Celebrating One Year at the Silo Springs Ranch General Store!
April 12th marks one year since we opened our general store, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate with you! Our journey started back in 2020 with a small herd and both of us working full-time jobs. At the time, our herd was too small to support us full-time, but we had big dreams of growing our ranch. We realized that if we could sell beef directly to customers instead of relying solely on stockyard auctions, we could grow our herd faster and move toward our goal of becoming full-time ranchers.
By 2021, we had our first cows ready for the butcher. I was so nervous about loading them onto the trailer—funny to think about now since loading cattle has become a weekly routine. We booked our first butcher dates, got our first logo designed, and I quickly discovered that filling out a cut sheet for beef was more confusing than I expected. That experience stuck with me, so I pursued a part-time job at a butcher shop to learn everything I could about the process. Since then, I’ve worked the front desk, handled invoicing, tracked weights on the kill floor, and now I’m on the cut floor. Those early challenges inspired me to make the cut list process as simple as possible for our customers today.
When we brought home our first beef, we sold it out of our home to friends. Soon after, Arlin designed and retrofitted a freezer trailer, and we began selling at the Perry Farmers Market. We’ve been there nearly every Saturday since, building incredible friendships with our customers. As we expanded, Arlin built a second freezer trailer, allowing us to reach seasonal markets in Warner Robins, Covington, Jackson, Monticello, Thomaston, Forsyth, and beyond. Over the years, we’ve even had customers take our beef to Florida, Tennessee, and Arkansas!
Our ranch has grown in many ways. We incorporated pasture-raised chickens, which presented its own set of challenges. We also spent a season raising bottle-fed calves, learning valuable lessons about cattle gut health. Now, we’re fencing a pasture to establish our own lamb flock. We’ve expanded to maintain both a beef herd and a herd for stockyard sales, learning countless lessons along the way and sharing that knowledge with others.
When we first acquired the general store, it needed serious repairs—there was a hole in the floor, and one wall was peeling away from the roof. Arlin dedicated months to restoring the building, and our grand opening was an unforgettable day. Now, a year later, we’re excited to celebrate our first anniversary with an event on Saturday, April 12th, from 10 AM to 6 PM. Arlin has spent much of his time working on the ranch during markets, but he’s looking forward to catching up with all of you in person.
We’re grateful to everyone who has supported us along this journey. We hope you’ll join us to celebrate how far we’ve come and what’s ahead for Silo Springs Ranch!
