Meet Nicole Uthmann | Beef Producer, Director of Marketing & Sales

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicole Uthmann and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicole, how do you think about risk?
I consider risk as an essential aspect of life and growth. But in the realm of agriculture, risks are persist all the time, like weather conditions, market fluctuations, and the threat of diseases. Therefore, we strive to take calculated risks in areas where we possess a certain degree of control, making sure the cattle get the best care first. Whether it is experimenting with new ranching techniques, embracing innovative technologies, or diversifying income strategies, risk-taking is deeply ingrained in the agricultural industry.

During my upbringing, having no prior involvement in agriculture, I naturally tended towards carefulness and conservatism. Upon marrying into an agricultural family, I came to realize that our entire livelihood thrives amidst uncertainty, which also presents opportunities for learning, innovation, and progress. Through calculated risks, wisdom, and faith, our business can adapt and flourish within this rapidly changing industry.

What should our readers know about your business?
Our small, family owned and operated business, Mountain View Meats starting direct sales of beef to the public in early 2020, but the business itself has roots that span generations. While I am relatively new to the ranching world, my husband’s family has been raising cattle in Virginia Dale, CO since 1903. In 2015, our family made the decision to expand our cattle operation by acquiring a small feed yard in north Fort Collins. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, our usual large beef buyer was not able to buy our cattle, and grocery stores experienced meat supply shortages.

During this challenging time, we began receiving numerous inquiries from individuals interested in purchasing beef directly from us. This unexpected demand led us to embark on our direct-to-consumer beef sales journey, and since then, our business has experienced continuous growth. Along the way, we have gained valuable insights into marketing and advertising beef, often through trial and error and learning from our mistakes. It has proven to be more complex than we initially anticipated. In addition, with Mac & Celsie Sussex, we started a beef processing facility, Bear Mountain Beef, filling our desire to have our own control of the processing.

What makes selling directly to our community rewarding is the opportunity to engage with our customers and educate them about the process of raising cattle. The ability to interact with those who enjoy our products allows us to have meaningful connections and educate our customers on raising beef.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Northern Colorado has some amazing history and great places to see… and I love history! Some little unknown gems to visit would be:

1862 Overland Virginia Dale Stage Station in Virginia Dale, CO: Attend their annual June Open House or have a private tour to learn about the adventures of the Station Manager Joesph Slade, the “home stage station” in its original location and what life was like back during the stage coach years.

Fort Collins 1883 Water Works in Fort Collins, CO: A tour of the original water facility that provided Fort Collins with adequate water supply, especially to fight town fires and to reduce waterborne illnesses.

and a finally, we’ll take a drive and hike to Deadman’s Tower west of Red Feather, CO: At 10,700 feet above sea level, this tower was built in 1937-38 by workers in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and was used for watching for wild fires and communications. It provides beautiful mountain views.

For lunch, we’ll drop in at LaPorte Pizza in LaPorte, CO, a local town favorite of ours with great pizza and amazing kraut burgers on Wednesdays.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My in-laws, Roger and Vicki Uthmann, have been extraordinary teachers and mentors to me, especially considering my lack of knowledge about the agriculture industry when I married their son 23 years ago. With a lifetime of experience in raising cattle and running a dairy for over two decades, they have generously imparted their wisdom, sharing their triumphs, setbacks, and every valuable lesson in between. It is thanks to their invaluable support and guidance that our beef business has achieved success.

Website: www,MVmeatsFC.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mvmeatsfc

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/mvmeatsfc

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mvmeatsfc

Image Credits
Emma Van Nostrand Nicole Uthmann