Dahl’s Custom Meat Locker nears century mark

 

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.