Moink is Rural America Strong

I read something the other day that said, “Dear 2020, let me out. I will walk.” Haha! I know, right?! Lawd, what a year this has been.

We have all felt the struggles and full-on-come-aparts this year, but hopefully we’ve all experienced the occasional moment of gratitude or joy. While the challenges have been many in 2020, we are about to enter a season of gratitude. And I know that I have much to be thankful for, no matter how bat-poo crazy the world seems! Can I get an “Amen” for the fact that the sun still rises in the East and sets in the West?

In all seriousness, one of the many things I am thankful for is YOU! Even in the hardest times of navigating a fragile food system in chaos during a pandemic, you stood by the family farm and gave Moink the honor of participating in your family meals. For that, I thank you. Both for supporting our business and making a very real and immensely profound impact on so many lives.

Look, as the American family farm has declined, so has rural America. In the days of my youth, our small town had a grocery store, a hardware store, a tire shop and a liquor store. Now they are all gone. Even the liquor store couldn’t withstand the tides of change!

So as stores and services decrease in rural America, poverty increases and darkness creeps in when life is unaffordable. Things like drug use, mental health issues and crime are on the rise as employment opportunities dwindle and the fabric of rural America frays.

Many fled rural America, but Moink stayed. We set up our operations in the middle of nowhere for a reason…to be the change we wish to see in this world. We want to revive rural America by supporting family farms and creating jobs. The Moink warehouse is in a town of 97 people and when you look out the back door, you see fields for miles. If you were to spend a day there, you would probably think we’re weird. Because, well, we are! Moink misfits? Absolutely. Broken? Maybe, but isn’t everybody in some way?

Spend the day with us and you will see respect, kindness and the constant celebration of small wins and a dedication to a job well done. Moink began as a small, family-run business. As we grow and add employees, they become family. For this reason, we host a “family meeting” each morning and the first thing I ask for is good news.

Not good “business” news. I want to hear down-home, personal good news from everyone in the Moink family, every single day. To most people, these individual and private stories may seem insignificant. But to our merry gang of misfits, we celebrate these positive tidbits with gusto! Because at Moink, we believe a job is not just a paycheck. It is a source of light in the darkness that provides dignity and self-esteem. And that is way more important than how many boxes of meat we sell or how fast we pack them.

At the Moink warehouse, every employee is valued, appreciated and dare I say, loved. No matter what and regardless of their backstory. We always look forward and take time to recognize the encouraging parts of our collective lives, such as these:

  • “I’m seven years clean.”
  • “My baby cut two teeth!”
  • “I no longer live in a camper without running water because I have an apartment!”
  • “I’m three months clean and sober and resolved my court issues.” 
  • “My toddler is now potty trained. Woohoo!”
  • “My bank account is no longer overdrawn.” 
  • “I’m six months sober and get to see my children more often now.”

Know that as Moink customers, you stand shoulder to shoulder with us as we fight for the family farm. And as part of the extended Moink family, you also help create jobs and provide opportunities for people in tiny towns near our warehouse. For that, I am grateful because your purchases pay their wages and in turn, generate the good news that creates such a strong sense of belonging for our folks.

The Moink Crew!

Fighting for the family farm and standing for rural America is very personal to me because I am the girl that beat the odds. Statistically, there is no way that I should be where I am today. I was raised in poverty right here in rural America, lost a parent at a young age and dropped out of high school. If you look at society’s statistics, my life trajectory should have gone in the opposite direction.

Why didn’t it? Because along my broken road, many people offered me dignity, respect and opportunity. It is said that “to much that is given, much is expected” and that is a founding principle at Moink. We treat our farmers, co-workers, family and customers with the utmost respect. We create change in rural America because we live, love and labor here. We fight for the family farm and strive to feed America with quality meat. But none of this would be possible without your steadfast support. So, on behalf of the Moink misfits, family farmers everywhere and straight from my heart, THANK YOU for being a Moink-er and making a positive impact on family farms and rural America.

Long live the family farm and rural America,

Lucinda

 


Ready to join the Moink Moovement and help us fight for the family farm?

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  • Im a new Moink-er…I’ve been Moinked. Saw you on shark tank and I became a believer.
    I live in San Francisco, but I am from a long line of Midwestern family farmers. I feel you. I dont know ya, never worked on a farm or ranch. I think I would like to though. In any case I admire what you’re doing.
    Hope all goes well for you.
    Thanks for what you do.

  • Love being a part of this. Growing up in Boston then moving to Philadelphia I barely see rural America. I have always been frustrated at the lack of alternatives to large factory farms. Thank you for giving people the opportunity to support the smaller farms. (I have always been a bit of a foodie and let me say WOW the meat yall send blows any grocery store meat out of the water.)

  • Awesome words Lucinda! As always.
    Your perspective is real and personal. Just know that you are very much appreciated.
    For what you’ve done and continue to do, but mostly for who you are.

  • We are very happy to be Moink-ers!!!
    We love your meat & your story!!! Keep up the great work!!!
    Y’all got this!!!

    Blessings
    Kathy

  • WE are so thankful for all that do!!!!! I have been getting your boxes for almost a year now every 2-3 weeks. They are the best! I also cry (in a good way) thinking about how you were there for us in the Bay Area of CA when we had to SIP back in March. You got food to my family and I will never forgot. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

  • We are so impressed to date with, not just the quality but the Service with the personal touches, monik is providing! God bless each of you!

  • We look forward to our Moinkbox every month. Just got our monthly box today. The sizes are perfect for my husband, daughter, granddaughter and me. We aren’t wasting the food we used to. It’s nice to go to the freezer and choose something different for each meal. The sausage is the best for breakfast. Not over seasoned and cooks up wonderfully. The meat really does taste better! And it’s fun to change up our box each month.

    Thank you all, for your hard work and for all you do to provide us with yummy healthy meat. It’s a nice bonus to know that you appreciate your employees and co-workers😊

  • You are awesome, Lucinda! Honored to help support the family farm, rural America and maintain a source of quality, healthy food. That’s good for ALL of us. Thank you so much for making that possible.

  • I’m also a new Moinker, yay! Healthy food, healthy body! Thank you for such a personal, genuine, and caring statement. As a former business owner I appreciate and commiserate with you, thank you for taking the risk!

  • So proud to be a customer. Even more after reading this! My daughter has been in rehab for months. So awesome to see a company that gives people a second chance. Proud of you and what you have accomplished!! Thrilled I can support family farms !! America stronger together blessings 🙌❤️

  • Love Moink meat. So happy when it arrives. Being Seniors we need to stay in and with the great Moink product we can. Saw you on the Sharks and try and help small business if we can and so happy we could support you, Being able to skip an order now and again makes us able to stay with you as it is just the two of us. Custom orders are great! Is there a way to change the thickness of a cut?

    Thank you for providing us with a super product!
    Toni Montgomery

  • BeautifulLu written, Lucinda! When I stumbled across an add for Moink in a magazine I said self, here’s a company I have to support. Thank you for the clean food that is raised humanely. We had a self sufficient farm years ago. Yeah as our friends used to say, it’s not too safe to be a kritter on your farm. The kids knew that way of life. In fact the animals were named Sirloin, Chuck, Dinner (that one was particularly humorous when calling him in from the field and the neighbor heard it) pigs we’re eeny, meeny, miny and moe or bacon and ham Ext., you get the jist..Had to move and miss the fresh meats. They just taste real. So a big shout out to all you misfit (normal if you ask me) Moinkers! Thank you for all you do.
    Your path is a great one
    Good on ya
    Kate & Ron

  • Lucinda,
    Thank you for sharing your life with us! I feel like a part of your family. My family is blessed because of you and your extended family.

  • I am new to Moink. I joined mostly because I wanted to find a way to support small family farms. Thank you for providing me with an opportunity to do so. I wish you and all of the Moink employees success and blessings.

    Barb K

  • Lucinda,

    Back in 2016 I signed up with both Spacegirlorganics and ButcherBox. At some point you told me you were in the process of creating Moink. I stuck with BB. A few months ago I switched over and I could not be happier about my decision! I feel really….. good about supporting Moink and (as long as the quality remains) you will have a customer for life!
    Thank you and all the farmers/workers/families for all you do ♡