Wahoo Locker LLC

Wahoo Locker LLC operates at 205 W. 5th St. in Wahoo, Nebraska, in Saunders County, under FSIS establishment numbers M46434, P46434, and V46434. The federal record lists meat processing, meat slaughter, poultry processing, poultry slaughter, and voluntary processing and slaughter for meat and rabbit, with a grant of inspection date of June 12, 2019. Species slaughtered under inspection are reported as cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb. FSIS classes the plant as very small and places its slaughter volume in category 1.0, meaning under 1,000 head per year. The plant also reports custom-exempt slaughter, in which animals owned by the customer are returned in packages marked Not for Sale, and retail-exempt sales.

The company website describes Wahoo Locker as a family-owned and operated meat processing business that both processes meat and sells retail products, cooking essentials, wine and beer. It states the facility is fully USDA inspected and that, upon request, animals can be slaughtered and processed under federal inspection. Beef, hog, and wild game processing are described, along with catering in to-go and traditional formats. The site says the business has won state and national awards for its products and recipes, and calls itself the home of the Wahoo Wiener.

According to the website, Charlie and Kristi Emswiler bought the Wahoo Locker in November 1998, and the business moved across the street in 2013 to a larger site with an expanded retail store. A second generation is described as working at the locker. Retail stores carrying Wahoo Locker products are listed inside Wine, Beer, and Spirits locations in West Omaha, Fremont, Lincoln, and Grand Island. The website names service areas including Ceresco, Weston, Ithaca, Malmo, Colon, Prague, Wahoo, Lincoln, and Mead.

The website addresses producers directly. It asks for a complete list of the names of the people livestock is being brought in for at the time of drop-off, and states that it is the producer's responsibility to have those customers supply cutting instructions. Hog cutting instructions are due by closing time, 5:30 p.m., the day after slaughter. Beef instructions are due by 5:30 p.m. no longer than seven days after slaughter, even though beef hangs longer, so the plant can plan. If those deadlines are not met, the plant states it may perform a standard cut without instructions, and the customer remains responsible for payment and pickup. Cutting instructions can be submitted through an online survey or by calling (402) 443-3104. The website references Tier One and Tier Two processing price lists, but the prices themselves are not in the text on file. FSIS lists the plant as very small with slaughter volume under 1,000 head per year, so scheduling capacity should be confirmed directly. The plant is listed as slaughtering cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb under inspection, and as offering custom-exempt slaughter.

Wahoo Locker LLC 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.

Wahoo Locker sells retail meats at its Wahoo store and states that customers can stop in or call to place an order or book an appointment. The website also lists retail outlets carrying its products inside Wine, Beer, and Spirits stores in West Omaha, Fremont, Lincoln, and Grand Island. Hunters can bring wild game, accepted only at the Wahoo location, with a permit number available at drop-off and instructions taken at drop-off. A deposit is taken at drop-off. Credit and debit cards are accepted with a 3.95 percent charge, which can be avoided by paying cash or check. Game brought in scented garbage bags is not accepted, and food grade bags, containers, or clean coolers are recommended. Processing held longer than two weeks from notification is charged $20.00 per week for storage. Halves and quarters, delivery, shipping, and online ordering of finished meat are not addressed in the sources on file.

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.