Utah ranchers selling quarter and half beef
When to order a beef share
Most ranches don't sell shares off the shelf. You reserve a spot in an upcoming harvest with a deposit, the animal goes to the butcher, and you pay the rest once it is weighed. That means the best time to order is usually well before you need the beef. This page shows how the timeline works and what ranches in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming were offering when we checked on November 9, 2026.
Short version: of the 11 ranches below, several were sold out tonight or already booking into 2027. Deposits we found ran from $100 to $1,450 depending on the ranch and share size, and two ranches say theirs are non-refundable. If a ranch you like is sold out, ask to join its wait list and ask when the next harvest is.
How a beef share order usually goes
- Reserve with a deposit. Fold of Liberty Farms says the deposit holds a share on the next harvest and comes off your total. Hoggan Ranch credits it the same way.
- Harvest at the processor. The ranch takes the animal to a butcher. Fold of Liberty, for example, uses Bar W Meat Processing in Nephi.
- Hanging and aging. The carcass is chilled and aged before cutting. Fold of Liberty dry ages its beef for two weeks. MU Extension notes that processors use different hanging and aging schedules, so total processing time varies.
- Your cut sheet. You choose steak thickness, roast size and how much goes to ground. Fold of Liberty calls you before processing; Wagon Wheel Farms emails a cut sheet. Our cut sheet guide walks through it.
- Pay the balance. Most of these ranches price by hanging weight, so the final bill comes after the animal is weighed. Fold of Liberty emails a payment link at that point; Hoggan Ranch collects the balance at pickup; Thomas Cattle Company offers a payment plan.
- Pick up on time. MU Extension says to pick up as soon as your meat is ready, since processors may charge storage fees after the scheduled date. Have the freezer space cleared first.
Deposits and availability, checked tonight
Each row comes from the ranch's own page, fetched November 9, 2026. Availability changes quickly, so confirm with the ranch before you pay.
| Ranch | Deposit | How it works | Availability tonight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoggan Ranch Saratoga Springs, UT | Quarter $300 (grain-finished) or $400 (grass-finished); half $600 or $750; whole $950 or $1,450. | Deposit is credited toward your total; balance is paid at pickup. | Reservation page open; no harvest date posted. |
| Fold of Liberty Farms Lake Shore, UT | Quarter $500, half $750, whole $1,000. | Deposit holds a share on the next harvest and comes off your total. Balance is due once the animal is weighed. | Reservation page open; no harvest date posted. |
| Bennion Beef Vernon, UT | Deposit listing shows $200 (whole). | Whole, half, quarter and eighth sizes listed. | Every size showed sold out. |
| Forage Creek Ranch Tremonton, UT | Quarter box sold at a flat price ($1,199 sale price). | Pays in full, not a deposit. | Sold out; the page says the ranch has no inventory right now. |
| Thomas Cattle Company Idaho, pickup in Boise area | Half $250, non-refundable. | Balance by payment plan or one payment before pickup. | Deposit months February to June 2027 all showed sold out. |
| Pratt Family Beef Blackfoot, ID | Quarter $200, half $300, whole $500, non-refundable. | Deposit goes toward the total. | Ranch says beef is ready September to October; 2026 deliveries were Boise Oct 3 and Salt Lake Oct 27. |
| Idaho Food Coop (Red Star Ranch) Hazelton, ID | Half $250. | Required on any custom cut animal. | Next availability starts January 2027. |
| Wagon Wheel Farms Bliss, ID | Half $100. | After a deposit the farm contacts you with an estimated processing date. | Sold out. |
| Bruce Ranch Beef CSA Eagle, ID | $200 for a quarter, half or full share. | Reserves a share in an upcoming harvest. | Reservation page open; harvest dates not shown on that page. |
| Nelson Family Ranch Troy, ID | Flat price per share (quarter $1,738). | Shares are listed as pre-order. | Pre-order open. |
| Lockhart Cattle Company Jackson, WY | Order form, then payment by phone. | Ranch calls within 72 hours of the form. Quarters wait for a second buyer. | Quarter wait list. |
Prices per pound for these and more ranches are on the Utah, Idaho and Wyoming price comparison.
Why shares sell out
- Ranches can't add animals quickly. UMaine Extension says grain-fed cattle usually reach slaughter weight at 12 to 18 months of age and grass-fed cattle at 22 to 30 months. A ranch's supply for next year is mostly set already.
- Harvest slots are set ahead. Thomas Cattle Company sells deposits by month, and every month from February to June 2027 showed sold out tonight. Idaho Food Coop's next openings start in January 2027.
- Quarters need a partner. Lockhart Cattle Company explains that a beef is cut two ways, not four, so it pairs quarter orders and contacts you once a second buyer signs up.
Tips for getting a share when you want it
- Order months ahead. Pratt Family Beef, for example, says its beef is ready in September and October. If you want beef for fall, reserving in spring or earlier gives you the best odds.
- Ask if the deposit is refundable. Thomas Cattle Company and Pratt Family Beef both say theirs is non-refundable. Fold of Liberty and Hoggan Ranch apply it to your total.
- Get the estimated date in writing. Wagon Wheel Farms contacts buyers with an estimated processing date after the deposit. Ask any ranch for theirs.
- Budget for the balance. The deposit is a small part of the bill. Fold of Liberty, for example, estimates a quarter at $1,163 to $1,744 total. See what a quarter really costs.
- Try a smaller share or split one. If a ranch only has halves, splitting with family or friends can work. Read quarter vs half vs whole.
- Bring your questions. Our questions to ask before you buy checklist covers the rancher and the butcher.
Find a ranch with openings
Browse Utah, Idaho and Wyoming ranches, or look at grass-fed beef, bison and elk.
Sources fetched November 9, 2026: University of Missouri Extension, Buying Meat Direct From the Farm (MX3001); University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Bulletin 1071, What To Expect When Buying A Freezer Beef; and each ranch's own page linked in the table. No ranch paid to be listed.
See something wrong? Email brad@uofyou.org.