Meet the Lohr Family

Meet the Lohr family:

In 2020 the Lohr family started a new venture in the cattle industry and opened a meat market. They saw the opportunity with the lack of processing facilities available in their area and the demand for beef rising because of the closure of many large processing plants during the pandemic. As consumers began looking for local alternatives, the Lohr Family was happy to serve their community.

In June 2020, Andy and his wife, Tonya, purchased the facility that is now home to Center Street Meat Market in Bucyrus, Ohio. Center Street quickly became a family affair. Andy and Tonya's oldest child, Jessica, married Mitch Alt and together they have two children, Anna and Eli. Jess is the manager of the meat market and works hard to educate customers, market their products, and manage the day-to-day operations of the market. Jake Lohr, Jessica’s brother, works alongside his older sister in the market as one of the meat cutters.

The meat market has quickly become a community staple. The family relies heavily on word-of-mouth marketing and has received an abundance of community support. Andy previously had a freezer beef business that allowed the Lohrs to have a small customer base before opening their doors.

Andy and Tonya both grew up in the industry. The couple live on the same family farm as Tonya’s grandfather. Andy has also raised beef for much of his life starting with a passion developed through his involvement in 4-H. The family are active in the beef industry and currently raise around 80-120 head of cows that calve annually. The family makes sure the quality of their beef is consistent and high quality, so their customers receive the best product possible. The Lohrs provide a large majority of the beef that is processed and sold within their facility. The remaining beef that does not come from the Lohr family farm, is raised in Crawford County. The Lohrs believe in supporting cattle producers in their area, as well as providing fresh local meat to their customers.

The Lohrs have the best support system with each having a role in the farm and market. Andy works full-time farming and Tonya owns her own business as a hairdresser. The two spend their time farming, spending time with their grandchildren, and helping with the meat market as much as possible. The family’s dynamic of love and support shines through their success both in their cattle herd and the meat market.