- Contact: Brian Engle
- [email protected]
- (406) 932-4555
- 31 Pioneer Trail, PO Box 100, Big Timber, MT 59011
- Visit Website
Local beef, wild game processing, fresh seafood, dairy, sausages and more..
From humble beginnings, Brian and Kary Engle own and operate Pioneer Meats and now Meats of Montana. With a wrecked semi reefer, a knife, a used grinder, and family support, Brian began his career in meat processing in 1993 going until 1997.
After pursuing a degree in Animal Sciences from Montana State University and working in other industries, the Engles fully committed to meat processing, acquiring 20 acres on the outskirts of Big Timber. Since launching in 2004 with no customers and no employees, Pioneer Meats now employs over 30 staff operating a USDA inspected facility.
In 2021, Pioneer Meats expanded to open Meats of Montana, a new retail storefront with processing, packing and storing capacity in the interior of the facility with custom butchering services available for wild game. The Engles are members of key industry associations such as Montana Meat Processors Association (MMPA), North West Meat Processors Association (NWPA) and American Association of Meat Processors (AAMP). In 2022, the MMPA hosted their annual convention in Big Timber, which included a local industry tour, a trade show at the fairgrounds, and a product competition among the members.
Currently, Meats of Montana offers a broad array of products including locally grown beef, lamb, wild-caught Alaskan seafood, and famous Pioneer Meats smoked sausages. Customers also have access to specialty cheese and soda from small family-owned businesses in Wisconsin as well as delicious dairy products from Kalispell Kreamery.
“My philosophy is ‘take care of your community and it’ll take care of you.’ We donate to as many local organizations as we can; we try to employ local; we do as much of our business as we can local — we just love Big Timber and we know if we take care of it, it’ll take care of us.”
– Brian Engle, Pioneer Meats and Meats of Montana Owner
Meats of Montana is typically open from 10am to 6pm, Monday through Saturday. For custom game butchering services or for other inquiries, call (406) 932-4522 to reach the store.