Slagel Family Farm

About

Slagel Farms is a fifth-generation family-owned food and beverage manufacturing operation located in Fairbury, Illinois, specializing in consistent, high-quality, all-natural meats since 1888. This small diversified farm prioritizes quality and hands-on care over mass production, controlling every aspect of their process from feed production to final distribution. The company raises beef, veal, pork, lamb, chicken, rabbit, and goat, growing much of the livestock feed on-site to ensure complete quality control. Slagel Farms operates their own processing facility in Forrest, Illinois, where they handcraft fresh, cut-to-order meats without hormones, steroids, antibiotics, or saltwater injection solutions commonly used by larger commercial processors. Their holistic approach includes three key stages: raising livestock with prioritized animal well-being, harvesting through manual meat processing, and preparing fresh delivery within days of processing. The company serves two primary markets: supplying Chicago-area restaurants with premium fresh meats and distributing products to markets and grocers throughout the Midwest. Additionally, Slagel Farms offers unique farm dinner experiences featuring tours paired with chef-prepared meals showcasing their meat products. This family operation demonstrates exceptional vertical integration in food manufacturing, maintaining complete oversight from farm to fork while delivering superior all-natural meat products to discerning customers across the region.