Local rancher Remington was leading a caravan to Clearwater, to homestead. During the years he traveled back and forth between Montana and Alaska to help his dad in Clearwater, he often talked to McCollum as the industrious teen-ager grew up. Teaming with Mead and Remington, McCollum observed that ranching in 1967 was hard scrabble. We're looking for consistency to please the restaurant clientele. Competing with meat imported from Outside, Delta ranchers are tightening up into a local, full circle market.
Issues concerning breed preference, use of steriods and federal monies keep the dialogue lively.
In 1984, McCollum traveled to North Dakota, investigating the cold weather resistant Paulson Galloway steer. I'm finishing up to butcher. Starting with one bull and 17 heifers, McCollum's herd today, has increased to 400, grazing a 1,000-acre spread. While he harvested hay, riding for hours on his tractor, McCollum dreamed up the Delta Meat and Sausage Co., a slaughterhouse, converted from the Craig Taylor warehouse. I get worried when I see him out there, dreamin'.