We are excited to share today’s Small Business Saturday with y’all! Check this out!…. Joseph Cosgray lives in Simonton (next to Fulshear) and is the founder and owner of Cosgray Grass-Fed Beef. He raises his cattle on lush green grasses in a stress-free environment, then sells, and delivers his beef to the Katy area. Sounds amazing already, right? Well, what makes this Small Business Saturday even more inspiring is that Joseph is 17 years old! At just age 14, he convinced his family, that had never had cattle, that he was going to start a beef business. He is self taught and studied hard to learn how to start this business and how to raise cattle, he was inspired during his studies to take a healthy and holistic approach to his beef business. Check out our interview with this young entrepreneur to learn more about why grass-fed beef is a healthier choice for your family and his inspiration and future plans for his business! Psst.. he also has a giveaway going on, so make sure to enter to win!
Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in the Katy area?
I have lived in the Katy area (Simonton) my entire life, about two miles from the famous Anthonie’s Market Grill.
Simonton is near Fulshear, correct? What do you love about your town?
Yes, Simonton and Fulshear are neighboring cities. I love the scenery in Simonton. We have many beautiful pecan trees growing in rows through grassy fields. Simonton is home to many polo farms, so the pastures are filled with grazing horses, making for a really awesome view.
When did you begin Cosgray Grass-Fed Beef Service?
I started my businesses 4 years ago when I was 13 (I’m 17).
What was the inspiration behind starting this business?
My family has always lived on 12 acres, but has never owned any livestock. I asked my parents if we could get cattle but they didn’t have the time to jump into a big project like that, so my sister suggested I start the project and grow a beef business. In order to get my parents to approve of the idea I knew I had to learn about raising cattle. I got ahold of a book by Joel Salatin (a famous grass-fed beef farmer in Virginia). This book taught me some incredible things and influenced me to take a healthy, holistic approach to raising cattle. It was what really inspired me to start my entrepreneurial adventure!
Have you always raised cattle? What did you do before starting this business?
I didn’t own cattle until I was in 8th grade, but before then I spent the summer building fences and learning from other experienced ranchers. Before I started this business in 7th grade, I enjoyed playing Soccer and fishing in our pond. During the summers I would get a small job feeding the neighbors horses or working at a garden and orchard.
Tell us about the importance of beef being Grass-Fed and why it’s a better option for families?
Grass is what cattle are meant to eat, their digestive system is designed to turn low energy forages into high energy beef! When cattle are fed grass the beef is healthier, leaner, and tastes much better than grain-fed beef, and is just as tender. About 97% of the beef produced in America comes from factory farms or feedlots, where cattle are given antibiotics, steroids, and high energy grain. The major feedlot company’s process their beef in unsanitary facilities leading to literally millions of pounds of beef recalled a year. The feedlots produce beef as fast as possible, it’s a matter of economics and speed, not health and flavor. The majority of the beef produced isn’t raised to provide quality food. I raise my cattle on lush green grasses in a stress-free environment. They get all their energy from grass which leads to a normal growth rate, and a healthy animal. Grass-fed beef is super healthy because it contains healthy fats, rather than saturated fats. It has six times more Omega-3 fatty acids. It contains much more Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) which is the biggest cancer fighting nutrient, and is clinically proven to decrease the risk of heart disease. Eating locally raised and processed grass-fed beef will give families peace of mind to know that what their eating doesn’t contain harmful bacteria or wasn’t shipped in from across the world.
If someone wants beef from you, what does that process look like?
Email me ([email protected]) and let me know whether you would like to reserve a half beef, a quarter beef, a 50 lb. or 20 lb. variety package. I’ll let you know when to purchase your beef (once it’s ready) via my online store and which Saturday I will be delivering. I encourage my customers to email me with any questions they have. You can also learn more through my site: https://josephcosgray.wixsite.com/healthybeef
You have a giveaway going on right now! What are the details and how do we enter to win?
Enter your email for a chance to win a 20 lb. grass-fed beef package delivered to your door. Share it on Facebook to get three more entries! It contains a variety of premium steaks, roasts, ground beef and sausage! This is a great way to join my mailing list if you want to learn more, before you reserve a package. Enter here: https://kingsumo.com/g/qauttv/grass-fed-beef-giveaway-20-lb-variety-package-delivered-to-your-door
Future plans for your business?
I would love to continue to grow my business and start producing pastured chicken along with the grass-fed beef. In two years I’m hoping to go to Texas A&M and study agriculture and business, and then pick up the business full time after college. My younger brother plans to take over when I go to college, while I help with decision making in his first years.
To learn more about Cosgray Grass-Fed Beef, check out his website and follow him Facebook!
Website: https://josephcosgray.wixsite.com/healthybeef
Facebook: @cosgraygrassfedbeef