Farming, But Make it Indie

We’re pretty independent over here at Diestel Family Ranch. (If you didn’t know already, just ask our parents—they’ll tell you they knew as soon as we started “redecorating” our walls with crayon.)

But independence is more than an attribute. It’s a commitment to a way of doing business—and it’s a commitment to you! No, we’re not just stubborn; here’s why we won’t do anything any way but our way.

First things first.

Why independent farming? 

Well, as if a burning desire not to be told what to do by the marketing departments of massive corporations wasn’t reason enough, it all pretty much boils down to this: 

Inherently, independent farming means increased transparency. 

An independent farm is pretty much guaranteed to be a smaller farm, so you, as the consumer, have greater access to the people who run the business. Guaranteed to be smaller, so you, as a consumer, have greater access to the people who actually run the business. Like me. Seriously, say hey sometime at [email protected]. (Even if literally all you want to say is “Hey.”)

Transparency means increased quality. 

Independent farms’ strength isn’t quantity. It’s quality. More often than not, you’ll get better products out of independent farms because they’re usually smaller. We have to compete differently than huge food companies might, which means our priority really can be on raising mouthwateringly delicious birds, not a staggering number of birds. When it comes to eating—and I never would’ve guessed I’d say it—but in this case: less really is more. 

Double quality all across the sky.

With independent farms, not only do you get better products, but you get better practices, too. We can tell you how we raise our birds because… well, we actually know. 

Our head of marketing (aka Heidi Diestel—that’s me!) isn’t sitting in some big fancy office in a big city. I’m just a stone’s throw away from our birds. (But no, I’d never throw that stone. Remember? Thoughtfully Raised.)  

That means we can guarantee you that we do indeed care about our animals and always, always champion transparency. It’s better for our birds, for us, and for you. 

Simply put, our values come first—quality over quantity.

Sus-tran-stain-abili-cy. (That’s “transparency” meets “sustainability”)

Ever wonder what happens to the rest of the bird when you buy “turkey breast” lunch meat? We do.

Because we raise the turkey ourselves, we feel the responsibility to find a way to use the rest of it. It’s our way of respecting that animal, and it also prevents food waste—after all, we can’t just be a sandwich company. 

In the spirit of full transparency, it’s worth saying (even though our marketing guy is going to kill me. Oh, wait…): 

Larger brands aren’t necessarily bad, but they do require making a choice.

Let’s face it: You’re not going to get the same quality out of a corporation that’s producing millions of chickens, cows, pigs, or you-name-its in a week as you could expect from a much smaller operation. They’re set up for maximum efficiency at every step of the process—often at the expense of quality—and brands like us, we just aren’t. If you want quality products that were thoughtfully produced, crafted with care and ultimately food that tastes better, then voting with your food dollars for independent farming is the way to go.

The trouble is: it’s harder than ever to find independent farms. 

Again, transparency: Independent farms are becoming fewer and farther between. That’s exactly why voting green (you know, money) for better farming practices is so important. 

But being hard to find isn’t all bad. In fact, it’s probably one of the best indicators that you’re on to a real, bona fide independent farmer. (Plus, it’s an opportunity to pick up some indie cred: “My favorite farmer? Oh, this indie farmer—you probably haven’t heard of them…”) 

Where’s the bright spot?

You’ll find it in the same place you can find pickle flavored lip balm or sweatshirts with inflatable hoods that turn into pillows so you’re always prepared to nap: on the internet, duh.

The internet has made things much, much easier to find—and that alone has increased transparency exponentially. From finding more information on farmers and producers to hearing other peoples’ stories and experiences with brands, it’s never been so simple to take such a close look so quickly.

Beyond that, as consumers become increasingly interested in finding good good food to eat, they’re going to be increasingly interested in marketplaces that make it easier to find, too. Mark my words, we’ll have an independent farming Etsy before you know it.

You can bet you’ll find us there when it opens. We look forward to seeing you there.