“My cows only have 1 bad day” — My trip to Thousand Hills Cattle Co.

A few years ago, I read Michael Pollan’s book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma. Many of us did, right?

For me, it completely changed my relationship to food. For the first time, I understood food as something more than what you find in a box in the grocery store. I started to see the bigger picture. A story about the land, about people, about business and about health.

I learned so much from that book that it has become for me, one of those quintessential books that you look back on as a catalyst moment. A manifesto for change.  I’m still learning and still trying to write the next chapter of my food story so it’s healthier than the last.

Nonetheless, one of the most impacting narratives I gleaned from Pollan’s book is the need to switch to pasture-raised, grass-fed beef. Conventional, Industrial, Corn-fed beef is killing me. The cholesterol. The weight… Sure, I could cut out meat entirely, but, I’ve tried that several times, and it’s just not going to last for me. So, now, I’m more concerned with eating the best possible meat. I’m not going to go into the laundry list of reasons as to why it’s important to not eat grain-fed meat, maybe you should pick up the Omnivore’s Dilemma, or scan the net for some info of your own to learn more about that. But, I will advocate for it. I will continue to work toward making all the food we eat in the Scheller house more just, more natural, more in line with nature’s intent.

100% Grass-fed Cows.

I recently ventured about an hour out of Minneapolis to Canon Falls, MN, home of Thousand Hills Cattle Co. (THCC)

At THCC, the cattle eat grass, only grass. And THCC wants you to come see their cows. 

They’ve been having monthly Open Houses at THCC over the last few months.

Essentially, you go to the main office, hear from Todd Churchill, the founder of THCC. You snack on some of the product. Make a visit to the processing plant and watch the animals get processed. And then end the tour with a visit to the cows. A visit to the land. A visit to the eco-system that provides the healthiest meat you can buy.

I loved the tour. Even the killing floor at the processor. I like the story, oddly….Mrs cow grows up in green pastures. Not force-fed with grain that makes it sick. Takes proper time to grow and put a little meat on her bones (ahem). Then as Todd says, “My cows only have 1 bad day.” And that’s her trip to the processor.

After the tour, I placed an order for some heart healthy red meat. Yum.