Circle S Farms

Circle S Farms operates a very small meat plant at 1445 LaGuardo Road E in Lebanon, Wilson County, Tennessee, under USDA establishment number M45980. The federal record lists meat slaughter and meat processing activities, with hogs as the species slaughtered under inspection and a grant of inspection dated July 22, 2020. Annual slaughter volume falls in the FSIS category of under 1,000 head per year. The plant also reports custom-exempt slaughter, in which animals owned by the customer are processed and the packages marked Not for Sale, and reports retail-exempt sales.

The farm's website describes it as a family operation known as the Graves-Wright farm, held in the family since 1839 and recognized by Wilson County as a Century Farm past the 150 year mark. The site states the business believes in quality meats, quality work, and humane handling. It offers custom hog processing at two rates and sells retail pork at its Smokehouse and Farm Store.

Beyond what is listed here, details such as full hours, staffing, and additional species are not on file. The website's Visit Us page references a spring and summer season from late April to early August and a separate address at 1627 E. Old Laguardo Rd., Lebanon, TN, for farm visits. Buyers should confirm current status directly with the plant.

The website describes custom hog processing at fixed rates that do not fluctuate: $1.25 per pound if the customer provides the hog, and $2.50 per pound if Circle S Farms provides the hog. The site states that both rates are consistent with whatever is marked on the processing sheet and that no extra charges are made during processing. Orders are taken by email only. The site directs customers to download the Hog Processing Sheet PDF, complete it, and email it to dnsteed@gmail.com. A processed hog may be split between customers as halves or quarters. The federal record lists hogs as the only species slaughtered under inspection, and slaughter volume is under 1,000 head per year. Booking lead times, minimums, and drop-off scheduling are not stated.

Circle S Farms 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.

Retail pork is sold at the farm's Smokehouse and Farm Store, described on the website as open on a seasonal basis with details on the Visit Us page. Retail prices are published on a downloadable price sheet on the site. The website states that shipping is not offered at this time. Households may also buy a share of a custom processed hog as a half or quarter, split between customers. The website lists a December 2024 pickup week for breakfast boxes at the Smokehouse.

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.