Offering farm-raised meat for sale can boost a farmer’s bottom line but often comes with unexpected challenges, a panel of local meat processors and livestock producers shared during the 2025 Midwest Meat Summit in Des Moines Jan. 10.

John Hogeland, co-owner of Whippoorwill Creek Farm, raises meat goats and beef cattle on his Monroe County operation. He said the first few years of production he had a hard time selling all of his meat. But now, a few years in, he is booked out months in advance.

“Our biggest challenge was getting our name out there, getting in front of customers,” Hogeland said.

He...