November 10, 2024
What I LIKE about Wichita Wagyu is the amazing product they carry — the steaks, sausage, ribeye, ground beef, brisket, A-5 Wagyu. The list goes on.
But what I LOVE about Wichita Wagyu is how Clay and Barb “do business.”
If you go to the typical grocery store, that meat comes from JBS, Tyson, Cargill or National Beef. Or I should say there’s an 85% chance it does since they control 85% of the market. What that means is that they make the rules. They set the prices with the rancher raising the cattle. They say when they will receive the cattle. This can be a problem when it comes to quality.
But not at Wichita Wagyu (WW). There are fourteen farms/ranches in Kansas and the area (Oklahoma) that supply the wagyu beef to WW. And the difference? If Clay or Barb have negotiated a deal with “x” ranch for some beef in “x” month and the rancher calls and says “Hey they aren’t ready. The quality won’t be as good,” Clay and Barb say “no problem.” They empower or allow the expert to be the expert rather than do what “corporate” does and say “Don’t care, send it.”
And that is one reason I love being invited to judge Battle of the Farms at Wichita Wagyu located on the southeast corner of W. 13th St. & N. Tyler Rd. in west Wichita. I was joined by my bois Wichita By E.B., Fert The Foodie and Jackstacks.Eats. We were able to BLINDLY try seven different steaks from six different farms — Wheat State Wagyu, SSE Land and Cattle Co. Wagyu Beef, Douglas Wagyu Ranch, Bar V Wagyu, Oklahoma Wagyu, and Double W Land and Cattle.
We ultimately picked Douglas Wagyu Ranch as our favorite. But damn, it was all so good and so close. My personal #1 was Wheat State, #2 was Douglas Wagyu and #3 was Double W. But holy cow (no pun intended), it was amazing.
WW does a ton of helpful events. They have Saturday lunches on occasion where you can taste their product. They have events during the week. Check out their page to see.
I’m done.
— TKG
