Hepler Meats

Hepler Meats, establishment M46739, operates at 5696 Rt. 38 in Emlenton, Pennsylvania, in Venango County. The federal record lists the plant for both meat slaughter and meat processing, with a grant of inspection dated September 27, 2021. FSIS classifies the plant as very small and places its slaughter volume in the under 1,000 head per year category. Species slaughtered under inspection, as reported to FSIS, are cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb. The plant also reports custom-exempt slaughter, in which animals owned by the customer are processed and the packages are marked Not for Sale, and it reports retail-exempt sales.

The business website describes a farm operation alongside the plant. It states the farm runs over 400 head of cattle on about 700 acres of pasture and farm land, with most feed grown on the farm and pasture as the predominant feed source. The site says cattle are raised without added hormones or antibiotics, and that the operation sells 100 percent grass fed beef, with animals under 24 months of age that should grade in the choice range and leaner beef available on request. The site notes approximately forty head ready for slaughter beginning mid-June to early July, and says grass fed beef is offered only at that time because of a decline in pasture quality in late summer. In addition to its own beef, the site says the business custom orders for other farmers, processes wild game, and carries small grocery items from locally owned businesses.

According to the About Us page, the Hepler family has been raising and selling beef for over 20 years, expanded into slaughtering and processing in 1995, and moved the butcher shop to its present location in 1998. Two locations are described: the Emlenton meat processing site, stated to be about 8 miles from exit 45 on Route 80 and 1.5 hours from either Pittsburgh or Erie, and a retail outlet at 7150 Rt 322 in Cranberry, Pennsylvania. The federal record lists a phone number of (814) 498-2813, which the About Us page also gives; the contact page and the Cranberry page list (814) 657-5776 for both stores.

The website states that in addition to processing its own beef, the business custom orders for other farmers and processes wild game. Beef is cut to customer specifications and double wrapped. The federal record shows the plant reports custom-exempt slaughter, meaning animals owned by the customer can be processed with packages marked Not for Sale, and lists cattle, hogs, and sheep and lamb as species slaughtered under inspection. FSIS places the plant in the under 1,000 head per year slaughter volume category, so capacity is limited. Booking procedures, scheduling lead times, minimums, kill fees, and cut and wrap pricing are not stated in the sources on file. Farmers should contact the plant directly to confirm current availability.

Hepler Meats 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 website describes two places to buy. The Emlenton processing location carries small grocery items, and the Cranberry outlet at 7150 Rt 322, described as across from Sheetz, is the main retail outlet with the largest inventory. The Cranberry store is described as carrying fresh steaks, roasts, whole ground beef, whole beef patties, sausage, pork chops, smoked meats, cheeses, freezer cases with fish, chicken, pork, and beef, a smoked meat cooler with snack sticks, bologna, kolbassi, and bacon, plus seasonal items and products from Pennsylvania businesses. The site says buyers deal with both the farmer and the butcher, and that 100 percent grass fed beef is available at an affordable price, offered seasonally beginning mid-June to early July. Prices, half and quarter beef bundles, online ordering, delivery, and shipping are not stated 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.