Welcome to our Family Hobby Farm!
We are Cody and Sarah Wilson! Along with our five children, we live on a 54-acre farm in the heart of the foothills, near Turner Valley, Alberta.
We have always had a deep appreciation for animals and the outdoors. In 2017, we followed our dream of moving out of town and purchased a piece of land where we could raise our children in an environment that gives them space to learn, grow, and experience the joys and challenges of farming.
Both of us have spent many years working in the wilderness outfitting business and so have spent countless hours in the saddle and working with horses, but owning a herd of cattle was a new endeavour. We quickly realized that being in the heart of Alberta ranching country, there was no way we could compete with the big name commercial ranches in the area. We needed a niche. When the opportunity arose to purchase a small purebred Wagyu herd, we began considering the possibility, but we were unsure of what we were getting into. The seller of the herd gifted us some Wagyu rib steaks and they were the most delicious meat we had ever tasted to that point. We were hooked! We purchased the Wagyu herd and we haven’t looked back since.
Having studied Ecology in University, Sarah was excited to take on the challenge of maximizing the productivity of our land and as such, we remain committed to sustainable grazing practices, good animal husbandry, diversity, and simplicity.
Why Wagyu?
Developed in Japan from generations of hardworking oxen that formed a unique structure of intra-muscular fat, this “super beef” is known for its fabulous marbling, fine texture, and
distinct buttery flavour.
The buttery Wagyu flavour is due to the low melting temperature of the fat, which causes it to literally melt in your mouth. But besides being incredibly good to eat, Wagyu beef is also good
for you. Wagyu has a much higher ratio unsaturated to saturated fat (up to 300% higher than other beef). This ratio is a big factor in lowering cholesterol. Not only that, Wagyu also has incredibly high levels of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, which protect against heart disease, arthritis, high blood pressure, and Alzheimer’s. Finally, Wagyu beef has the lowest cholesterol levels of almost any kind of meat, even lower than fish and turkey!
But why our Wagyu? Firstly, most beef labelled “American Wagyu” or even just “Wagyu” that you will find in Alberta is really Wagyu/Angus Cross. Here at Aspen Corner Farm, you can be assured that what we label as Wagyu is the real deal: registered purebred steers that have been raised to a minimum of 30 months and finished on barley to ensure beautifully marbled meat from ribeye to chuck.
When it is time for processing, our steers are sent to a Government inspected butcher where they are allowed to dry age for a minimum of 21 days prior to being cut, wrapped, and frozen.
We strive to keep our herd happy, healthy, comfortable, and as stress-free as possible. Because we maintain a very small herd we can take note of and cater to the individual needs of each animal. Our meat is free of injected steroids and hormones – there are no shortcuts involved in raising our beef, just quality feed and plenty of time for
growth and development.