Three Lakes Ranch

Three Lakes Ranch operates a USDA-inspected meat plant at 211 Three Lakes Ranch Road in Knoxville, Crawford County, Georgia, under establishment numbers M47333 and P47333. FSIS lists the plant for meat processing, meat slaughter and poultry processing, with a grant of inspection date on file of October 2, 2024. It is classed as Very Small, and slaughter volume falls in the lowest FSIS category, under 1,000 head per year. Species slaughtered under inspection as reported to FSIS are cattle, hogs, sheep and lamb, and goats. The plant also reports custom-exempt slaughter, in which animals owned by the customer are processed and packaged marked Not for Sale, and reports halal slaughter.

The ranch website describes the facility as built on the ranch about five years ago so the family could process its own beef, pork, lamb and goat for its brick and mortar store and its e-commerce sales. The site says the operation is family owned and operated by Todd, his wife Brandi, and their children, with more than three decades of ranching experience. The website states the ranch is recognized by IMI Global, part of Where Food Comes From, Inc., is certified by Good Animal Partnership (GAP), and adheres to Never Ever program standards, meaning no hormones, no antibiotics and no genetically modified inputs. Both grass fed and grain finished product are offered.

Beyond slaughter and processing for the ranch's own herd, the site advertises USDA processing for other farmers and ranchers, deer processing during the 2025-2026 season, and farm fencing. Hours of operation are not stated on the pages on file. Note that the federal record lists the plant phone as (478) 447-5310, while the website gives 478-578-5402 as the butcher shop number for processing appointments and deer drop-offs, and lists store pickup for retail orders in Roberta, Georgia.

The website states the ranch built a USDA processing facility on the ranch in Knoxville about five years ago, initially for its own beef, pork, lamb and goat, and has since processed for other ranchers and farmers around the southeast. It says it wants to take on more farmers and ranchers and asks producers to call to discuss processing needs and set up an appointment, at 478-578-5402. Custom labels can be printed and the site says it will work with producers to personalize product. Cut sheets are referenced for beef, pork, and lamb and goat. FSIS records show slaughter of cattle, hogs, sheep and lamb, and goats, custom-exempt slaughter with Not for Sale packaging, and halal slaughter, with volume under 1,000 head per year. Scheduling lead times, minimums, hanging weight fees and kill fees are not stated in the sources on file.

Three Lakes Ranch reports custom-exempt slaughter to FSIS, which means it can process an animal a customer already owns (a whole, half, or share bought before slaughter) and return it in packages marked Not for Sale. Most small farms have one or two plants they book with, and the plant's calendar decides the delivery date.

The ranch sells directly through an online store with retail cuts and boxes. Beef shares are offered as a half beef share reserved with a $1,400 deposit and a quarter beef share reserved with a $700 deposit; the listings state orders are picked up at the store and that delivery or shipping can be discussed. Pork items listed include smoked bacon, hot and mild link sausage, bone in and boneless pork chops, tenderloin and baby back ribs, with pickup noted at the store in Roberta, Georgia, orders usually ready on Monday and fully frozen, and a stated 20 percent discount on some items when picked up at the store. Chicken and pork collections and a build your own box option are also listed. Several items showed as sold out at the time of capture. Retail counter hours are not stated.

If you are buying a half or quarter animal, the plant is where the animal is processed; the farm sells you the animal. Read how to buy a half cow for the sequence and the math.