Washington County Meat Packing

Washington County Meat Packing and Livestock, LLC operates at 20505 Campground Road in Bristol, Virginia, in Washington County. The plant holds federal establishment numbers M32062, P32062 and V32062, with a grant of inspection date on file of July 22, 2021. FSIS lists its activities as meat processing, meat slaughter and voluntary processing of meat, and classifies it as a very small establishment. Species slaughtered under inspection, as reported to FSIS, are cattle, hogs, 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 reports retail-exempt sales. Its FSIS slaughter volume category is 1, meaning under 1,000 head per year.

The business is family owned. According to the company website, Keith and Sabrina Fleenor had an opportunity to buy Washington County Meat Packing from the original owner nearly 20 years ago and passed on it, then purchased the business in late spring of 2020. The site states that three generations of the family now work together to run the plant, and that the family also farms, operates an agritourism business and sells meat, eggs and STS Ranchwear from the family farm.

Work is scheduled by appointment. The website instructs callers to specify whether they need a custom or USDA-inspected appointment, and states that all animals must be onsite by 8:00 a.m. on the appointment date. A published price guide covers beef, pork and lamb or goat slaughter and processing along with a list of additional charges and fees. Nothing on the website describes a retail storefront, online ordering, shipping or delivery, so those details are not on file beyond the federal record's note of retail-exempt sales.

Processing is by appointment only. The website directs producers to call to schedule and to state clearly whether the appointment is for custom or USDA-inspected processing. All animals must be onsite by 8:00 a.m. on the appointment date; late arrivals incur a $50 per animal fee and may have the appointment canceled, and canceled appointments carry a $50 per animal charge. Cut sheets must be filled out before or at drop off, with a $25 charge per cut sheet not turned in. Posted prices, listed as subject to change, are $80 slaughter plus $0.80 per pound hanging weight processing for beef, custom or inspected; $70 slaughter plus $0.80 per pound hanging weight for hogs; and $125 for lamb or goat, custom or inspected. The plant does not accept beef over 1,500 pounds live weight. Beef carcasses over 900 pounds hanging weight are charged a $100 harvest fee and $1.00 per pound hanging weight processing. Beef under 400 pounds hanging weight and hogs under 150 pounds hanging weight are charged $0.80 per pound on the difference to those minimums. Other listed charges include $0.20 per pound hanging weight for one steak per pack, $0.20 per pound hanging weight for dividing into quarters, $1 per pound for patties, $0.50 per pack for vacuum-packed grinds, $3 per pound for collagen or natural links, $5 netting, $2 per box, $25 for returned hides or pelts, $250 for a custom label and $500 for a custom claims label. Product not picked up 7 days after notification incurs a storage fee of $10 per day per animal. The website reminds producers that it is their responsibility to explain hanging weights and cuts to their own customers.

Washington County Meat Packing 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 federal record shows the establishment reports retail-exempt sales, but the website does not describe a retail counter, bundles, online ordering, shipping or delivery, so those details are not on file. The website notes that the owning family sells meat, eggs and STS Ranchwear from their family farm, which is described as separate from the packing facility. The pricing page refers to whole, half and quarter cut sheets, indicating that animals brought in by producers can be divided for end customers, with a $0.20 per pound hanging weight charge for dividing into quarters. Households buying farm fresh meat from a producer who uses this plant should work through that producer. Accepted payment methods listed are cash, check, Visa, Mastercard and Discover.

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.