Back in 2017, the first USDA-inspected full-service meat processing plant in the state of Wyoming in over 40 years opened up shop in Cody. Now, Laramie is set to open its first-ever meat processing plant as soon as March.
307 Meat Company is looking to make a name for Wyoming-raised meat products by keeping the entire operation in-state. Currently, many ranchers ship their livestock out of state because of a lack of USDA. approved meat processors.
Kelcey Christensen is the president of the company and thinks the facility will have a positive effect on both the local community and the state as a whole.
"We have a lot of ranchers that are trying to raise a premium product and so they're purveying that product direct to consumer," he said. "They'll be able to bring that stuff to us in Wyoming, get a Wyoming stamp put on it."
That's something Christensen said he feels proud of. Plus, he said this will help keep local dollars in the
state. In the retail store on the property, customers will be able to purchase locally raised pork, grass-fed beef, lamb, goat, and bison. Christensen also has plans to import wild caught fish from both coasts.
The 9,000 square foot plant is located on the south end of town on Highway 287 and will employ upwards of twenty-five people.
Have a question about this story? Contact the reporter, Megan Feighery, at mfeigher@uwyo.edu.
