our farmers
Ray and Nancy Nolan are partners in life and business. They both graduated cooking college, Ray in Ireland and Nancy at SAIT in Calgary. They met in London, England in the kitchen of the 5 star Dorchester Hotel. They have cooked for the Queen of England as well as other heads of state and celebrities. One of their proudest days was cooking for Nelson Mandela in the private Krug Dining Room of the Dorchester. They later travelled together, working in the kitchens of fine hotels like the Intercontinental in Toronto and the Hyatt Regency in Calgary. In 2012, they decided they were ready to start a family and lamb farm in Southern Alberta near Vulcan where Nancy's parents still reside.
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ETHICALLY RAISED AND HORMONE-FREE
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Now with a flock of over 400 Ewes, Lambtastic Farms is able to process lamb on a consistent basis throughout the year. During cold winter months and hot summer days, a 12,500 square foot heated, ventilated barn can house up to 1200 head of sheep, keeping them warm, clean and safe.
Lambtastic's high ethical standards ensure all livestock are raised in a healthy environment. They are raised without the use of hormones or animal by product feeds. Nutrition plays a major role in the well-being of the flock. The sheep have the opportunity to roam and live a natural life, feeding off the grasslands and sparkling waters. Their diet is supplemented with carefully regulated forage and mixed grain ration.
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A lamb's taste changes as it matures, therefore the Nolan's are very careful to process them at the right age. Lamb meat should be tender, flavorful and always healthy. Lamb is an excellent source of high quality protein. Lamb is a food you can feel good about eating because today's lamb is low in fat and an excellent source of vitamins and minerals.
OUR PRODUCT
BLACK APRON BEEF SHOWCASES SOME OF THE BEST THE WEST HAS TO OFFER. RAISED WITH THE SAME TRADITIONAL VALUES USED IN OUR BUTCHER SHOPS, OUR ANGUS CATTLE ROAM OPEN PASTURES ON WESTERN CANADIAN RANCHES AND ARE RAISED WITHOUT HORMONES AND STEROIDS. RAISED ON BARLEY BASED FEED AND PRAIRIE GRASS, OUR BEEF HAS A TASTE LIKE NO OTHER. – A TASTE THAT IS A TRUE RESULT OF BEING ‘MADE IN CANADA’.
AGED FOR 14 DAYS BLACK APRON BEEF IS 100% CANADIAN ANGUS BEEF BRINGING THE TASTE OF WESTERN TRADITION TO YOUR KITCHEN. OUR BEEF IS THE PERFECT BLANK CANVAS FOR MOUTH-WATERING CULINARY CREATIONS THAT NO CARNIVORE WILL BE ABLE TO RESIST.
OUR STORY
IN THE TRADE OF BUTCHERY, AN APRON IS A STAPLE OF THE UNIFORM. IT REPRESENTS THE LONG TRADITION AND EXPERTISE OF THE CRAFT, AS WELL AS THE FIRST-HAND CONNECTION TO WHERE THE MEAT ACTUALLY COMES FROM. IT IS AUTHENTIC, UNDERSTATED AND SIMPLE. THIS IS WHAT GOOD MEAT SHOULD BE ABOUT. A QUALITY PRODUCT THAT OUR CUSTOMERS CAN TRUST. PURE. SIMPLE, AND BUILT ON TRADITION.
TRUSTED AND LOVED BY WESTERN CANADA’S TOP CHEFS AND RESTAURANTS, BLACK APRON BEEFS PREMIUM CUTS WILL BOTH ENTICE YOUR INNER FOODIE AND TICKLE YOUR TASTE BUDS. INSPIRED BY OUR MASTER BUTCHERS, OUR ANGUS BEEF CUTS WILL SURPRISE YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF WHAT HIGH QUALITY CANADIAN BEEF IS, RESULTING IN COMPLETE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WHETHER YOU’RE PREPPING THE MEAT, CREATING A CULINARY MASTER PIECE, TREATING YOUR TASTE BUDS, OR ALL OF THE ABOVE.
WHEN IT COMES TO PREMIUM ANGUS BEEF CUTS LIKE THOSE OF BLACK APRON, THE PROCESS BEGINS LONG BEFORE THE BEEF REACHES THE BUTCHER SHOP. ALL OF OUR CANADIAN ANGUS CATTLE ARE RAISED ON CANADIAN RANCHES WITHOUT THE USE OF ANTIBIOTICS, HORMONES AND STEROIDS. FREE TO ROAM THE PASTURES AND ENJOY ALL THAT WESTERN CANADA HAS TO OFFER, OUR CATTLE ARE NEVER CONFINED, ALWAYS HAVE AVAILABLE WATER SOURCES AND TREATED WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT. FULL TRACEABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS SOMETHING WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN AS WE BELIEVE PART OF OUR PREMIUM EXPERIENCE, ALONG WITH OUTSTANDING TASTE, IS HAVING CONFIDENCE IN KNOWING EXACTLY WHERE YOUR FOOD COMES FROM AND HOW IT WAS PRODUCED.
WHO WE ARE
High River Colony (HRC) has been providing quality poultry products for over 33 years in the Foothills region. Farming with a focus on animal care, environment, sustainability and supporting the local community.
QUALITY PRODUCTS
Quality and care are important elements in everything HRC does. Over the years, HRC has continued to update on-farm technology and in 2018 became certified to have a Raised Without Antibiotics flock.
The farms’ on-site animal housing, integrated production and processing practices are certified by an accredited Independent Auditor to ensure animal welfare, safety and quality principles are upheld throughout the entire production chain.
