Cattle grazing near a stone wall and red barn

Four Mile River Farm

Johnston, Rhode Island  ·  Sold and shipped by Four Mile River Farm  ·  On the map since 1985

What's in a half.

About 200 lb packaged from roughly 380 lb hanging. Every share is cut to the same cut sheet, so you know what arrives before you reserve. Every animal is different, so the weights below are typical for this ranch.

  • Ground beef 90 lb
  • Steaks 48 lb
  • Roasts 48 lb
  • Ribs, brisket, stew, bones 18 lb
Cut Typical weight Packaged as
Ground beef 90 lb 1 lb packages
Steaks: ribeye, strip, sirloin, tenderloin 48 lb Two per package, cut 1¼ in.
Roasts: chuck, rump, arm 48 lb 3 lb roasts
Short ribs, brisket, stew, soup bones 18 lb Family packs
About 204 lb

Freezer space: about 8 cubic feet. Vacuum-sealed and frozen solid at the plant; 12 months at best quality.

How a half works.

This half is already cut, wrapped and frozen at the plant. Pay in full today and it is on its way within days.

  1. Today

    Buy now for $3,600.

    Full payment today. No deposit, no balance — your half is already in the freezer.

  2. Tue, Nov 3

    Packed for shipping.

    The day before it ships, the Rhode Island Beef and Veal plant in Providence County pulls your half from the freezer and packs it in insulated boxes with dry ice.

  3. Wed, Nov 4

    Leaves the plant.

    Boxes leave the plant on Wednesday and travel as frozen freight, three days in transit.

  4. Sat, Nov 7

    Arrives at your door.

    Frozen freight from Providence County, still solid on arrival. Be home to move the boxes into your freezer.

The ranch.

Four Mile River Farm is a family farm in Old Lyme, Connecticut, started by my parents Nunzio and Irene in 1985. I grew up here working with livestock and showing registered Jersey cattle through 4-H, and eventually came back to farm full time. Today we raise beef cattle, pigs, pasture-raised chickens, and laying hens and sell directly to families throughout Connecticut and the Northeast. One thing that is a little different is that our cattle are harvested under USDA inspection and then the beef comes back to our farm, where we age it, cut, package, and freeze it ourselves. That keeps us closely connected to the food from start to finish. Submitted at 103 words, inside the 100 to 200 range, so it runs as written. Chris is Chris Bourne, co-owner with Nunzio; the farm stand at 124 Four Mile River Road is open daily, and the beef is aged about five weeks per their public listings, two details available if the page needs more.

Farm stand with coolers of eggs and beef
Raises
Angus, Hereford, and Angus-Hereford crosses
Finished
Grass fed, grain finished
Antibiotics
Never
Plant
Rhode Island Beef and Veal, Johnston, Rhode Island, Providence County
Ship day
Wednesday
Herd
No breeding herd
On the map since
1985
“We handle every beef share here on the farm after harvest, including aging, cutting, wrapping, and freezing. Our normal shipping day is Wednesday.” — Four Mile River Farm

Johnston, Rhode Island. One of 4 partner ranches, 4 shipping to Rhode Island.

Signed the Find a Rancher Standard

  • Harvested at an inspected plant
  • Cut and vacuum-sealed, frozen solid at pack
  • Insulated shipper sized to the transit
  • Ships Monday through Wednesday only
  • Nothing in the box but your beef and the rancher's note

Other shares from Four Mile River Farm.

Whole

The whole animal. About 400 lb packaged. Split it with another household or fill a chest freezer.

$6,600 full payment

Buy now

Questions people ask before they reserve.

What exactly is a half?

One full side of the animal. Four Mile River Farm processes mixed-primal halves so every half gets the full range of steaks, roasts, and ground beef.

Is anything charged later?

No. You pay the full $3,600 today and nothing more is charged afterwards. No adjustments, no surprises.

Is this sold as beef or as a share of a live animal?

It depends on the plant. Four Mile River Farm harvests at a Rhode Island Beef and Veal plant , so you are buying a share of the live animal and must pick it up at the plant in Providence County or take rancher delivery. Either way, you see the terms before you pay.

How much freezer space do I need?

About 8 cubic feet for a half and a 15 cubic foot chest freezer for a whole. A standard kitchen freezer holds a half if it is nearly empty.

In stock

Half Share.

About 200 lb packaged. Feeds four people for six months.

Half $3,600 Whole $6,600
$3,600Full payment due today
In stock. Delivers by Saturday, November 7.
Half share $3,600 · In stock · Delivers by Sat, Nov 7
Ask the rancher a question