Brandon and Erin Clare: Meat Lockers, Community Trust, and Building a Legacy

Brandon and Erin Clare, owners of JM Watkins Meats in Plum City, Wisconsin, unpack what it really means to run a family-owned, USDA-certified meat processing facility – commonly called a ‘meat locker’ - serving farmers, families, and communities across the Midwest.

From a veterinary career and managing construction sites to processing 30 head of beef a week in a brand-new 10,300-square-foot facility, the Clare's share how grit, grant funding, and genuine community connection built something worth passing down to the next generation.

In this episode, we explore:

(02:09) From small-town roots to owning a meat locker

(05:48) Navigating grant funding to fuel major expansion

(10:10) How local processors compete against industry giants

(13:45) What USDA certification means for quality and trust

(16:33) Consumer trends shaping the future of local meat

(21:49) Lessons for family business owners on growth and operations

(26:46) Building a legacy with the next generation

Resources Mentioned:

JM Watkins Meats: https://www.jmwatkinsmeats.com/