Our Livestock Operation
Raising Healthy Hogs & Premium Beef for Indiana Families
Raising livestock isn’t just about numbers—it’s about producing high-quality pork and beef with care, consistency, and purpose. Our operation has evolved over generations to meet the growing demand for responsibly raised, locally produced meat, all while staying rooted in family values and hands-on farming.
🐖 Hog Production
Built on Generations of Expertise
Sands Farms began as a traditional farrow-to-finish hog operation. After John Sands returned from Michigan State in 1977, the first swine barns were built. In the 1990s, the farm transitioned to a wean-to-finish model to raise healthier, faster-growing hogs. By 2013, the 7th generation expanded operations, increasing production to over 38,000 hogs annually. Today, we proudly supply Indiana Kitchen with safe, sustainable pork raised in modern, efficient facilities.
🐂 Cattle Operation
Premium Lim-Flex Freezer Beef
Sands Farms also manages a growing cattle operation, focused on producing top-tier freezer beef for local families. Our herd is primarily Angus-based, bred to a Limousin bull from the respected Wulf Cattle Company. This cross results in Lim-Flex calves—a hybrid known for delivering exceptional flavor, lean muscle, and marbling that hits the sweet spot between tenderness and leanness.
Each year, we finish approximately 100 head of cattle, raised on a natural diet of grass, hay, and silage, with access to free-choice mineral supplements for optimal health. Around 90% of our fed cattle go straight into local freezers—serving Indiana families with flavorful, farm-raised beef they can trust.
🔥 Behind Big Boss BBQ
Our Pig Pen-to-Plate Model
Our livestock legacy inspired the launch of Big Boss BBQ, created by Steve Sands, part of the 7th generation of our family. Big Boss BBQ brings the full-circle story to life—from raising the hogs to smoking and serving them, all right here in Indiana.
This “Pig Pen to Plate” model puts transparency, flavor, and local pride front and center. When customers bite into Big Boss BBQ, they’re not just tasting slow-cooked pork—they’re tasting the story of how it was raised, where it came from, and the family behind it.
Whether it’s Indiana Kitchen pork, local freezer beef, or a rack of Big Boss ribs, Sands Farms takes pride in raising livestock the right way—for real people, real families, and real flavor.
