour and ten minutes every day on the road,” he said referencing the distance it takes him to drive to Big Mike’s Meats in Augusta where their beef is currently processed and then the additional time for extra product handling. After the new construction is complete, Derks Meats will then process their own beef that will be supplied in their new retail area. They also plan to eventually offer processing to customers as well.

Owned by Steven, Matt, and Greg Derks, Derks Farms Beef began in February of 2020 and has been a local favorite since the beginning. Their excellent tasting, quality meat is due to the “grass fed, corn finished” cattle raised on the local Derks Farm located in Boyd which was bought by Steve and Cindy in 1979 as a dairy farm, before they transitioned to strictly cattle in 2020.

“We don’t do hormones, no added hormones. We don’t implant them or anything for growth. I guess we feel that gets us a better carcass. We get better marbling and more prime that way,” Matt Derks explained and shared that the beef operation only uses cattle directly from Derks Farms Beef. The current storefront, where the beef products are sold, is located in a portion of the garage on the farm and is open from 8-5 Monday through Friday and Saturdays from 8 to 12 where they sell products including, 1 lb. packages of beef for $5.00 per lb., half pound packs of beef jerky for $13.00 and half pound packs or regular beer sticks for $8.00, to name a few. Currently Derks Farms Beef also supplies to Debbie’s on Broadway and Martino’s in Stanley, Hill House in Boyd, Longshot at Miller Dam, and Mi Mi Café, a Vietnamese food truck in Eau Claire.  Derks Farms Beef also plans to be a part of the Winter Market located at the Brewing Project in Eau Claire beginning on November 12th of this year. After the completion of the new building, Derks Farms Beef will transition to Derks Meats and will be owned by Steven and Cindy Derks, Matt and Jodi Derks, and Greg Derks. In the summer, customers will be able to find Derks Meats products at various farmer’s markets in Eau Claire and the surrounding areas, in addition to the retail store in Boyd.

Derks is encouraged by the good feedback he has received about the new building construction. “A lot of people in the area are excited, that’s what I’ve been hearing. That’s good to hear. I’m excited for that too,” Derks stated.

For more information or to purchase from Derks Meats, go to derksfarmsbeef.square.site or follow them on Facebook at Derks Farms Beef.