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Arkansas is an agricultural state. As a matter of fact, agriculture is Arkansas’ No. 1 production industry, and that’s not a new status. We often think of ground crops like soybeans, rice, fruits and vegetables when we think about agriculture, but poultry, livestock and swine claim that role as much as plant-producing crops.
That type of production means that products from over 28,000 beef farms and 1.8 million pigs must get from an Arkansas farm to your dinner table. And while that sounds a little unbelievable, it’s a process that locations across our state have been taking care of generationally for decades.
As we navigate through Arkansas’s bustling meat markets, it’s not just the top-notch cuts of meat that make these establishments stand out. One of the true hidden gems that you’ll stumble upon during your culinary expedition is the family-run butcher shops, where authenticity meets quality. These beloved establishments are steeped in tradition. The walls are adorned with vintage photographs and memorabilia, telling the story of the shop’s rich history and carrying stories of generations who have dedicated their lives to perfecting their craft, passed down through the years with pride and precision.
9 Family-Owned Arkansas Butcher Shops
What truly sets these family-run butcher shops apart is the sense of community they foster. These businesses have built long-lasting relationships with their customers, who often return time and time again, not just for the quality meats but for the personal connection and trust made over time. It’s common to witness lively conversations about family recipes or local events around town while waiting your turn at the counter.
Supporting these local butcher shops means more than just enjoying a delicious meal. It means investing in the community, supporting small businesses and preserving a piece of Arkansas’s cultural heritage. You become part of their story by purchasing your meats from these family-run establishments, ensuring that their legacies continue.
Key’s Family Butcher Shop in Van Buren originally opened in the 1950s as a one-room slaughterhouse to serve area farmers. Over time, second and third family owners worked with the USDA to establish a business built on quality production and safe standards. Today, a fully cooked side of the business with a smokehouse and jerky production allows them to differentiate the market and move into the future with an expansion mindset.
2900 Oliver Springs Rd., Van Buren | Website | Facebook
Prime Country Meat Market in Horatio opened in 2021, meeting a need in Southwest Arkansas for locally sourced meat with a farm-to-table focus for local growers. With a USDA approver on-site, this market will butcher beef, sheep and goats raised nearby and return them vacuum-sealed for the freezer or local markets. An on-site smokehouse allows the team to complete a hog, including bacon and sausages, in 7-10 business days.
223 Main Street, Horatio | Facebook
GrassRoots Farmers Co-op offers meat with the intention of raising animals on sustainable and regenerative farms and using environmentally friendly packing products like plant-based insulation. The collective group of farmers operates pasture and forest-raised animals without antibiotics or hormones. The meat is processed near the farms and shipped to customers’ front doors.
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest
Weldon’s Meat Market has been a Hot Springs community staple for over 40 years. A combination grocery market and meat shop offer the perfect way for customers to set apart a dinner party or special celebration with quality cut meats and specialty sides. Many customers also love to snag their homemade casseroles and desserts through the holiday season.
3911 Central Ave., Ste A, Hot Springs | Website | Facebook
Stepping into Ivan’s Old Time Meat Shop is like stepping back in time. The friendly faces are a big part of why customers return repeatedly. Well, that and the exceptional cut meats, deli meats, smoked cheeses, housemade sausage and locally sourced groceries and specialty food items.
2101 N 2nd Street, Rogers | Facebook
Hogg’s Meat Market is the label on Central Arkansas’s oldest meat market. For over 60 years, they’ve offered quality meats and food markets. They recently added a full-service restaurant and bar with catering and a game processing center in the Park Hill Historic District.
3905 JFK Blvd, North Little Rock | Website | Facebook
The Butcher Block in Fort Smith is a destination meat market for those who love meat. Whether having a choice of beef or seasonal seafood selections on the dinner table or surfing the shelf looking for a new rub or sauce, the new owners of Butcher Block are bringing customer service to a new level. Don’t miss the expanded take-and-bake food selections and deli counter.
8901 Jenny Lind Road #8, Fort Smith | Website | Facebook
Kruse Meats is one of those Arkansas staple family companies where multiple generations work in the office together daily. For nearly 80 years, the same family has helped farmers and hunters process and prepare meats in their butcher shop.
2100 Kruse Loop, Alexander | Website | Facebook
C & C Packing Co. in Stamps started as a small farm operation with a field-to-market concept in 1959. Over time, they grew into a market off Highway 82 where two brothers now manage the two sides of the business, farm and deli. They offer farm-to-freezer natural, dried and aged Angus Beef, jerky, cured hams, summer sausages, breakfast sausages and hot links.
1192 Hwy 82, Stamps | Website | Facebook
Other Butcher Shops Around Arkansas
- Butcher Block | West Helena
- Meat Market Montiel | De Queen
- The Meat Shop | Mountain Home
- Richard’s County Meat Market | Fayetteville
- Fresh Halal Meat Market | Bentonville
- Petit Jean Meats | Morrilton
- McNeal Farms | Morrilton
- Dimes Meat Market | Springdale
- Harpo’s Daus Butcher Haus and Farm | Green Forest
- Twin Lakes Smokehouse and Meat Market | Gassville
- The Buck Stop Meat Store | Monticello
- J&M Meat and Seafood | Searcy
- Cabot Meat Market | Cabot
- Mitchell’s Meat Market | Stuttgart
- One Bite Meat Market | Heber Springs
This time of year, getting help with wild game hunting spoils is essential. Check out these local wild game processing centers in Arkansas for help filling the freezer for the winter season.
Unless otherwise noted, images are used with permission from Prime Country Meats.
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You failed to mention Clampit’s Country Kitchen and Meat Market in Hot Springs Village. They also process deer meat.
[…] spring sports schedules. This may be the year to ditch the menu plan and get takeout. Local diners, meat markets, and smokehouses often offer a family Easter menu to go that you can pick up the day before or the […]