STEVE

CARR

A Producer

3D VALLEY BEEF

Spotlight

BY: JOE MOORE

In the beautiful rolling hills of southern Indiana, 3D Valley Beef is located in the small hamlet of Depauw in Harrison County.
Land perfectly suited for grazing beef cattle. That was also Steve Carrs assessment when he and his wife Jane purchased their
first 240 acre farm in 1981 shortly after being married. The original farm was horribly overgrown and had to be completely
cleared by hand before it would be suitable for cattle. At that time, there were two houses for sale in Depauw. The Carrs
bought the house and property in which they now live so they would be close to their new farm. This occurred despite the
16

Indiana BEEF

Winter 2014

fact that Jane preferred the other house. It

business which was not very consistent

Steve hopes to build the herd to about

was here that they raised their family of 3

from an income standpoint and concentrate

200 within a year. The cattle are grazed

daughters. The girls constitute the 3D of

on raising beef strictly for direct marketing.

and then most are grain finished while a

3D Valley Beef; Jo Ellen, Leigh and Morgan.

Steve and Jane say that the three girls had

few are finished on grass to satisfy those

In the early 80s, Steve Carrs employer

become disinterested in the beef industry

customer requests for 100% grass-fed beef.

while the family was in the stocker business.

Steve and Jane have completed the require-

The conversion to direct marketing brought

ments and have been certified as a Certified

a renewed interest in beef cattle for their

Livestock Producer by the Indiana State

daughters and has brought their family

Department of Agriculture. They practice

closer. While Jane was the primary catalyst

an holistic approach to farm management

behind the direct marketing approach, sell-

that involves active pasture rotation and

ing the beef that they have raised to the end

ongoing efforts to improve their soils fer-

user has built stronger relationships within

tility. Other than themselves, the farm has

their entire family and is something in

two full time employees. Carter Willis is

which all can take pride and share an inter-

the farm manager and Clint Bell works with

est. 3D Valley Beef is available at their 3D

Carter to help manage the livestock and

Valley Farm Store, the New Albany Farmers

maintain the infrastructure on the land.

Market, the Rainbow Blossom Health Food

The three daughters and their families help

Market, the Exchange Gastropub, Caf 27

as well.

decided that he was going to sell out of the

cattle business so Steve bought some cattle
and started in the stocker business. That
became the Carrs lives for the next 25 years.
Over that period of time, Steve and Jane
expanded their farm to about 700 acres and
grazed as many as 2,000 head per year.
About ten years ago, the Carrs received a
call from a farmers market in New Albany
asking them if they would bring some of
their beef to the market on weekends to
satisfy customer requests for locally raised
beef. While customers were happy to see
locally raised beef at the market, they began
making requests for beef that had been
raised without hormones or antibiotics. As
the requests piled up, the Carrs decided to
change their production methods to better
serve the needs of their customers.

The

response to the demand for their natural

beef was so overwhelming that the decision was made to get out of the stocker

and Sawyers Fine Meats.

Like many beef producers, the Carrs dont

The Carrs still use dogs to herd and draft

take many vacations or pursue too many

horses to farm. Steve loves horses and has

outside hobbies. Steve and Jane treasure

Belgians that he uses for various chores

their family and their church. They enjoy

including the few acres placed into popcorn

their trip to the Indiana State Fair each

each year. He also makes daily inspections

year and attending cattle and producer

of the land and cattle on his quarter horse.

education meetings. Their farm keeps them

The farm currently has about 140 head of

plenty busy and on behalf of Indianas beef

cattle, mostly Angus on their 700 acres.

industry, I thank them for all they do.

Indiana BEEF

Winter 2014

17