Rancher Creates Skin Care Products From Beef Tallow

FAMILY LEGACY

Katie and her husband, Jessy, bought their current cattle herd in 2010 from her dad, but it was started by previous generations of the family. The couple’s children — David, 16; Gracie, 14; and Brooks, 6 — are the fifth generation to carry on the ranching legacy. The family works together to care for the cattle. Gracie can also be found in the kitchen helping with tallow production.

Biggins said that when she and Jessy decided to select cattle from their herd to feed and sell for the retail beef business, they wanted the very best they could raise. “We started looking more closely at genetics and making sure we are raising high-quality Angus beef for our beef business,” she explained. “The quality extends into the tallow, as well.”

Their beef business continues to grow. They handpick which animals are fed out and have a few cows calving in the fall to help provide product year-round. These same animals are the source for the tallow products. Their cattle are pasture-raised, grass- and grain-finished, hormone-free Angus cattle that are USDA inspected.

The Biggins’ retail beef business started with inquiries from the hundreds of hunters who travel to their ranch each fall for pheasant hunting. They asked about buying whole, halves or quarters of beef after seeing the cattle on the ranch. Eventually, these hunters became their first customers, and the rising demand for their beef led to the retail beef business.

To learn more about retail, Biggins did a mentorship with a ranch-to-retail business in California to learn the logistics of e-commerce, social media strategy and shipping. The couple also received a USDA Value-Added Producer Grant to help with business growth.

For now, a freezer trailer is used to store meat for retail sales. Beef is shipped once per month, but tallow products are shipped soon after orders are received. The Bigginses hope to build a shop soon to house the growing beef and tallow business. “(I want) one that will include a commercial kitchen for rendering and whipping the tallow in a temperature-controlled space,” she said with a laugh, since she’s been using the family’s kitchen. It will also include walk-in freezers for ease of storing the beef inventory. Biggins would also eventually like to be able to have seasonal customer events and on-site shopping.

“Our mission is to have intentional growth. We want to continue to provide an expanding line of products on the beef and tallow side, but not lose sight of the importance of raising high-quality beef with proper stewardship,” she said.

BIGGINS & CO. TALLOW PRODUCTS

Here is a list of products available for the face, hands and skin, as well as lip balm. Prices range from $5 to $44.

— Whipped Tallow Facial Cream: Neroli, Tansy, Radiance.

— Clarify No. 5: Formulated for acne-prone skin.

— Smoke: Earthy & masculine for hands that work hard.

— Whipped Tallow Balm: Infused Vanilla Bean, Santal.

— Bare Tallow Cream: Unscented.

— Tallow Lip Balm & ChapStick.

— For more information, visit

Jennifer Carrico can be reached at [email protected]

Follow Jennifer on social platform X @JennCattleGal

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