The Grimes Family

Meet the Grimes:

In 1986, John and Joanie Grimes started their Angus cow herd with a dream and the drive to make their dream a reality. Now, their daughters Lindsey and Lauren, and both of their husbands, work together to manage their 350 head of cows in southern, Ohio. Their growing family and operation is diverse amongst the industry, but their latest endeavor has been Maplecrest Meats - an online store created to sell their beef to consumers.

Lindsey and Joanie explain that advances in technology have been one of the most influential aspects of their herd throughout the years. Joanie further states, “We want to be in the top 10% of our breed for marbling and ribeye carcass traits, so the technology has allowed us to be very focused on being able to do that.” These traits will be an advantage in their Maplecrest Meats business, ensuring they are producing high-quality products for their consumers purchasing from their direct-ship, internet-based meat store.  

As with any industry, there will always be challenges. The Grimes family specifically points out market volatility, consumer perception, and the biggest challenge, education. Joanie says that teaching people about the cattle industry and explaining how they can be confident in the product they are consuming is of utmost importance. Joanie stressed, “We are still family based, family oriented, but that doesn’t mean we can’t do things professionally.” 

Consumers are the driving force behind the industry, which confirms why education is vital. Lindsey notes, “The care and attention that goes into every step of the production process, even past our part in that chain, is that we have the animal's welfare and care as our top priority.” Additionally, she explains they’re constantly thinking about sustainability, “being good stewards of the land because if we don’t take care of it now, then what is going to be here for my kids?”