The Evolution of Our Chicken Program

A few years ago, we partnered with Big Bluff Ranch to begin offering pasture-raised chicken alongside our grass-fed beef, lamb, and pork.

At the time, we saw it as a natural extension of the kind of food system we believe in, one rooted in animal welfare, land stewardship, and exceptional flavor.

But now the program is launching into something much bigger.

Together with Tyler Dawley and the team at Big Bluff Ranch, we’ve been working to build a more thoughtful model for pasture-raised poultry in Northern California, one focused not only on product quality, but on regenerative farming systems, stronger regional supply chains, and meaningful producer partnerships.

A Different Kind of Chicken

From the beginning, one thing became clear: Not all pasture-raised chicken is the same.

Over the last year, we’ve been working with a slower-growing chicken selected specifically for exceptional flavor, stronger pasture performance, and improved resilience in outdoor farming systems. These birds are fundamentally different from conventional commercial poultry genetics bred almost exclusively for rapid growth and confinement production.

The result is a chicken with:

• Richer, more complex flavor

• Firmer texture and better mouthfeel

• More balanced fat distribution

• Superior performance in pasture-based systems

• A slower, more natural growth curve

Honestly, the eating quality has been remarkable. In many ways, we think about this chicken the same way we think about truly exceptional grass-fed beef, a product where genetics, environment, nutrition, and slower growth all meaningfully shape flavor and eating experience. 

Most consumers have experienced commodity versions of chicken for so long that they’ve forgotten how flavorful and distinctive it can actually be when genetics, nutrition, environment, and slower growth are all aligned.

This program is built around restoring that quality.

Built Around Regenerative Principles

The Big Bluff-Stemple Creek chicken program reflects many of the same principles that guide everything we do at Stemple Creek Ranch:

• Certified Organic

• Certified Regenerative

• Managed pasture systems that contribute to soil health

• Slower-growing genetics selected for quality and resilience

• No corn or soy feed formulations

• Air-chilled processing for superior texture and flavor

• A focus on long-term stewardship of both animals and land

Importantly, Big Bluff Ranch remains the ranch raising these birds. That transparency matters deeply to us.

As Stemple Creek continues growing and evolving, one thing will always remain core to our philosophy: customers deserve clarity around where their food comes from and who raised it.

The Next Step

Starting with upcoming harvests, you’ll begin to see updated packaging featuring both Big Bluff Ranch and Stemple Creek Ranch together on the label.

The updated labels reflect the deeper partnership behind the program and the collaborative work happening behind the scenes to continue building this thoughtfully.

To us, this represents something bigger than simply adding another product category.

It reflects our broader vision of building a truly multi-species regenerative food system, one rooted in long-term producer partnerships, land stewardship, transparency, and exceptional eating quality across everything we produce.

Looking Ahead

Chicken has become an increasingly important part of our broader vision for the future of Stemple Creek Ranch.

As we continue to build out our different programs, our goal is not simply to offer more products, but to help build a more resilient regional food system built around regenerative agriculture, thoughtful partnerships, and truly differentiated food.

Food that tastes better.
Food raised better.
And food connected to real farms, real people, and real stewardship.

We’re incredibly excited about what’s ahead, and grateful to have customers who care deeply about these things alongside us.