Developing on the Camas Prairie
The SMH Highland Beef Cooperative
Working Highlands to regenerate the land and produce healthy, nutrient-dense beef for people and place.
SMH Ranch is developing a producer cooperative designed to unite Highland cattle owners, working-land partners, finishing capacity, processing, marketing, and direct-to-consumer fulfillment. The cooperative is completing negotiations intended to assemble access to approximately 3,180 acres for the 2027 season on and around Idaho's Camas Prairie.
The planned finishing and custom-grazing program would allow participating producers to enroll eligible Highland steers while the cooperative coordinates grazing standards, processing, marketing, and shipment. Final member agreements will establish costs, responsibilities, animal qualifications, payment timing, and the substantial share of net beef-sale proceeds retained by contributing owners.
01Regenerate working lands
Use adaptive grazing, monitoring, and livestock management to pursue healthier soil, water function, forage, and habitat.
02Build producer value
Pool finishing, processing, marketing, and fulfillment capacity that can be difficult for individual Highland producers to build alone.
03Measure beef quality
Pursue nutrient density through forage diversity, animal health, careful finishing, and transparent testing rather than unsupported promises.
04Tell the Highland story
Help more Americans understand the breed's hardiness, grazing ability, maternal strengths, distinctive coat, and beef quality.
Highland producers: help build the cooperative.
We are seeking prospective members interested in enrolling steers, contributing cattle or land, or helping develop processing and direct-market capacity.
