Our Farm
From our pastures to your plate
Champion Valley Farm is made up of the humble beginnings of Matt & Kelsey Owens. We are located outside the little Nebraska town of Champion. With a small herd, we have taken great pride in purchasing high-quality American Aberdeen & Murray Grey cattle.
Our breeds
American Aberdeens are the original Angus — there are no miniature genes. Their muscle fibers are smaller, which makes the beef more tender than other breeds. They yield an exceptional ribeye area per hundred pounds of body weight. Aberdeens typically hang around 400–450 lbs.
Murray Greys are newer to our place but a breed we had our eye on for a long time. They are renowned as easy-care cattle that combine calving ease with good growth and carcass quality. They finish well on grass and are preferred by butchers and restaurants for their consistent quality and tenderness. Murray Greys average closer to 600 lbs hanging.
How we raise them
Our beef is bred, born, weaned, and finished out on our own place. We do source some additional steers from vetted ranches that share our values as well. We take the husbandry of our herd seriously and practice rotational grazing, which keeps our land from ever being overgrazed and our grass at its highest quality. During winter months, when grazing isn't an option and the nutrition in grass is at its worst, we purchase only high-quality pea/oat hay (oats are in their milky stage meaning its oat grass and no grain present).
We are strong believers in a solid mineral and salt program.
Our secret weapon: rolled peas
What makes our grass-fed beef tender, well-marbled, and full of flavor is rolled peas. We have been approved to finish our cattle on native grass plus a small amount of rolled peas. These peas are grown locally and come straight from the field at harvest. No chemicals are used, our own bees help pollinate those fields, and there is no such thing as a GMO pea. Peas are a legume — not a grain — and they are incredibly high in protein. Our cattle love them.
Champion Valley Collective
We have a passion for all things old-fashioned. We use items from our own farm to make everyday goods free of the harmful chemicals in so many modern products. Our artisan soaps are made from beef tallow and lard we render ourselves. Our honey comes from our own hives, which also pollinate our pastures and garden. Our salves are made the old-fashioned way, and our gift bags are filled with things we grow or harvest ourselves.
