How it Works
From Our Farm to Your Freezer
The Simplest Way to Stock Your Home with Quality Beef
Buying directly from Hess Farm is more than a purchase—it’s a partnership. We’ve streamlined the process to make sure that transition from our pastures to your kitchen is clear, transparent, and easy to manage. Bulk beef pickup near Ashland and Mansfield, Ohio
Step 1: Choose your share
Unlike the grocery store, where you buy by the cut, we sell by the "share." This ensures you get a diverse variety of high-quality beef at a consistent price point.
Quarter Cow (1/4): Ideal for small families or those with limited freezer space.
Half Cow (1/2): Our most popular option for households that cook at home regularly.
Whole Cow: The best value for large families or those looking to split an order with friends.
Step 2: Customize Your Cuts
Once you’ve reserved your share, we connect you directly with our trusted butcher in Mansfield, Ohio. They will walk you through a "cut sheet" to ensure your beef is processed exactly how you want it—whether you prefer more ground beef for easy weeknight meals or specific thicknesses for your steaks.
Step 3: Pickup or Delivery
Our meat is typically ready about 14-21 days after it arrives at the butcher.
Packaging: Every cut comes professionally vacuum-sealed and flash-frozen to maintain peak freshness for months.
Logistics: You can pick up your order directly from our butcher in Mansfield, Ohio.
Preparation:
The Freezer Factor
Stocking up requires a little bit of planning. While a Quarter Cow can often fit in a standard refrigerator freezer if it’s mostly empty, we highly recommend a chest freezer for Half or Whole orders.
Rule of Thumb: Plan for about 1 cubic foot of freezer space for every 35–40 pounds of packaged beef.
Freezer beef is priced by hang weight, which is the weight of the animal before processing, before it’s cut into steaks and ground beef.
Think of it like buying a whole apple vs. sliced apples. The hang weight includes bones and trim that are removed during cutting, so the take-home meat is less than the starting weight.
Rule of Thumb:
You take home about 60–65% of the hang weight as packaged meat. If you purchase a quarter beef with a 200 lb hang weight you will take home roughly 120–130 lbs of beef.
We price by hang weight because that’s the standard across farms and butchers—it reflects the actual size of the animal and keeps pricing consistent, no matter how you choose your cuts.
“You’re not losing value—it’s just part of how beef is processed. What you gain is:
Custom cuts (steaks the way you want them), higher quality meat, and the peace of mind knowing exactly where your beef came from.
The Economics:
Real Value, No Guesswork
By cutting out the middleman, you save significantly at the register. While market prices fluctuate, our customers enjoy an average price of approximately $9.50 per pound. This includes everything—from the high-end ribeyes and fillets to the versatile roasts and ground beef.
One transparent price. No grocery store markups.
Disclaimers:
Total cost will vary based on the animal’s final hanging weight and your selected processing options.
Final payment for the animal is due prior to pickup or delivery.
Processing is completed by a USDA-inspected facility. Cut selections, specialty items, and processing fees are coordinated directly with the processor and paid separately by the customer (unless we deliver the meat to you).
No guarantees on exact cuts or quantities
Processing timelines may vary based on butcher scheduling.
If we are picking up your order after processing is complete we can store your meat for an additional fee if you are unable to make our drop-off date and time.”
Due to the nature of reserving a live animal, a non-refundable deposit is required to secure your order.