ND Department of Agriculture Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 7, 2008

ND BRANDED BEEF IS PRIDE OF DAKOTA RETAILER OF THE YEAR

BISMARCK – A Burleigh County family who expanded their ranching operation into a successful meat processing and retail business has been named the 2007 Pride of Dakota Retailer of the Year.

“Alvin and Juanita Braun were nominated by other Pride of Dakota members to receive this honor,” said Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson, who presented the award Friday, to the owners of North Dakota Branded Beef at their retail store in Bismarck. “This recognizes both their business achievement and their efforts on behalf of Pride of Dakota.”
Johnson said the Brauns have demonstrated a deep commitment to the Pride of Dakota program and to helping other Pride of Dakota members.

“Juanita and Alvin carry more than 300 products from more than 60 Pride of Dakota companies in their store,” he said. “This month – Pride of Dakota Month – they organized, on their own, a special promotion for other Pride of Dakota members to display, demonstrate and promote their own products.”

Third-generation family farmers, the Brauns farm about 1,000 acres eight miles east of Bismarck, where they raise 400 head of commercial cattle, mostly Angus and some Simmental. They started North Dakota Branded Beef in June 2006.

At eight months, the calves from the Braun’s ranch are taken to a certified feedlot, where they are finished on a diet of corn, barley, lentils, peas and hay. The animals are processed at ND Branded Beef and Pack, LLC., their USDA-inspected facility in Harvey. The meat is vacuum packed and cryogenically frozen before shipment to the retail store in Bismarck and to select restaurants and grocery stores.

In addition to their own beef, the Brauns also offer Catherine’s Lamb from Driscoll and pork. All meat is offered in a variety of cuts and processed products, such as sausages and jerky.

In a recent article in The Bismarck Tribune, Juanita Braun said, “"Alvin and I have always had the philosophy that it's important to pay attention and help businesses you already have. It's that small-town mentality, but it's also about the basic economy of North Dakota. If we want to keep people on the farms, and keep our small towns viable, we have to support our grassroots economy."

Authorized by the Legislature and administered by the North Dakota Department of Agriculture, the Pride of Dakota program fosters the development and growth of small businesses and especially businesses that are farm-based or rely on agricultural commodities. Pride of Dakota member companies can participate in cooperative promotion and marketing events; receive representation at local, state, regional, national, and international trade shows and educational opportunities. More than 430 companies are Pride of Dakota members.

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MEDIA: For more information, please call Ted Quanrud at (701) 328-2233 or tquanrud@nd.gov or Patrice Lahlum at (701) 239-7210 or plahlum@nd.gov.

For more information on North Dakota Branded Beef, see www.ndbrandedbeef.com.