How We Find Truly 100% Grass-Fed, Grass-Finished Beef for Our Family

100% grass-finished, needle free, antibiotic & hormone free beef (the way God designed beef to be) is something my family & I are incredibly grateful to have access to…

The Truth About “Grass-Fed” Beef
(And the Exact Email I Send Before Buying a Cow Share)

It’s getting harder and harder to feel confident about our food system.

Labels like “grass-fed” sound reassuring, but many people don’t realize that some cattle are pasture-raised initially and then grain-finished (strategically fattened up via grain or other inputs for business efficiency).

If you’re intentionally seeking beef that is 100% grass-fed and grass-finished from start to finish, it’s key to ask deeper questions.

When we placed our fourth cow share order, the excitement was real.

I wrote in my journal that day:

“The sound of rain is soothing me, but the distinct sound of a delivery truck is what we’ve been waiting for all day.”

Unboxing our quarter cow share truly feels like Christmas to me — because I know exactly where this meat came from. I feel so much peace knowing each bite will nourish my family.

Why We Choose Cow Sharing with SugarHill Farmstead

For our family, buying a 1/4 cow directly from a local farm has been:

• More transparent

• More cost-effective long-term

• Aligned with our values and health goals

• A way to support local agriculture

When you purchase a share of an animal, you’re investing in the whole cow — steaks, roasts, ground beef, bones, fat, organ meats, stew meat. It’s called ‘nose-to-tail’ eating, and it allows us to cook more intentionally & nutritiously.

But before we ever commit to a farm, I send an email (&/or a phone call).

The Exact Email I Send to Farms

Here is the Email message I send when inquiring about a cow share:

Hi, my name is [NAME], and I'm looking into purchasing a cow share. I just had a few quick questions about how your cattle are raised —

I’m really intentional about the quality of beef I buy, especially for my family’s health. I’m hoping to confirm a few details about your practices:

• Are your cows 100% grass-fed AND grass-finished?
(Not just raised on pasture, but finished on grass too — no grain at the end?)

• Do you use any corn or soy in their feed at any point — even during finishing or winter months?

• Are your cows vaccinated, injected, or given any kind of needles — like antibiotics, dewormers, or mRNA vaccines?

• Is the beef processed locally and USDA-inspected? And do you offer true quarter shares with a mix of steaks, roasts, and ground beef?

Thank you — I look forward to hearing from you soon!

These questions help me understand the farm’s philosophy, transparency, and animal husbandry practices.

The Response That Meant So Much to Me

Here on the Island of Hawaii, we’ve sourced our beef-share from Sugar Hill Farmstead.

When I sent the email above, this was their response (shared with permission):

Aloha Jane,

Thank you so much for your thoughtful questions. I’m always happy to connect with customers who care deeply about the quality and sourcing of their food.

1. 100% Grass-Fed AND Grass-Finished
Yes, our cattle are 100% grass-fed and grass-finished. They live their entire lives on our lush, green pastures with no grain ever — no hay, corn, or soy at any point.

2. No Vaccines, Antibiotics, or Chemicals
We do not use any vaccines, antibiotics, dewormers, or chemical treatments. Instead, we manage the health of our animals through rotational grazing, which breaks the parasite life cycle and allows their immune systems to thrive naturally. No chemicals are ever used on our pastures either.

3. Custom Exempt Processing
We process all of our meat ourselves under the USDA’s custom-exempt rule, which means we sell the animal in whole or shares before butchering. This allows us to go beyond USDA minimums and slow things down — processing one animal at a time, with no line speeds or stress-inducing holding pens. Our process eliminates unnecessary stress and ensures both ethical handling and exceptional meat quality.

4. Quarter Shares with a Balanced Mix
Yes, we offer a quarter share with a mix of steaks, roasts, stew meat, bones, and ground. It’s a great way to experience the whole animal and stock your freezer with nutrient-dense, clean meat without committing to an entire half share.

Their transparency and willingness to explain their practices thoroughly meant everything to me. It didn’t feel defensive. It felt aligned.

What Our 1/4 Cow Share Includes

Our quarter share typically includes:

• Ribeye & sirloin steaks

• Roasts

• Ground beef

• Stew meat

• Bones for broth

• Organ meats (upon request)

I want everyone who desires to repair + strengthen the integrity of their gut health via quality meat to have access to trustworthy meat so I reached out to Sugar Hill Farmstead for this $25 off code (for new customers).

It fills our deep freezer beautifully — and gives our family of 4 months of intentional meals.

Why This Matters to Us

If you’ve followed our journey, you know we’ve prioritized nutrition and lifestyle changes to support our kids’ overall wellness and to eliminate eczema.

For us, sourcing high-quality protein is a BIG part of our commitment to whole-body nourishment and gut health.

Here’s an educational video about misleading “grass-fed” labeling practices, which I appreciated because informed consumers make empowered decisions.
(Courtesy of Lineage Provisions)

This post is for educational purposes only — not medical advice — but I believe through this information families make impactful & life-giving decisions.

If You Want to Start Cow-Sharing (+ A Discount Code)

1) Find a farm local to you here. Create a list of local farms you might want to source from.

2) Feel free to copy and paste the exact email I use to contact farms. (Or call them!)

And if you’re local to the Hawaiian Islands, Sugar Hill Farmstead has generously offered a $25 discount code (MUMWITHABUN25) for our community.

Feeding your family well doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. It just starts with asking better questions!

You should get a feel for if the farm is right for you and your family just via the communication alone. You got this ♡