No. When you reserve a Robinson Ranch beef or pork share, you’re simply securing your share and place in the processing schedule. You do not need to know your steak thickness, package sizes, sausage choices, or other cut preferences yet.

After your reservation is confirmed and your animal is scheduled for processing, we’ll guide you through the next step and coordinate your custom cut instructions with the local butcher. This gives you time to decide how you want your beef or pork packaged for your household.

No. The $250 reservation deposit is not an extra fee. It is credited toward the final amount you owe The Robinson Ranch for your beef or pork share.

For example, if your remaining Ranch balance is calculated at $1,200 after the animal’s hanging weight is confirmed, your $250 deposit is applied toward that amount rather than added on top of it.

You can absolutely reserve beef and pork at the same time. Because they are two separate farm-share reservations, each requires its own $250 deposit.

A reservation for both beef and pork therefore requires a $500 total deposit:

• Beef Share Deposit: $250
• Hog Share Deposit: $250
• Total Due at Reservation: $500

Both deposits are applied toward their respective final Robinson Ranch balances.

No. Your Robinson Ranch deposit applies toward the cost of the animal itself. Local butcher processing charges are separate and are paid according to the butcher’s processing terms.

Processing charges may include services such as cutting, vacuum sealing, wrapping, smoking, curing, sausage preparation, or other custom options you select.

We’ll explain the process as your reservation moves forward so you know what is owed to The Robinson Ranch and what is owed separately to the butcher.

Your exact final Robinson Ranch balance is determined after the animal has been processed to the point where its hanging weight can be recorded.

Hanging weight is the weight of the animal after initial processing but before the meat is cut, trimmed, aged, and packaged. Because every animal naturally varies in size, the final cost of a custom beef or pork share cannot be calculated accurately at the time of reservation.

Once the hanging weight is available, we’ll calculate your remaining Ranch balance and apply your deposit toward that amount.

Your finished beef or pork share will be picked up from the designated local butcher or processing location once your order has been fully cut, packaged, frozen, and is ready.

You do not need to contact the butcher immediately after reserving. The Robinson Ranch will coordinate the process and provide the correct pickup location, timing, and instructions as your order gets closer to completion.

This helps make buying local beef and pork in Ohio simple—even if it’s your first time purchasing meat directly from a farm.

The right share size depends on your household size, how often you cook meat, available freezer space, and how much you want to stock at one time.

For beef, The Robinson Ranch offers quarter, half, and whole beef shares. For pork, you can reserve a half hog or whole hog share.

If you’re unsure which option is best, visit our Beef Shares or Pork Shares pages for more detailed comparisons, or call 937-371-3856. We’re happy to help you choose a share that makes sense for your family before you reserve.

Yes. A farm share allows you to purchase a larger portion of locally raised beef or pork at one time and customize how much of the meat is cut and packaged.

Instead of purchasing individual steaks, roasts, chops, or packages one at a time, you reserve a portion of an animal, select your preferred cuts later, and receive a freezer-ready supply of meat after processing.

For families looking for local beef and pork in Ohio, farm shares can also provide a more direct connection to where their food comes from and a convenient way to keep their freezer stocked.