Shire Gate Farm: Great Tasting Beef Which Won’t Cost The Earth “You are what you eat.” It’s a term that resonates with today’s increasingly healthconscious consumers. So it’s no surprise to know that many top athletes are also turning to sustainably-produced foods to ensure they get the correct balance of nutrients and energy – and avoid potentially harmful additives. But one leading athlete is taking things a step further: Meet Will Witherspoon, NFL linebacker for the Tennessee Titans – and sustainable farmer at Shire Gate Farm. When Will Witherspoon established Shire Gate Farm, near Owensville, Missouri, he had only two goals in mind: To manage the farm and its livestock as nature intended, and to produce the healthiest, best-tasting food possible. Shire Gate Farm is now proud to offer customers 100% grassfed Ground Beef, pre-shaped 1/3lb and 1/4lb Patties, all-beef Hot Dogs, as well as all-beef Andouille and Bratwurst Sausages – all produced from cattle raised sustainably on open pasture and according to the highest welfare standards in the U.S. Will Witherspoon Shire Gate Farm Will is passionate about producing sustainable, healthy and nutritious food on his family farm. The Witherspoon’s purchased the 800-acre working farm in 2007, initially as a family retreat and a home for Will’s Shire horses. But his interest in healthy food and farming soon led to the decision to raise his own grassfed cattle to provide beef for the family. After intensive research, Will chose the White Park cattle breed to build his herd. It’s an ancient breed, well-known for its ability to thrive in a grassfed environment and for its superior, healthful meat. “Our original intention was to purchase two bred cows, but we walked away with a herd of eleven bred cows and a bull,” Will explains. Shire Gate Farm is now working with a small number of trusted partner farms to insure a consistent year-round supply of high-quality beef for the Shire Gate Farm brand. Will’s research also led him to Animal Welfare Approved – the most highly regarded food label when it comes to animal welfare, pasture-based farming, and sustainability. “I wanted Shire Gate Farm to be true to nature and true to the way things should be done,” Witherspoon says. “That means putting the welfare and care of the animals first, as well as caring for the environment.” Every farm under the Shire Gate Farm brand is subject to annual independent third-party audit by Animal Welfare Approved. Grassfed: The Healthy Option As a professional athlete involved in one of the world’s most physical sports, Will is particularly aware of the connection between the food we eat and our health and wellbeing. “As a pro football player, I can’t even take over-the-counter cold medicine without letting my trainer know about it,” he says. “Why would I want my kids – or any kids – to eat beef from cattle fed hormones or routine antibiotics? At Shire Gate Farm, we raise our cattle just as nature intended, out on grass. They aren’t fed grain and we never use growth hormones, antibiotics, or any other unnatural additives. We know it’s better for us, better for the animals, and better for the planet.” Will’s concerns about how we farm and the food we eat are well founded. Scientific research shows that the nutritional quality and taste of meat has a lot to do with how animals are fed and raised. Grassfed beef is higher in many essential nutrients – such as Omega-3 fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), antioxidants, and vitamin E – which contribute to overall human health benefits. 38 ~ Fresh Products 2013 - 2014 Annual Catalog