Join me Saturday, January 28th, from 12 PM until 4 PM, for an in depth look at breaking down a hindquarter from our beloved 5 year old Jersey Steer, Bruce Springsteen, for use on our homestead over the coming seasons.

We’ll start the afternoon with a tasting of several cuts from the hindquarter and talk about each and how they eat (the chew factor, beefiness/meatiness, fat marbling vs caps). From there, we’ll head into the studio to butcher our own hindquarter, finding out where each bite comes from on the animal and why it “eats” the way it does.

We cared immensely for this creature. While in our care, he only ate grass (and fresh grass at that) and drank beautiful spring water. We brushed him and played with him—we truly loved him. As his time came near to the end, we assembled a team of heartfelt farmers and butchers to aid in the harvest. A beautiful success, due in large part to community, December 28th was Bruce’s Beautiful Last Day—spent listening to his favorite music and soaking in his last bits of sunshine.

While his carcass has been hanging, getting ready to be butchered, we’ve all grieved each in own ways. For me, that meant prepping the shop and my tools. I wanted to have a space that made me feel good for the task ahead. With sharp knives, a somber spirit, and a thick sense of gratitude, I began to cut. I’ve butchered the forequarters and one of the hindquarters. I held his ribs in my hands, pulling Ribeyes and Denver Steaks, and turned the architecture that supported the life of our cow into that which will support life for us. For an anatomist such as myself, this is catharsis.

There’s one more piece left to butcher—one more hindquarter. I’m ready to share this process with y’all. Please come see where this beautiful beast spent his days and learn a thing or two about anatomy with me. This afternoon we’ll spend together is almost guaranteed to have laughter, probably some tears (knowing me), and a lot of knowledge sharing. I (and Bruce Springsteen) would be elated to see you there.

Please email appliedanatomist@gmail.com to reserve tickets.