Deer season brings the locker a significant increase in business. 

By Rich Wicks | Panora Times

Any business that has been around for 100 years has obviously figured out how to meet the needs of local customers, and that’s certainly true of Dahl’s Custom Meat Locker at 111 W. Third St. in Bagley. Jared and Kaitlin Dahl worked at the locker for years before they bought it in 2019. Besides the two of them, three other employees help out — as well as some supervision from their children, Samuel, 11, and Stella, 3.  

Operating a small locker in a small town, the Dahls are not trying to expand by leaps and bounds. Rather, they simply want to be responsive to the needs of the community. Therefore, the Dahls process a large variety of meat. Basically, if it’s an animal and you want to eat it, Jared, Kaitlin and their crew can process it for you. 

“We’re pretty much your one-stop locker. We do chickens, to beef, to wild hog, wild elk, deer, bear, moose,” Dahl said. “We do pretty much anything.”

Dahl explained that deer season always brings the locker a significant increase in business, but she added that this year the increase has been even larger and more immediate.

“Usually, October to January, we’re pretty busy with deer. This year, we’ve gotten super busy right away,” Dahl said. “We’ve probably had 40 deer roll through here already. So, I envision shotgun season is going to be absolutely insane.”

Because the locker isn’t planning any major changes, the Dahls simply let the customers guide them to any adjustments needed.

“Everything is a work in progress. We’re approaching 100 years in 2028,” Dahl said. “We probably want to expand our poultry processing a little bit to include more ducks and geese.”

Dahl shared that she and Jared believe strongly in supporting the local community, so they frequently give to local events and charitable needs.

Asked about any notable story since taking over the business, Dahl told of the smokehouse fire in 2020. She explained that an employee told her the smokehouse was burning. By the time she came to check, it was not salvageable. But Dahl found the silver lining to this storm cloud, saying that the old smokehouse was ready to be replaced anyway.

For anyone interested in having an animal butchered and processed, or for anyone just interested in picking up snack sticks or other retail meats, Dahl’s Custom Meat Locker will treat you like a friend. The locker’s standard hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, and other times by appointment.

“We’re small, so we pretty much know everybody on a first-name basis,” Dahl said.

Special to the Times Vedette

A ribbon cutting was held on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at the Casey City Park (Abram Rutt Park) in recognition of the volunteers, donors and supporters of the Abram Rutt Park Improvement Project.

The project committee was formed by the Casey Grant Committee in collaboration with members from the Casey Service Club, the Casey Historical Society, and the City of Casey. The committee has been working to improve the city park since 2017 and has relied heavily on community input and support to achieve their initiatives.

Project goals reflect results from a community survey that was sent out in 2019 asking residents, friends and neighbors what improvements they would like to see made in the town of Casey. Since that time, the committee has worked to achieve the goals established for the initial phase of the Abram Rutt Park Improvement Project, which included electrical upgrades at all campsites, clearing of dead or dying trees, tiling to assist with drainage, installation of a paved walkway throughout the park, a new basketball hoop, new play equipment, new picnic tables and new trash receptacles. Additional signage and the installation of a water fountain will complete this phase of the project.

The committee is already working to secure funding for phase two, which includes the addition of more lighting throughout the park, upgrades to the bath house and a new park shelter.

With funds secured through grants, fundraisers, private donations and in-kind services, the Casey Grant Committee has successfully raised more than $477,000 for city improvement projects, with more than $307,000 of that funding dedicated to go toward efforts in the park.

For information on volunteering or contributing to the committee’s efforts, contact Stacey Wedemeyer, Casey City Park member. Track progress and watch for updates by joining the Casey Hometown page through Facebook: “Casey, Iowa: This is My Hometown!”