Wessel Ranch Beef

Beef Raised Close to Home

Wessel Ranch offers customers the opportunity to purchase a whole, half, quarter, or eighth share of a live beef animal before processing.

This arrangement allows you to know where your beef comes from, choose an amount that fits your household, and have your share processed according to your preferred cutting instructions.

Our direct-to-consumer beef program is handled by Cody Wessel, who will guide you through availability, reservations, ownership, processing, cutting instructions, payment, and pickup or delivery arrangements.

Available Beef Shares

Depending on availability, customers may purchase:

• A whole beef

• A half beef

• A quarter beef

• An eighth beef

*Depending on availability we may be able to offer custom share amounts (ie. three-quarter, thirds, etc.) please contact us if you are interested

An eighth share can be a practical option for smaller households, first-time buyers, or customers who do not have enough freezer space for a larger share.

Because the beef is processed under the custom-exempt system, each customer purchases ownership of their share of the live animal before slaughter. The live animal remains at Wessel Ranch while it is raised and finished. The packaged beef is then delivered or released to its owner after processing.

Availability is limited and varies throughout the year.

How Our Cattle Are Raised and Finished

Wessel Ranch cattle are born and raised on our family ranch near Lavina, Montana.

Our calves are typically born during March and April. They remain with their mothers through the grazing season before beginning the next stage of their growth and finishing program around the beginning of December.

Beef reserved before our annual first Friday in November deadline is sorted from the group before the remaining calves are marketed. The reserved animal then remains at Wessel Ranch while it continues growing and finishing.

Most reserved beef will be ready for processing during the late summer or fall of the following year, depending on the animal’s age, growth, condition, desired finish, processor availability, and customer requests.

Because customers are reserving an animal that may still be a young calf, the process takes time. Raising properly finished beef cannot be rushed without sacrificing the result.

Customers may request that an animal be kept and finished longer. Additional feed, care, and management costs may apply when an animal is held beyond its normal processing timeframe.

Grain-Finished by Default

Wessel Ranch beef is typically grain finished.

We choose grain finishing because it consistently produces the tenderness, marbling, flavor, and overall eating quality we want to provide our customers.

Our cattle are not kept in cramped conditions. They have ample room to move and continue to have access to hay and grass while receiving a carefully managed grain ration.

Animal care remains a priority throughout the feeding process.

Cody Wessel is Beef Quality Assurance certified. Beef Quality Assurance training emphasizes responsible cattle handling, proper animal care, safe treatment practices, accurate records, and a commitment to raising wholesome, high-quality beef.

Grass Finishing Available Upon Request

Although we typically grain-finish our beef, we are happy to discuss a grass-finished option upon request.

Grass finishing generally requires additional time and depends heavily on forage quality, season, weather, animal genetics, and available grazing conditions.

Customers should understand that grass-finished beef may be leaner and may not provide the same degree of marbling, tenderness, consistency, or flavor commonly associated with properly grain-finished beef.

Additional feed, management, or extended-care charges may apply depending on the requested arrangement.

Please contact us before reserving your beef if you are interested in grass finishing so we can determine whether the request can reasonably be accommodated.

Annual Reservation Timeline

Reservations Before November

Customers interested in reserving an entire animal or a particular share are strongly encouraged to contact us before November each year.

At the end of November, Wessel Ranch normally markets the calves that have not been retained for breeding or reserved for direct beef customers.

If you reserve a beef share before that deadline, we will sort and retain the appropriate animal before the rest of the group is shipped.

A calf reserved before November will generally continue growing and finishing until it is ready for processing in the late summer or fall of the following year.

Reservations After November

Customers may still contact us after November.

We may have:

• Unreserved shares available

• Part of a previously reserved animal still available

• An entire finished or developing animal available

• A cancellation that creates an opening

• An animal that can be retained from another group

However, after the November deadline, we cannot guarantee that an entire beef or every share size will be available for the current production cycle.

When in doubt, contact us. We are happy to check current availability and discuss what may still be possible.

How the Process Works

1. Contact Wessel Ranch

Contact Cody Wessel to ask about current availability, upcoming processing dates, estimated timing, share sizes, pricing, finishing options, and delivery arrangements.

Photos of available cattle can be provided by text upon request before you reserve or finalize your purchase.

Photos are provided for general reference. The animal’s final live weight, hanging weight, packaged yield, finish, and exact processing date cannot be guaranteed from a photograph.

2. Choose Your Share

Choose a whole, half, quarter, or eighth share based on your household’s needs and available freezer space.

3. Reserve Your Beef

If a future beef or share has not yet been reserved by another customer, you may secure it with a reservation deposit.

Reservation Deposits (Standard Pricing):

• Whole Beef: $775

• Half Beef: $415

• Quarter Beef: $260

• Eighth Beef: $155

Customers who pay by cash, check, or ACH receive a discount, reducing the reservation deposits to:

• Whole Beef: $750

• Half Beef: $400

• Quarter Beef: $250

• Eighth Beef: $150

Your reservation deposit holds your requested share and helps cover the cost of retaining, feeding, scheduling, and managing the animal for your order.

Your deposit is applied toward your final Wessel Ranch purchase price and is not an additional charge.

For example, if an eighth share has an estimated Wessel Ranch price of $675 and you have already paid a $155 reservation deposit, your estimated remaining Wessel Ranch balance would be $520, plus processing and any applicable delivery, shipping, or special-request charges.

Customers paying by cash, check, or ACH receive a discount, making the estimated Wessel Ranch price $650. With a $150 reservation deposit, the estimated remaining Wessel Ranch balance would be $500, plus processing and any applicable delivery, shipping, or special-request charges.

Cancellation and refund terms are explained below, and will be again before the reservation is accepted.

The remaining balance must be paid in full before the finished beef is released, delivered, shipped, or picked up.

4. Purchase Your Share Before Processing

You purchase ownership of your share of the live animal before it is slaughtered.

This step is important because custom-exempt processing is available only for the owner or owners of the animal.

The animal remains at Wessel Ranch while it is raised, managed, and transported for processing.

5. Select Your Cuts

You will be able to provide cutting instructions for your share.

Depending on the processor’s available options, you may select preferences for items such as:

• Steak thickness

• Number of steaks per package

• Roast sizes

• Ground-beef package sizes

• Hamburger patties

• Soup bones

• Short ribs

• Brisket

• Organ meat

• Other available cuts

We will gladly help explain the process if this is your first time completing a beef cutting order.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

We understand that circumstances can change. However, reserving a beef share requires Wessel Ranch to retain, feed, manage, and schedule an animal specifically for the customer.

The following cancellation policy applies unless different terms are agreed to in writing:

• Before Wessel Ranch has confirmed that an animal or share has been specifically retained for the customer: The reservation deposit may be refunded in full. For reservations made during the normal annual cycle, this will generally be before November.

• After Wessel Ranch has confirmed that an animal or share has been specifically retained for the customer: The deposit becomes nonrefundable because Wessel Ranch has committed cattle, feed, time, and processing availability to the order.

• After the animal has been delivered for slaughter, slaughtered, or processed under the customer’s ownership: The customer remains responsible for the full amount due, including applicable processing and special-request charges. At this point, custom-exempt beef cannot legally be resold, traded, bartered, or donated.

• Failure to make final payment or receive the beef as arranged does not automatically cancel the customer’s financial responsibility. Storage, redelivery, transportation, or other costs resulting from delayed pickup or nonpayment may be charged to the customer.

If Wessel Ranch must cancel an order because we cannot provide the reserved beef, the customer will receive a full refund of all amounts paid to Wessel Ranch.

Emergency and hardship situations may be considered individually, but exceptions are not guaranteed and must be approved by Wessel Ranch in writing.

Ground-Beef Preference

Our standard ground-beef blend is approximately 80% lean and 20% fat, commonly written as 80/20.

We choose this as the default because it provides good flavor, moisture, and versatility for burgers, meatloaf, tacos, casseroles, and other everyday meals.

Customers may request a leaner or richer ground-beef blend when the available trim and processor’s capabilities allow it.

Because the natural amount of lean meat and fat varies between animals, an exact blend may not always be possible. Requests should be submitted with the customer’s cutting instructions before processing.

Processing and Aging

Unless another processor is requested and approved in advance, Wessel Ranch delivers the animal to:

Ryan Grocery and Processing, Inc.
Jordan, Montana

Ryan Processing provides custom slaughter and processing services and packages each owner’s beef according to the submitted cutting instructions.

Customers may request another qualified processor for an additional fee. Alternative arrangements depend on scheduling, distance, livestock transportation, processor availability, and applicable legal requirements. Additional transportation costs are the buyer’s responsibility unless otherwise agreed.

Dry Aging

Wessel Ranch typically requests that beef hang for at least 14 days before cutting and wrapping.

We believe 14 or more days of properly controlled aging generally provides the best balance of tenderness, flavor development, and yield.

Customers may request a shorter or longer aging period. However:

• The processor must approve and have space for the request

• Longer aging may increase weight loss from moisture evaporation and trimming

• Longer aging may involve additional processing or storage charges

• Shorter aging may produce a less tender result

• Exact aging time may be affected by scheduling and processor policies

Please discuss special aging requests with Wessel Ranch before the animal is delivered for processing.

Typical Processing Turnaround

Customers should generally plan for their beef to be ready approximately three to four weeks after slaughter.

This estimate includes:

• At least 14 days of hanging time

• Cutting and trimming

• Grinding

• Wrapping and labeling

• Freezing

• Processor scheduling

This is an estimate rather than a guaranteed deadline. Actual timing depends on aging requests, cutting instructions, processor workload, equipment, holidays, weather, and other circumstances outside Wessel Ranch’s control.

Receive Your Beef

After processing is complete, arrangements will be made for you to receive your packaged beef.

The two pickup options provided at no additional charge are:

Wessel Ranch
590 Anderson Road
Lavina, Montana 59046

Ryan Grocery and Processing, Inc.
8 Processor Lane
Jordan, Montana 59337

Customers picking up at Ryan Processing must contact Wessel Ranch before arriving.

Other arrangements may include:

• Delivery by Wessel Ranch

• Meeting at an agreed location

• Shipping, where available and legally permitted

• Another arrangement approved in advance

All delivery, transportation, packaging, and shipping expenses are the buyer’s responsibility unless otherwise stated in writing.

Shipping must be arranged in advance and depends on destination, carrier availability, temperature, packaging requirements, cost, and applicable laws.

What Does “Custom Exempt” Mean?

Custom-exempt processing allows the owner of a live animal to have that animal slaughtered and processed for private use.

The word “exempt” does not mean that the processing facility is unregulated, unlicensed, unsafe, or never inspected.

Custom-exempt facilities in Montana must meet applicable sanitation, facility, recordkeeping, labeling, and humane-handling requirements. They receive an initial facility inspection and are subject to additional inspections and audits by the Montana Department of Livestock.

These inspections help verify that the facility follows required food-safety, sanitation, humane-handling, and operating practices.

However, custom-exempt processing differs from state- or federally inspected commercial processing in one important way:

A government inspector is not continuously present to inspect each individual animal and carcass during slaughter.

Because the beef is processed for the animal’s owner rather than for commercial retail sale, each package will be marked:

NOT FOR SALE

Custom exempt does not mean careless or unsafe. It means the beef is processed for the private use of its legal owner under a different inspection category than meat produced for retail commerce.

Who May Use the Beef?

Custom-exempt beef is intended for the personal use of:

• The owner of the animal share

• Members of the owner’s household

• The owner’s nonpaying guests

The packaged beef cannot legally be resold, traded, bartered, or donated after processing.

Customers are purchasing a share of a live animal before slaughter—not purchasing individual retail packages of meat afterward.

Restaurants and Commercial Customers

Beef processed under the custom exemption cannot be resold or served by a restaurant.

However, restaurants, caterers, food trucks, retailers, and other commercial customers are welcome to contact Wessel Ranch.

We may be able to arrange for cattle to be processed through an appropriately inspected facility so the resulting beef can legally be sold, prepared, or served to customers.

Commercial arrangements depend on animal availability, processing capacity, inspection requirements, transportation, pricing, and applicable state and federal laws.

If your restaurant or business is interested in purchasing Wessel Ranch beef, please contact us so we can discuss your needs and develop a legally compliant processing and purchasing plan.

Can Customers Live Outside Montana?

Customers may contact us from any state.

Because this program involves ownership of a live animal, custom-exempt processing, transportation, and meat labeled “Not for Sale,” arrangements for customers outside Montana must be reviewed individually.

The customer is responsible for following any laws that apply to transporting, shipping, possessing, or receiving custom-exempt beef in their home state.

Shipping or interstate delivery cannot be guaranteed and will only be arranged where legally permitted.

We will review the proposed arrangements and applicable laws before accepting an out-of-state order.

Choosing the Right Share

Wessel Ranch beef animals are generally expected to weigh approximately 1,300 pounds or more when finished, although every animal is different.

Final hanging weight and packaged yield depend on factors such as:

• The animal’s finished live weight

• Dressing percentage

• Carcass weight

• Aging time

• Bone-in or boneless selections

• The amount of trimming requested

• Steak and roast selections

• Ground-beef preferences

• Whether organs, bones, and specialty cuts are retained

A 1,300-pound finished steer may produce approximately 780 to 830 pounds of hanging carcass weight. The amount of packaged beef will be lower after aging, deboning, trimming, and cutting.

These figures are planning estimates only and are not guaranteed.

Recommended Freezer Space

Customers should have their freezer ready before the expected pickup date.

As a general planning guide, we recommend approximately:

• Whole beef: 16–20 cubic feet

• Half beef: 8–10 cubic feet

• Quarter beef: 4–5 cubic feet

• Eighth beef: 2–3 cubic feet

An upright freezer may require more listed capacity than a chest freezer because shelving and interior layout can reduce usable space.

Customers who want substantial room for other food should choose a larger freezer than the minimum estimate.

Exact packaged weights and freezer-space requirements cannot be guaranteed in advance.

Pricing and Payment

Current Pricing

Our standard price is $6.75 per pound of hanging weight, plus processing.

Customers who pay by cash, check, or ACH receive a $0.25 per pound discount, reducing the price to $6.50 per pound of hanging weight, plus processing.

What is hanging weight?

Hanging weight is the weight of the carcass after slaughter and initial dressing, but before aging, cutting, trimming, and packaging.

For example, if a finished animal has an 800-pound hanging weight:

• Whole Beef: Approximately $5,400 standard ($5,200 with cash, check, or ACH), plus processing

• Half Beef: Approximately $2,700 standard ($2,600 with cash, check, or ACH), plus processing

• Quarter Beef: Approximately $1,350 standard ($1,300 with cash, check, or ACH), plus processing

• Eighth Beef: Approximately $675 standard ($650 with cash, check, or ACH), plus processing

Final pricing is based on the animal's actual hanging weight and any applicable processing, delivery, shipping, or special-request charges.

Separate Processing Charges

Processing charges may include:

• Slaughter

• Cutting and wrapping

• Grinding

• Patties or specialty products

• Additional aging

• Special packaging

• Other processor services

Processing charges may be paid directly to the processor or handled according to the arrangements explained when the order is placed.

Other Possible Charges

Additional charges may apply for:

• Requested extended feeding

• Grass-finishing arrangements

• Use of a different processor

• Additional livestock transportation

• Delivery

• Insulated packaging

• Dry ice or other frozen-shipping materials

• Carrier charges

• Special handling

All expected charges will be discussed before the customer commits to a share.

Final Payment

The remaining balance must be paid in full before the beef is released, delivered, shipped, or picked up.

Because final hanging weight and processing charges are unknown until processing, preliminary estimates are not guaranteed final prices.

Estimates Are Not Guarantees

Every weight, yield, price, date, timeframe, freezer-space recommendation, feed estimate, processing estimate, and other number shown on this page is provided only as a general planning estimate.

Actual results and charges may be higher or lower and may differ substantially from the examples provided.

Cattle are living animals, and no two animals grow, finish, dress, age, or yield exactly the same. Final figures may be affected by live weight, carcass weight, weather, feed costs, animal performance, processor schedules, aging time, cutting instructions, trimming, transportation, delivery, shipping, and other circumstances.

No number on this page is exact or guaranteed unless Wessel Ranch specifically provides that guarantee to the customer in writing.

Current pricing, deposits, fees, availability, policies, and timelines should always be confirmed with Wessel Ranch before placing an order.

Pickup, Delivery, and Shipping

Free Pickup

The free pickup options are:

Wessel Ranch
590 Anderson Road
Lavina, Montana 59046

Ryan Grocery and Processing, Inc.
8 Processor Lane
Jordan, Montana 59337

Contact Wessel Ranch before arriving at either location so your order and pickup arrangements can be confirmed.

Delivery

Delivery may be available upon request.

Availability and cost depend on distance, scheduling, fuel, order size, temperature, and other transportation requirements.

Any delivery expense is the buyer’s responsibility unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Shipping

Shipping may be available upon request where legally permitted.

The buyer is responsible for all shipping-related costs, including:

• Insulated packaging

• Coolant materials

• Carrier charges

• Required special handling

• Any other shipping expenses

Shipping prices can be substantial, particularly for larger shares, and must be quoted individually.

Wessel Ranch cannot guarantee that shipping will be available to every address or state.

A New Program Built on Generations of Ranching

Wessel Ranch is not new to raising cattle, but our organized direct-to-consumer beef-share program is still developing.

We are committed to providing honest information, treating customers fairly, caring properly for the cattle, and improving the program as we gain experience.

There may occasionally be scheduling changes, processing delays, availability changes, or other road bumps as the program grows.

We appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding, and we encourage you to contact us whenever you have a question or special request.

We cannot promise that every request will be possible, but we are happy to consider reasonable accommodations and explain the available options.

Why Buy a Wessel Ranch Beef Share?

Buying a Wessel Ranch beef share allows customers to:

• Know which ranch raised their beef

• Purchase directly from a local cattle producer

• Choose a whole, half, quarter, or eighth share

• Select cuts that fit their household

• Stock the freezer in one purchase

• Receive grain-finished beef selected for eating quality

• Request grass finishing when practical

• Choose a preferred ground-beef blend when possible

• Request customized cutting instructions

• Ask questions directly

• Better understand how their food is raised and processed

• Support a family-owned Montana ranch

We believe customers deserve honest information about where their beef comes from, how the cattle are cared for, and how the custom-processing system works.

Ready to Reserve a Beef Share?

Contact Cody Wessel for current availability, photos, pricing, processing dates, reservations, finishing options, and ordering information.

When in doubt, please reach out. We are happy to explain the process and check whether your request can be accommodated.

Call or text:
+1 (406) 530-7089

Email:
beef@wesselranch.com

Whole, half, quarter, and eighth shares are offered as availability allows.

As mentioned at the beginning, custom share sizes may be available - Contact Us!

Customers seeking an entire beef or a particular share size are encouraged to make reservations before November.

Important Notice

Wessel Ranch sells ownership shares of live cattle before slaughter. Beef processed under the custom exemption is marked “Not for Sale” and is intended only for the animal owner, the owner’s household, and nonpaying guests.

It cannot legally be resold, traded, bartered, or donated.

A deposit may be used to reserve an upcoming share, but all remaining amounts must be paid in full before the finished beef is released, delivered, shipped, or picked up.

Wessel Ranch and Ryan Processing pickup are the only free fulfillment options. Delivery, transportation, and shipping are offered only when available, legally permitted, and paid for by the buyer.

Live weights, hanging weights, packaged yields, processing dates, finishing dates, aging periods, and prices discussed before processing are estimates unless specifically guaranteed in writing.

Processing arrangements, pricing, availability, transportation, shipping, and applicable requirements may change. Customers will receive the current details before purchasing a share.

Our beef comes from cattle raised using responsible management practices. Cody is Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Certified and applies those principles throughout his work on the ranch. 

All numbers appearing anywhere on this page are estimates only and are not exact or guaranteed. Actual weights, yields, prices, costs, dates, timelines, and freezer requirements may vary.