STEP1.

CHOOSE YOUR SHARE

NEED FREEZER SPACE? WE UNDERSTAND. START WITH A BUNDLE.

80/20 Ground Beef Bundle - $145.00 ($7.25/LB.) - 20 vacuum-sealed 1 lb. pkgs. Buy now.

STEP2.

REQUEST YOUR SHARE

STEP3.

RECEIVE YOUR SHARE

WHY COWPOOL?

Cowpool™ offers a distinctive avenue to connect directly with cattle producers — a cost-effective alternative to mass-produced meat from big packers and retailers. By purchasing from family farmers and ranchers, you promote a higher quality of life for the livestock and support responsible land stewardship. Our Cowpool™ isn't just about any beef — it's about sharing sustainably and humanely raised beef from a trusted source like rancher Mike Callicrate. Through his natural meat company, Ranch Foods Direct, the aim is to create a business that benefits both ranchers and consumers, ensuring unparalleled quality, wholesomeness, eating satisfaction, and a mutually rewarding relationship of trust and responsibility between ranchers and customers.

Cowpool™ Provides

On Site HarvestingRanch Foods Direct offers a distinctive approach by ensuring humane slaughter directly where the animals are raised. This eliminates the need for transporting live animals, reducing stress and preserving the quality of the meat.

Support LocalAs our food system becomes more industrialized, the origins and contents of our food become increasingly obscure. A multinational monopolistic agribusiness dominates distribution and retail, distancing us from family farmers and ranchers and promoting unhealthy, processed foods.With Cowpool™, you'll enjoy delicious meals while championing responsible land and livestock management and the communities they support.

In recognition of his tireless efforts, Mike has received prestigious accolades such as the "Westerner of the Year" award from Western Ranchers Beef Cooperative, the inaugural Legacy Award from the Kansas Cattlemen’s Association, and the Carl L. King Distinguished Service Award from the American Corn Growers Association.Mike has also served as an advisor for acclaimed films like Food Inc. and FRESH, and his insights have been featured in notable books such as The Omnivore’s Dilemma and Fast Food Nation. He is widely regarded as the foremost authority on understanding the adverse effects of modern trends in the meat industry.

"Pasture-to-Plate" Protocol

Our approach to animal management prioritizes both effectiveness and compassion, minimizing stress and preventing disease without the need for sub-therapeutic antibiotics. Through sustainable herd management practices and the exclusion of growth-promoting steroids or hormones, our beef not only boasts superior tenderness but also richer flavor profiles.In addition to our careful husbandry practices, our commitment to quality extends to every aspect of our process. Our younger cattle yield naturally tender beef, reducing the need for artificial tenderization methods. Furthermore, our animals undergo slow and safe slaughter practices, ensuring their welfare until the very end. By shortening the distance from pasture to plate through direct connections with customers, we guarantee fresh and responsibly sourced meat labeled proudly as "Born and Raised in the USA." With an aging process of two to three weeks, our beef reaches its peak tenderness and flavor, delivering an exceptional dining experience.STEP 1: The Ranch - Callicrate Cattle Co
STEP 2: The Harvest - On Site Harvesting
STEP 3: The Processing - Ranch Foods Direct
STEP 4: The Freezer - You!
STEP 5: The Plate - You!Our "Pasture-to-Plate" process is fully transparent, allowing you to trace every step from the ranch to your table. You're invited to visit us anytime, as our operation stands as one of the few remaining fully owned and openly sourced processes in the United States.

OURS vs. THEIRS

Cowpool™ refers to sharing beef, but we’re not talking just any beef. The Cowpool™ program will distribute sustainably and humanely raised beef from a source you can trust, in this case, rancher Mike Callicrate. At his natural meat company Ranch Foods Direct, the goal is to foster a business that benefits both ranchers and consumers, with processing and distribution systems that assure incomparable quality, wholesomeness, eating satisfaction, and a mutually rewarding relationship of trust and responsibility between the rancher and the customer.

A STORY

A presentation at Rocky Mountains Farmer Union in association with The Humane Society of the United States at the Meeting of the Markets Summit on October 15th 2012.

“What you support prospers, what you feed grows” – Mike Callicrate