To say that a Wright County business got its start thanks to the Seattle Seahawks football team seems strange. But for Knute and Amanda Severson, it’s a true story. After meeting during a team internship five years ago in Washington, the couple soon found themselves back in Iowa where they have pursued a new adventure: starting a grass-fed beef operation, selling directly to consumers. Three years later, the business, called Grand View Beef, is prospering. Recently, they are getting more notice, thanks to a state Farm Bureau award opportunity.
The Seversons beef operation is located north of Clarion. It started in 2017 after Knute and Amanda were married. Knute is a local, having graduated from Clarion-Goldfield in 2012, while Amanda is from a small town in Washington. She admits to having little knowledge or interest in agriculture when she first met him. However, after Knute moved back to Iowa after the Seahawks internship, Amanda traveled here to visit him, and something sparked with the area and the ag industry for her.
The idea to raise beef and sell it directly to consumers had been blossoming for a while in Knute’s head. “I had been to farmers markets in Washington and I was amazed at what the beef was selling for,” he said. “I realized that farmers were getting a premium when they went directly to the consumer.” The couple soon purchased 40 acres on Knute’s family’s century farm northwest of Lake Cornelia. They also bought 12 calves from his parents’, Troy and Beth’s, cow/calf operation.
At this point, the Seversons engaged in an interesting experiment with their beef cattle. They had a big decision to make as to how to raise and market their animals, so they raised six steers as grass-fed and six as corn-fed.
When it came time to sell the beef, something unexpected happened. “Much to our surprise, even in Central Iowa, the grass-fed sold faster,” explains Amanda. She adds that the beef was of a high quality as well. “We were amazed at the flavor and tenderness, and the animals were happy and healthy. We were completely sold on raising grass-fed animals.”
In the years since the Seversons dove head first into the business, they have consistently grown. They increased the number of calves they purchased each year from Beth and Troy and have widened the market for their products. They sell at area Farmers Markets, on their website, grandviewbeef.com, wholesale in stores, like Granny’s Iowa Market in Clarion, and ship their products all over the Midwest. Grand View sells most any beef product you can imagine from ground to roasts to ribs and even beef tongue. They are also proud to have added value back into the community as they utilize local meat lockers, donate to food pantries and have participated in Clarion’s Meal on Main.
As they have kept their business growing, the Seversons note that 2020 was a challenge for them like everyone else. Farmers Markets were harder to maneuver and bills still had to be paid. Luckily, the couple says they were fortunate to have begun online shipping early in the year and just before Christmas marked their biggest day of shipments ever.
Another positive for Grand View Beef is still developing. In early fall, the Seversons entered the Iowa Farm Bureau Grow Your Future Award. The award is for young ag-business entrepreneurs. Amanda said they were encouraged to enter by a friend and former winner of the award. The couple made a video (featuring some cute commentary from their baby boy Harbor) explaining their business. Ten videos were chosen by the state Farm Bureau and then people were asked to vote on those throughout December with the top six going on to give a presentation at the state-level later in January.
According to the Farm Bureau website, Grand View Beef racked up the second-highest number of votes and thus moves on! Amanda explained that they will give a live video presentation and answer questions at the next stage of competition. Their presentation will then be shown to the state conference. The top three businesses are awarded cash prizes, with $7,500 going to first.
The Seversons said if they win, they plan to put the prize towards a walk-in freezer they recently purchased. The freezer will help them grow their business and expand in the future. The couple said the ten-year goal for Grand View Beef is to raise 200 head per year and convert more row-crops to pasture. They also hope that Amanda can eventually work with the business full-time, since both Seversons now have other jobs (Knute is a Pioneer sales rep, while Amanda works as a coordinator at Iowa State in the Ivy Executive MBA program.)
For now, regardless of what happens with the Farm Bureau award, the Seversons say they are happy with how far their business has come. “We just feel really blessed to live in an area with such great customers,” said Amanda. “We’re overwhelmed by the support we’ve received.” The future is looking bright for Grand View Beef.
You can follow Grand View Beef on Instagram and Facebook or check them out at their website, grandviewbeef.com.
