Choctaw Ranches Plans E-Commerce Launch for Beef Sales

DURANT, Okla. Choctaw Ranches is preparing to sell beef directly to consumers through an online store scheduled to open after the first of the year. The Durant, Oklahoma operation will offer quarter-, half- and whole-beef freezer packages, along with curated subscription boxes, through the platform.

Marshall Wright, senior director of commerce marketing for Choctaw Ranches, discussed the plans on Market Day Report ahead of an episode about the ranches' agricultural heritage and conservation practices. He said the operation works with local retail partners and already has beef on several restaurant menus.

The ranches use technology, data and analytics to track animals through their life cycles. Wright said source-verified traceability lets the operation give consumers information about where their beef comes from and how it was raised. Partnerships with processors and other businesses help maintain consistent practices across the production process.

Wright said healthy, productive land is the foundation for healthy cattle and quality beef. The operation's work includes forestry management, grazing practices and conservation. The Choctaw Nation's Tribal Conservation Council is part of its natural resource management approach, and ranching, forestry and land management teams carry out those practices daily.

"When we take care of the land, then the land is going to produce for us as well," Wright said. He said respect for the land and knowledge passed down through generations continue to guide decisions about agriculture and natural resources.

The operation is focused on quality and whole-animal utilization as it works to bring beef to consumers. Rather than concentrating only on popular cuts such as steaks, the ranch wants to find value across the animal, including roasts, ground beef and other products. Wright said that approach could introduce consumers to cuts and products they might not typically purchase.

The operation is also exploring products such as beef tallow and beef broth. Wright said the goal is to grow the Choctaw Ranches beef brand while remaining connected to the land stewardship and agricultural values that define the operation.