Hello, I'm Roy Moore, and I'd like to tell you the story of Maverick Ranch Natural Meats and the Moore family. The Maverick Ranch Association was organized by the Moore family in 1985 to market natural meat products grown on family owned farms and ranches.

   The Maverick Ranch program has its roots on the Moore family ranch in Idaho, where my wife Bobbi and I encouraged our sons Rex, Lance, Charlie, and Monte to join the local 4-H Club and show their 4-H livestock projects at County and State Fairs. Our goal was that these 4-H projects would earn enough to pay for their college educations and teach them a strong work ethic.

   All four boys attained that educational goal, and from there they set their sights on the untapped market for meat that was free of antibiotics, steroids, and pesticides. In 1986, our family started supplying natural beef to one store. Today, our producer farmers and ranchers supply natural meats to 8% of the nation's supermarkets.

   When I look back and remember that our sons started this business when they were still in school, I'm still amazed. It proves to me what a great country America really is.

For the Moore family,

Roy Moore

MAVERICK RANCH PRINCIPLES

Genetics
   We believe that the system must start with beef that provides the consistent nutritional values needed for USDA labeling requirements for Lite, Lean, Extra Lean, Heart Healthy and Less Cholesterol. The only way to do this is through selective cattle breeding.

Management
   Flavor, tenderness and product safety are factors that can be influenced by management. This includes the type of feed corn and other feed grains. Flavor can be influenced by feed. Maverick Ranch's value based marketing system rewards producers for management practices that result in our superior beef brands.

Safety
   Today, society is bombarded by food safety issues in the media. Maverick Ranch believes in addressing these issues by providing what we believe is the most comprehensive laboratory testing system for residue and bacteria detection in the entire beef industry. Our company is dedicated to bringing you a safe, flavorful, tender product. "Safety First" is our motto.

Technology
   New testing and packaging technology is revolutionizing the meat industry. Maverick Ranch is a leader in our industry and is always on the cutting edge. For example, we offer 4 types of Modified Atmosphere Packaging, which are case ready products, providing the utmost in food safety and handling of our product.

Family Values
   We believe that a family-run company supplied by family ranchers focuses on values rather than profits. We do not have to answer to stockholders who demand profits above all else. At Maverick Ranch, we reinvest profits in research, people, and support of the U.S. Olympic Training Centers and health oriented education. We support this education in your local schools through the Heart Power Program sponsored by the American Heart Association. Many of our meat cutters work on an incentive-based pay program. This system allows people to reach their potential. In some cases, this system has allowed our meat cutters to increase their production--and pay-- by 600%. We are very proud of them. In 1999, Maverick Ranch initiated the Saturn system of team production and quality in our processing plants.

Facts, Not Fear
   We believe that it is our responsibility to present information about the safety and the nutritional values of the beef that we bring to your table. Unfortunately, the media often and sometimes mistakenly focuses on negative happenings rather than sound technology and science that are less sensational. Maverick Ranch's food safety program, through the use of science, technology and teamwork, brings you a safe and healthful beef product.

Partnership Marketing
   To have a truly successful program, we believe strongly that a partnership must exist. This partnership can be viewed as an old-fashioned wagon wheel, with many "spokes": Ranchers and farmers, forward-thinking retailers, our consumer representatives, and our processors are all spokes on the wheel. If one spoke breaks, the wheel will fall apart. The consumer is the final spoke in the wheel. You complete the partnership by supporting our brands of Maverick Ranch Natural Meats, and recommending to friends and relatives that they try Maverick Ranch at a retailer that also supports the partnership. The consumer is the final judge as to whether or not the other partners have built a strong wheel. If all of the spokes are strong, then the wheel will keep rolling. Maverick's job is to be the hub that co-ordinates those partnerships.

AFFILIATIONS

   MAVERICK RANCH NATURAL MEATS qualify for and participate in a number of programs that recognize the nutritional benefits of our products. We are proud to be associated with the following organizations:

   OFFICIAL U.S. OLYMPIC TRAINING CENTER SUPPLIER - Maverick Ranch Beef has been served daily at the U.S. Olympic Training Centers since 1987. Our Natural Buffalo has been available there since 1998, and in 2001 Maverick Ranch began supplying Natural Pork including sausage and bacon. The exceptional nutritional values of Maverick Ranch all-natural, chemical-free products play a significant role in menu planning at the USOTC. We are proud to be "The Beef Behind the U.S. Olympic Athletes".

   AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION FOOD CERTIFICATION PROGRAM - This program is sponsored by the American Heart Association to certify foods that are heart healthy. Maverick Ranch products were first accepted into the program in 1995. The USDA considers the American Heart Association Heart Check logo to be a health claim for labeling; therefore, accepted beef products must meet USDA requirements for health claims. These products must contain 5 grams of fat or less per 4 oz. serving. Saturated fat and cholesterol also are restricted. Maverick Ranch 96% Lean Ground Beef, Ground Chuck, Ground Sirloin and Ground Round meet American Heart Association food criteria for saturated fat and cholesterol for healthy people over age 2, as do many more Maverick products.

   HEART SMART - Certain cuts of Maverick Ranch Beef and Buffalo became certified by Heart Smart International in 1998. Requirements for this certification are that products meet the USDA Heart Healthy claims. This certification pertains to cuts that we sell to restaurants. All of these same cuts are available to supermarkets.

   UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN M-Fit PROGRAM - This program was developed at the University of Michigan Medical School and identifies heart healthy foods in the supermarket. Recovering cardiac patients tour through a supermarket to learn healthy choices in food. Yellow dots indicate that certain foods are to be used with caution. Green dots show the most heart healthy products. Maverick's NaturaLite beef was the first beef to be approved by Medsport, which has evolved into the M-Fit Program. This program has listed us for 10 years. We're proud to have the green light approval. Click here to go to the University of Michigan's M-Fit web page.

   MAVERICK RANCH HEART HEATHY CERTIFICATION - This symbol indicates cuts that meet USDA requirements to be called "Heart Healthy." The criteria for this designation are the same for those of the American Heart Association, HealthMark or M-Fit. We use this logo in areas where others are not well known or if economics becomes a factor.