One of the great benefits of exercise is the stress-reducing effect we get from all the oxygen and increased blood flow. Many of us tend to carry a lot of that stress in our neck from being at a computer screen or behind a wheel for hours during the day. Here's a great exercise for the neck that you can do anywhere.
Fitness Team
- Our fitness team! If you're in Arizona, you may recognize them in your local gym as they are, of course, gym rats.
August 2008
August 30, 2008
August 26, 2008
Burn it or Store it
Right around this time in Minnesota, the idea of Fall is setting in. School starting up, soon the leaves will turn shades of reds, yellows and browns. Eventually, the ground will be covered in leaves and the raking begins. Raking leaves, bagging them or burning them to clear the ground for the upcoming snowfalls. I know I am getting ahead of myself and the seasons a bit, but I just bought these cute little scarecrows cause I love Fall.
August 23, 2008
August 20, 2008
Industry Info
Just some quick industry info that I found very interesting, and can help you understand beef pricing today. Besides all the variables that go into any commodity there are a few which certainly effect each specific product, including beef. Well, our product as most of you know is the best due to being corn fed. Here some info on the cost of corn that I found very interesting.
Cost per bushel:
2004 May - $2.87 2005 May - $1.99 2006 May - $2.17 2007 May - $3.49
Now this year in May the cost was $5.28. Wow! It has almost doubled in 4 years. Good for the corn farmers, tough for the cattle farmers. This does several things to make the price of beef higher, it eliminates some farmers from raising cattle as the cost to feed is too high to operate. When farmers quit raising cattle it leaves a shortage in the marketplace. For the poeple who continue to raise cattle, it costs more to do so, so they need to sell the cattle at a higher price just to keep their heads above water. All this eventually comes to the marketplace and takes prices higher for the consumer.
Although we have been effected by this, I can assure you we have been very consistent with our beef prices. We are confident that this will come down soon, as the expected corn crops are projected to be very good. Our ability to eat some of our normal margin when prices increase is an advantage alot of businesses don't have. This is simply thanks to all your support for 19 years in business. You can be sure we will always provide you with the best quality beef in town, at the best value. 
August 19, 2008
August 14, 2008
How much beef should kids eat?
Good nutrition is vital in the growth and development of children, but with the rate of child obesity rising, sometimes beef gets a bad rep even though a 3 oz. serving of lean beef makes for less than 10% of the calories in a 2000 - calorie diet. Our children need all the essential nutrients from all the food groups to promote healthy bodies, healthy habits, and healthy minds. Two of these essential nutrients is zinc and iron that's found in abundance in lean beef such as a sirloin steak. Zinc and iron are important contributors to building a better brain especially in the areas of memory and reasoning. The National Cattlemans Beef Industry's (who came up with the "Beef, it's what's for Dinner" slogan) website is full of information, receipes, and ideas on how to incorporate healthy doses of lean beef into your family meals. Visit the website here.
Hey, kids aren't the only ones who need strong bodies. Let's face it, we aren't getting any younger (ahem) and if you're like me--have issues swallowing a large multivitamin--lean beef can make the difference. Take a look at this page on the NCBI website. It's good to know that eating a lean ground beef patty does more than tickle your taste buds. You're getting Protein, Zinc, B12, Selenium, and Phosophorus, Niacin, B6, Iron, and Riboflavin. Okay, so it's not everything, but it helps.
Beef, it really should be what's for dinner.
August 13, 2008
Tuesday's Tips for Better Nutrition
Most of us are either rushed to get good food into our bodies or we are bored doing the same thing over and over again.
Here’s a great food you can prepare at home this next weekend for breakfast, double the recipe and have leftovers for healthy food to pack in your lunch.
Value versus Price
As gas prices continue to eat away at our pocketbooks I feel it's extremely important to remember a simple philosophy about retail business, The purchase price does not always reflect the value of a product. One of our customers yesterday told me a great story that represents this simple philosophy. He decided late Monday night he wanted to grill a steak. He didn't have any ready so he made a quick trip to the closest grocery store by his house. I won't name the store, but it was a Safe trip. He bought 2 T-Bones, for $8.49/lb. They looked good and red and he was happy with the price. Well, to make a long story short, his exact words were, "They were tasteless and very disappointing." I guarantee he won't be doing that again. The price was a little less than ours, and the trip was a little shorter than to our store, but the $18 he spent was wasted. He received zero "value" from this experience. He would have paid $22 at Midwestern, but he would have received 100% value and satisfaction from the steaks. Too often, especially today, we look for the lowest price and at times it is the best value. But, most of the time when it comes to meat, you will find that our 19 years in business are due to a superior product that offers more value than any grocery store sale price or regular price ever will. You can take your chances, or you can go with the sure thing, Midwestern Value.
