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Wickens Ranch is a fourth-generation cale ranch located north and south of Winifred, Mont., operated by brothers Ma and Eric Wickens. "We raise primarily black Angus in our cow-calf herd," says Ma Wickens, "and have a few mixed breeds in our yearling operation." In April 2020, when the Coronavirus caused an economic shutdown, the Wickens brothers decided to launch a business to provide locally produced beef to the Bozeman, Mont., area, where their younger brother, Jason Wickens, lives and works as a musician and studio owner. "We had been talking about it for a long time," explains Eric. "Jason called just before the shutdown and was concerned that music events would be the first to go; we started brainstorming options." Coincidentally, Ma had some cale ready for harvest and had secured a processing date with the Stillwater Packing Company of Columbus, Mont. "We were just going to sell to the neighbors, but then decided to see if we could make it more of a business than a job," explains Ma. "We decided we had to go where the people were and where the idea of buying Montana beef is a novel idea." Wickens Ranch Beef provides a variety of beef cuts ordered online, direct from the ranch to the customer's doorstep. e beef is raised in Winifred, processed in Columbus, sold from a cooler in Bozeman, and delivered daily to customers within 20 miles of the city. Wickens Ranch Beef steaks each have different attributes, flavor profiles, and ideal methods of preparation. They offer a variety of beef cuts, including brisket, ribs, roasts, sausage, ground beef, jerky, and even bones. Photo by Jason Wickens Photo by Green Door Photography Photo by Jason Wickens 29 farm406

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