Officials discuss meat processing facility

Over the past few months, the idea of a Co-operative Meat Processing Facility in Jefferson County has sparked an interest from local producers, government officials, and local organizations.

The idea was once again discussed last week at a joint meeting between the Jefferson and Madison County Commissions.

In a presentation at the meeting, Tom Harrington with the Jefferson Local Development Corporation and MSU Extension detailed how the co-op could be a benefit for local producers, tying the project in with a pet food processor, as well as creating a "specialty meat" product for retail sales.

Harrington told Commissioners they have had several public meetings about the co-op with over 20 in attendance at one, and 45 at another. He said a lot of producers are very interested in how they could increase their profit and the co-op model might be able to help them out.

Harrington has been in discussion with the pet food processor and the synergy of tying this to a possible co-op would really take care of some issues with waste.

As far as the retail market, Harrington discussed the importance of USDA approval for retail sales, as well as branding the product so it could be sold in Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. He also discussed tying the product in with a gift shop that is planned for a visitor's center on Interstate 90 near Boulder, as well as an apprenticeship program through a possible Veterans facility at the old MDC location.

The JLDC and Headwaters RC&D are applying for a Big Sky Trust Fund grant for the project as well as completing a feasibility study.

Jefferson County Commissioner Leonard Wortman said they are trying to figure out a location that would have the least impact and the feasibility study would tell them how big the facility would need to be.

When discussing the need for a local facility, Alison Richardson of the JLDC said there are a combined 110,000 cattle in Madison and Jefferson Counties, and over 150,000 in Beaverhead County.