Innovation has meant risk for Tamara Taylor, and on Wednesday, reward.

Ravenwood Farm Fresh Meats, which Taylor operates with her husband Mark and parents Dayle and Alice Murray, received a Best Practices Award at the AgChoices 2009 conference in Red Deer.

Located on the Raven River near Caroline, Ravenwood Ranch has about 75 beef cows, 80 pigs and 65 goats.

“We raise everything naturally outdoors, and they’re all grain-fed,” said Taylor, adding that no hormones are used and antibiotics are administered only when necessary to treat injury or illness.

“Keeping things pleasant and humane for them affects our end product.”

That end product is sold out of Ravenwood Farm Fresh Meats, a 3,000-square-foot shop in Caroline. Opened in 2008, the store recently gained a cafe and a butcher shop that allows customers to buy custom-cut meats.

Planned for this year is a goat milk dairy, with other projects in the works.

The impetus for Ravenwood Farm Fresh Meats came three years ago. Taylor, who has a degree in animal science and was doing lab work, was ready for something different.

“I really wanted to have a career using my education that would give me the flexibility to be at home and raise my kids.”

She decided to raise pigs and goats — initially relying on farm gate sales and deliveries, but eventually moving into a 1,000-square-foot commercial bay in Caroline.

“It just kind of snowballed from there,” she said. “In November, my husband quit his real job to come manage the store and work on the farm full time.”

Her parents, who worked in the oilpatch but had a small beef herd, also joined the business.

Taylor thinks Ravenwood Farm Fresh Meats’ focus on natural products appeals to many people.

“We have people from Calgary and Edmonton that see our website and agree with our philosophyof how we raise our animals.”

The business attracts local consumers as well.

“We’ve had really good support from the community, as well as the summer tourism crowd and the fall hunting crowd.”

Taylor said the business also supplies some restaurants, makes deliveries to larger centres, and might soon sell at farmers markets in Edmonton and Calgary.

Recipients of Best Practices Awards are selected on the basis of their innovative plans for the development of agricultural businesses. Kayben Farms of Okotoks and Spring Creek Ranch of Vegreville were also recognized this year.

Each winner receives a prize package customized to their needs. Valued at up to $10,000, it can include things like computer equipment, website development, marketing consultation and agronomic services.

“I think it will really help us bring our business to the next level and bring awareness to what we’re doing,” said Taylor.

Contact Harley Richards at

hrichards@reddeeradvocate.com