“On the Farm”

Located in Hutchinson, Minnesota, The Lamb Shoppe is what owners Connie Karstens and Doug Rathke call their “on the farm” retail outlet for specialty meat from their farm Liberty, Land, and Livestock. Liberty, Land and Livestock is a 180-acre farm that allows Dorset sheep and Jersey cattle to graze freely on pasture herbage.

The Crow River runs through the farm and it is bordered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ Luce Line Trail. As stewards of the earth, the family is committed to keeping the land and livestock in harmony. The farm has been chemical free since they purchased it in 1990 and the meat is raised antibiotic and growth hormone free. “We have devoted our lives to this labor of love, and it has rewarded us with a quality lifestyle in which to raise our children,” say Connie and Doug.

Exceptional Quality

The Lamb Shoppe was built and approved by the USDA as a cutting and packaging facility along with a small retail outlet in 1995 as an addition to the family’s farm home. In order to ensure the exceptional quality of their lamb cuts, Connie and Doug received meat cutting training from the nation’s top lamb experts as well as from the British Meat and Livestock Commission. They have since incorporated the best ideas from both sources. Liberty, Land, and Livestock offers individual cuts of:

* lamb and beef,
* half or whole lambs,
* beef quarters and halves,
* chickens,
* eggs and
* various cuts may be requested for holiday gift packs.

Connection to Healthy Meat

Customers are very satisfied with Liberty Lamb, and Connie and Doug say that many chefs prefer their lamb. They currently supply two restaurants in the Twin Cities. Their lamb can also be found at the Minnesota State Fair.

They both point out that high quality, pasture-fed red meat is highly nutritious, and lamb is incredibly versatile. Lamb is a good source of protein, zinc, iron, vitamin B and is low in fat and cholesterol. Lamb can be broiled, roasted, braised, grilled, stir-fried, sautéed, or stewed. The Lamb Shoppe offers many recipes for light or ethnic meals containing lamb and takes pride in being their customers’ “connection to healthy meat.”