The future of food is local. St. George folks know it makes a huge difference when you trust the people behind the product. That’s why Southern Utah producer, Mountain States Cattle, provides American Wagyu beef to Washington County residents.
Over fifteen years ago, the brothers and co-founders of Mountain States Cattle were dissatisfied with the beef their families were eating. Their passion for more nutritious food has grown into a multi-generational farming and cattle-raising enterprise. “The world that we live in is not focused on producing healthy food,” says Mr. Hammon, one of the co-founders of MSC. The co-founders love beef—but as they researched the meat on their plate, they were unsettled by its lack of true nutrition and heavy antinutrients.
Large feedlots produce staggering amounts of beef. Artificial hormones speed production. Massive assembly lines process cattle. Mainstream beef has become factories, not farms. This process impacts the taste and the quality of meat. Those additives don’t disappear. It’s straight from the beef to your body, where it can have detrimental effects on your health.
“We started to come to a realization of what the commercial meat world was doing and the effect that it had on human health,” Mr. Hammon says. “We wanted to make sure our families were eating the very best beef we could get.”
Mountain States Standards
MSC began with the mission to raise higher quality beef. These improvements start from the ground up—literally. “We need to have control over the entire process; from the soil, to the crop, to the cow,” Mr. Hammon explains. At Mountain States Cattle, all of the feed is grown in-house at the Parowan farm. This gives MSC complete freedom over what the cows (and, eventually, you) eat.
MSC crops are free of antinutrients like glyphosate and other industrial weed killers, preserving the nutrient density of their American Wagyu beef. They’ve got the numbers to back it up. Professional testing shows MSC beef leads in key metrics. Their beef boasts impressive levels of B vitamins, antioxidants, and other top results, all available at www.mountainstatescattle.com.
The process works: “Healthy soil, healthy crops, healthy cattle, healthy humans.”
MSC cattle are not raised with steroids, hormonal interventions, or routine antibiotics. Instead of unnecessary shots, they keep their cows healthy the old-fashioned way with a nutrition-forward focus. Cattle are hand-raised and well-fed. This research-backed approach creates a more wholesome final product. “Our goal is to produce health on our farm and share it with our
neighbors,” describes Mr. Hammon.
It doesn’t end at the farm. Mountain States Cattle only uses local, USDA-certified butchers that they personally know and trust, providing quality at every phase of production. “In order to have food security, it has to be local.”
First and foremost, Mountain States abides by family standards. “The root of all of this is, we have families. We have people that we care about more than any other thing,” says Mr. Hammon. “We’re trying to take care of them the best way we know how.” This Mountain States standard is strictly upheld—they’ll never sell beef they wouldn’t feed to their own families.
Why American Wagyu
American Wagyu became the cofounder’s breed of choice. MSC’s American Wagyu is a balance of Angus and verified Wagyu genetics. American Wagyu improves on Angus with superior tenderness, alongside increased omega 3s, key vitamins, and other nutritious essentials.
The taste and health benefits are related. The flavorful marbling is where oleic acid and other monounsaturated fats reside. “When it’s better for you,” Mr. Hammon explains, “it tastes better.”
Even with superior breeding, achieving high-level marbling is no easy task. According to Mr. Hammon, “American Wagyu have to be patiently produced.” Growth hormones and steroids won’t cut it. Wagyu genetics require the time and space of authentic cattle raising, making MSC perfect for the job.
MSC in St. George Valley
Mountain States Cattle started as two cows raised in a backyard. When it came time to expand, Mr. Hammon says, “The Lord opened up the way.” It’s grown into a significant acreage in Parowan, Utah, with a growing herd still cared for exclusively by the Hammon family.
Today, the brothers raise awareness about food quality while bringing wholesome beef to their Utah neighbors. Through farmer’s markets and local outreach, St. George has met Mountain States Cattle with enthusiasm.
Mountain States Cattle now offers a unique service to the St. George valley: direct-to-door delivery. Like everything MSC, this approach is all about making superior local beef more accessible. “We find a lot of joy and satisfaction in providing southern Utah the same product we require,” Mr. Hammon says. “We know the people that we’re selling our meat to. We want to see
everybody thrive, the same as ourselves.”
“Our goal is to produce health on our farm and share it with our neighbors”