Local Beef Promo Day at Local Family Farms

Aug 11, 2011

Photo:Dave Perry, Rodrick, Dakota, Hope, Regina and Merren

Where's the beef? Verona, that's where. Owners and operators of Verona's Local Family Farms, Dave and Kim Perry, once again hosted the fifth annual event at their Verona store and served up tasty local beef treats to visitors looking to sample and learn more about local beef and other locally sourced products. The event is sponsored by the Frontenac Cattlemen's Association and Kingston's KIX 93.5 FM was broadcasting live from the store. Also on site were young members of the Frontenac and South Frontenac 4H Clubs, displaying local breeds of Limousine and Simmental cattle, along with the Perrys, who had on show five of their award-winning Maine-Anjou stock.

There were demonstrations of confirmation, cattle care, and numerous contests. Dave Perry, who is also the president of the Frontenac Cattlemen's Association, said the event is important because, “It provides us with an opportunity to educate people in how to source their food locally...This is a great introduction and also an opportunity to explore those options.” The Perrys not only sell their own beef products at the store but also a myriad of other local meats and vegetable produce, prepared foods, baked goods and other products, all made and sourced from a diverse number of local providers. While visitors enjoyed barbecued local beef burgers outside, inside the store Kim and her employees offered samples of local beef tenderloin prepared in a number of ways and accompanied by locally made mustards and marinades. I spoke with Kim’s most recently hired employee, Melanie Martin, who has been a member of the Frontenac 4H Club for five years. She says her 4H experience prepared her well for her new job. “The motto at 4H is 'Learn to do by doing' and because of that, I'm now able to confidently provide customers with all the information on how our products are grown and prepared.”

The clubs offer youth aged 9-21 a wide variety of programs in managing livestock, cooking and gardening. Dave Perry agrees that the 4H Clubs are important in helping youngsters interested in farming. “These kids are our future farmers and with the average age of farmers now at 59, it is important that these youngsters are given the opportunities and encouragement to help them learn the ropes.”

Local Family Farms is located on Main Street in Verona.