While 亚洲天堂 Lake has been attempting to diversify the economy beyond its reliance on the forest products industry, a local cattle producer says there鈥檚 currently a high demand for local produce.

According to Priestly Meats owner Derek Feldmann, that鈥檚 because local residents tend to value ethical farming and the ethical treatment of animals.

鈥淚n factory farming, there鈥檚 no real checks and balances,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hat my customers are telling me is that they pretty much lost faith in the food industry and they would like to buy something from someone they know and trust.鈥�

鈥淟ocal producers give people an opportunity to buy something from a trusted source,鈥� he added.

At Priestly Meats, animals are fed local hay, and grains are grown without the use of hormones, steroids or antibiotics. Feldmann said he has been encouraging his customers to visit his family farm, which is located on top of Priestly Hill, to see how their cattle are raised.

Although cattle production and agriculture might not always be as profitable as logging, Feldmann they can lead producers to a richer life.

鈥淢aking big money isn鈥檛 the most important thing in the world; maybe how you live is more important, how you deal with others is more important,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great way of life; you can be so much richer than a bank account.鈥�

鈥淚f you鈥檙e able to market it, and raise it ethically, it鈥檚 an awesome industry,鈥� he added.

According to Feldmann, a key aspect of his family business is investing in personal relationships with customers.

鈥淧eople are just wanting it so much, that relationship with the farmer,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he neat thing about this is that my customers have become my friends; my customers appreciate what I鈥檓 doing and they are happy to see my business growing.鈥�

鈥淗aving that relationship is awesome,鈥� he added.

Feldmann has been selling produce in the 亚洲天堂 Lake area for several years by personally delivering large orders. As a way of expanding the business, since February Feldmann has brought the 鈥淧riestly Meats truck鈥� to 亚洲天堂 Lake every few weeks to sell smaller cuts of meat. He said this has been a great way to promote the business while improving relationships with current customers.

Although Feldmann has had a request to sell his produce in Houston, he said it鈥檚 too soon to further expand his customer base.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to grow it fast because I want to make sure it鈥檚 sustainable,鈥� he explained. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to get to the point where I need more, more and more.鈥�

鈥淭he common view of businesses is that if you鈥檙e not growing, you鈥檙e dying, and that鈥檚 crazy,鈥� he continued. 鈥淲hy not just make a living rather than trying to get rich?鈥�

For now, Feldmann said he鈥檚 happy just where he is.

鈥淓verything is local and I鈥檓 dealing with friends, what else can a person ask for?鈥�