Workshop offers butchering instruction and lamb lunch

Community members can learn firsthand about meat processing during a Know Your Cuts 101 and 102 workshop offered from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Mission West Community Development in Ronan.

This live, hands-on experience will connect participants with their local butcher while he breaks down a lamb carcass. They will also learn how to communicate cut orders for a quarter, half and whole lamb, pig and beef, as well as freezer-space requirements, while networking with local producers.

At noon, enjoy lunch prepared with the freshly butchered lamb and sit in on a joint meeting of the Flathead and Western Farmers Union locals to hear updates about Montana Farmers Union's work to support family farmers and ranchers.

The day's activities are offered by Montana Farmers Union and Mission West Community Development Partners. Space is limited to attend the public event, which is free for MFU members or $25 for non-members.

Know Your Co-op

MFU and Mission West are also teaming up in Sanders County for a "Know Your Co-op" workshop from noon-3 p.m., Friday, Dec. 12, at the Sanders County Pavilion in Plains.

The public event includes:

• A working lunch and presentation from Blake Lineweaver of Mission West on the benefits of the cooperative model, how to become a member of a co-op, and what that means. 

• An informational presentation and Q&A with the chairman of Glacier Processing, a cooperative meat processing facility in Columbia Falls.

• Updates from MWCDP and Montana Farmers Union, followed by networking with local producers.

For more information, contact MFU Ambassador Carissa McNamara at [email protected] or 406-333-1886.