On March 1, Tucker Maxwell, age 27 — a seventh-generation farmer — opened Maxwell Custom Beef at the former Amend Packing Plant in Des Moines, aiming to expand processing capacity for local beef producers who struggle to find shackle space for their animals.

Maxwell said he believes buying freezer beef should be a “memorable experience” that directly connects Iowans with the farmers who grow their food. To that end, he is prioritizing a custom beef model to keep costs low and service personalized.

“I feel like it’s a lot easier on the producers and it’s a lot easier on the consumer, too,” Maxwell said. “The customer is able to build a relationship with the producer when they can buy it directly.”

Maxwell started working with cattle in 4-H through junior high and high school and got a glimpse of the processing side at Golly’s Locker in Maxwell starting in eighth grade. He discovered early on that he loved both the animal care and processing sides of livestock work.

After college and jobs in South Dakota and Florida, he returned to the family farm and continued working for Mike Adams, then-owner of Golly’s.

“There, I truly appreciated the quality of the meat and the unique experience of purchasing locally sourced meat from a local butcher, something you can’t replicate online or in a grocery store,” he said.


Leaning on his mentors

Maxwell credits Adams as his earliest mentor but said he has learned from many others since then, including Kent and Amy Wiese, former owners of the Amend Packing Plant.

“Having these guys around has really flattened the learning curve for me,” he said.

Maxwell reached out to the Wieses in June 2024 about purchasing the long-running plant, located just south of downtown Des Moines. 

Once the details were set in October, Maxwell joined the Amend staff to learn the ins and outs of the more than century old facility.

While Maxwell officially took ownership in March, the Wiese family remains a valuable re­source. 

“It’s been nice having Kent available to talk to,” Maxwell said. “He comes down and answers any questions about the plant or any questions about the business and customers, or about beef prices or the beef industry. 

“Markets being the way they are, it’s really helpful.”


PICTURED ABOVE: Maxwell’s facility provides custom processing and hopes to expand its capacity soon. A Choose Iowa grant will help Maxwell invest in new equipment and staff training. PHOTO / CONRAD SCHMIDT


Focus on custom processing

Maxwell’s facility currently operates primarily as a custom processor, meaning customers buy a whole, half or quarter of beef directly from a farmer and Maxwell processes and packages it for that specific customer.

This model has fewer regulatory hurdles compared to other business structures, helping keep costs down for both livestock producers and consumers. 

It also helps alleviate a major bottleneck in the local food supply chain.

“Just listening to my dad talk and seeing it firsthand growing up on the farm ... the calendar at our local locker was always slammed,” Maxwell said. “Even after I started working there, you always heard producers say there are just not enough dates.”


Plans for growth

The plant currently processes about 12 head of beef per week, but Maxwell hopes to increase capacity to 30 to 40 head weekly.

Supporting that goal is a $20,000 Choose Iowa grant from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS), which Maxwell matched to invest in new equipment and staff training.

He is also finalizing his application to the Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) program, which would allow his state-inspected meats to be sold in neighboring states — an important step for customers looking to build their own brand identities through direct beef sales.

“I really want to help others get into the beef business,” Maxwell said. “As a processor, I want to help them build their brand.”

In addition to processing, Maxwell also offers a selection of cuts available to purchase over the counter. Purchases can be made during regular business hours Monday through Saturday. 

More information about Maxwell Custom Beef is available online at maxwellcustombeef.com.