Karen Dillon

Karen writes about the people and places of Smith Mountain Lake in "Shorelines," published bi-weekly.

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When it comes to locally produced food, Franklin County has a lot going for it. You can find homegrown fruits and vegetables at area produce stands. You can shop the local creamery for a variety of dairy goods. Now, add locally grown, farm-raised beef products to that ever-growing list.

RK Brand Beef raises its Black Angus beef cows from start to finish on its 122-acre farm in Glade Hill. The beef is processed at a USDA-certified facility near Hillsville. It's weighed, packaged, labeled and shipped back to Franklin County for sale.

For the past two months, Homestead Creamery has been selling RK's individually packaged beef products in its Burnt Chimney store and from the creamery's delivery trucks.

Ray and Kelly Novak are the people behind the brand (hence the name RK Brand Beef) and, according to an e-mail from Kelly Novak: "Our beef is born, grown and finished on our family farm in Franklin County and is NEVER exposed to other cattle, trucking, sale barns or harsh feedlot conditions. We do not purchase cattle or custom feed anyone else's cattle."

Ray Novak, a large-animal veterinarian by trade, began raising beef cattle about 15 years ago. The couple has been giving away larger quantities of their beef to family and friends for some time, but, more recently, decided to try selling their products at the creamery.

"It's been great," said Ray. "We've had positive feedback from everyone. I feel like it's been a good move for us."

Jeff Beckner of Homestead Creamery has sampled RK's sirloin and beef patties. "It's very good," he said. "The flavor is as good as I've ever had."

Growing and raising their own food is a family affair for the Novaks and their three children: Jake, 7; Savannah Rae; 5, and 2-year-old Evie Grace. In addition to their 110 head of cattle, the family raises chickens and pigs, and grows its own fruits and vegetables.

After Kelly began having health problems in September of 2006, eating all-natural became even more of a priority for the family. She was diagnosed with Meniere's disease, which, according to the National Institutes of Health Web site, is an abnormality of the inner ear that can cause dizziness, nausea, a loss of balance and tinnitus.

While there's no cure for her condition, Kelly and her family make an effort to eat foods low in sodium and without preservatives or unnecessary additives.

The Novaks pledge that RK Brand Beef contains no antibiotics, hormones, steroids, pesticides, growth implants, animal by-products, nitrates, nitrites or preservatives. The beef cattle are finished between 23-24 months. During the finishing stage, the cattle are fed a combination of soybean, corn and grass pasture. This gives the meat a more marbleized look and better taste.

"[The meat] is leaner," said Ray. "When you brown the [ground beef], you'll find there's no grease or fat to pour off."

Ray has been a veterinarian for 16 years and has operated his own practice, Sterling Creek Animal Health in Glade Hill, since 1999. And because he is a large-animal vet, he can ensure first-hand that his animals are healthy and well cared for.

The Novaks said they believe keeping the cattle on their farm from start to finish is beneficial to the animals and their consumers.

"We're the single source of that meat," said Ray. "This eliminates the problem you have with commingling."

"Our animals are treated with respect and allowed access to green pasture and sunshine, the way the Lord intended. These practices eliminate the need to use the chemicals common in the production of the majority of our nation's beef," Kelly said.

RK Brand Beef is for sale at Homestead Creamery on Virginia 122 in Burnt Chimney. The creamery also sells the beef from its delivery trucks. Delivery information is available by contacting Homestead Creamery at (540) 721-2045.