Faces of Food & Fitness

Spain Family Meats -- Vince & Stephanie Spain Family, Castalia, Iowa

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Spain Family Meats is located between Castalia and Clermont, Iowa.  The 570-acre farm is owned by Vince and Stephanie Spain. 

Vince grew up on a farm in southeast Iowa.  As a FFA member in high school, Vince grew oats for the Quaker Oats Improvement Project.  He won an award for the highest oat yield in Iowa. 

After college, Vince bought his own farm and started Spain Family Meats.  Some years, the Spain's grow oats as a cover crop or for livestock feed. 

The Spain' also raise sheep, hogs and cattle without the use of hormones or antibiotics.  The family keeps an assortment of pigs— including Duroc and Berkshire breeds, which are famous for their high-quality meat. 

In the summer, the Spain's sheep graze on grass that isn't suitable for their cattle.  The sheep are penned in with movable electric netting and grazed rotationally.  A commercial shearer helps trim the sheep's coats.   
The Spain's livestock is processed at the Edgewood Meat Locker.  Their refrigerator is full of their own product— tasty peppered bacon, smoked ham, pork chops, and ground beef patties and during Easter-time, fresh lamb.  

They sell to local markets, by word of mouth and supply to Annie's Gardens and Greens.  Valley of Elgin High School has used the Spain's products at their concession stands. 

The three Spain children help with chores and are active members of 4-H showing calves and heifers at fairs.  Sadie—the family stock dog—helps around the farm too.

When he isn't busy farming, Vince enjoys watching tractor pulls and his children show 4-H animals.

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