Black Hawk Farms
Black Hawk Farms is a family-owned American Wagyu beef producer in Western Kentucky that vertically integrates breeding, finishing, and processing on a single farm using compost barns co-designed with the University of Kentucky, selling premium beef direct-to-consumer and to restaurants primarily in Kentucky and Tennessee.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersPrinceton, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Black Hawk Farms does
Black Hawk Farms is a privately held, family-owned producer of premium American Wagyu beef, headquartered in Princeton, Kentucky, with its ranch and finishing facilities located in Western Kentucky. The company breeds, raises, and finishes its cattle on a single vertically integrated farm, crossbreeding full-blood Tajima Wagyu bulls with predominantly Black Angus cows and feeding a homegrown, high-roughage diet in proprietary compost finishing barns co-developed with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture. The 500+ day finishing cycle, no-hormone/no-antibiotic regimen, and closed-loop composting system together support a sustainability narrative and BMS 5/6 to BMS 7+ grading tiers.
The product line is organized around two branded tiers — BHF American Wagyu (Black Label, BMS 5/6) and Reserve Label (BMS 7+) — plus a wholesale cuts catalog spanning striploin, ribeye, tenderloin, brisket, ground beef, patties, and specialty cuts. Revenue is generated through three channels: direct-to-consumer e-commerce via the company website, B2B wholesale to restaurants and foodservice operators, and specialty retail partners (Feed the Party, Wulfs Fish) supplemented by farmers market presence at Richland Park in Nashville. Pricing is quote-based for wholesale and unit-based for DTC, and is not publicly disclosed.
The customer base is concentrated in Kentucky and Tennessee, with named restaurant partners including Pastaria Nashville, Meatstick BBQ, Miel Restaurant, The Manchester, Bouquet519, Barebones Butcher, and Union Hill Trading Post. The business is led by a founder team combining agronomy expertise (the Cook family, with roots in Kentucky farming dating to the 1970s), beef science credentials (Brandon Oliver), and culinary leadership (COO Andrew Whitney, Director of Quality Assurance Adam Nelson), with no disclosed external institutional funding.
Black Hawk Farms firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Black Hawk Farms
- Website
- https://blackhawkmeats.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Black Hawk Farms is a family-owned American Wagyu beef producer in Western Kentucky that vertically integrates breeding, finishing, and processing on a single farm using compost barns co-designed with the University of Kentucky, selling premium beef direct-to-consumer and to restaurants primarily in Kentucky and Tennessee.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Black Hawk Farms industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Premium American Wagyu Beef Production
- NAICS
- Beef Cattle Ranching and Farming (112111), Other Animal Food Manufacturing (311119)
- SIC
- Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200), Agricultural Production-Crops (100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Beef Cattle Grazing & Pasture-Based Operations (AFAEABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Seedstock/Purebred Beef Cattle Breeding (AFAEABAD), Livestock Complete Feed Milling & Blending (Cattle/Swine/Poultry) (AFADAIAA)
Keywords
Where Black Hawk Farms is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Princeton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Black Hawk Farms business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct Beef Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer and wholesale sales of American Wagyu beef products including various cuts (striploin, ribeye, tenderloin, brisket, etc.) and value-added products like ground beef and patties. Sold through company website for direct orders and via wholesale accounts to restaurants.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | BHF American Wagyu (BMS 5/6) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Reserve Label (BMS 7+) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Black Hawk Farms product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Black Hawk Farms breeds, raises, and finishes American Wagyu cattle on its farm in Western Kentucky, producing premium beef sold in two grades — BHF American Wagyu (BMS 5/6) and Reserve Label (BMS 7+) — for both direct-to-consumer orders via its website and wholesale to restaurants and foodservice operators. The operation uses a vertically integrated seed-to-harvest model featuring Tajima Wagyu x Black Angus crossbreeding, compost finishing barns developed with the University of Kentucky, and a 500+ day finishing period with homegrown feed and no hormones or antibiotics.
Product overview
Black Hawk Farms is a single-product company specializing in premium American Wagyu beef. Its core offering is organized into two tiers: the Black Label (BHF American Wagyu, BMS 5/6 graded) and the Reserve Label (BMS 7+ graded), with a shared wholesale cuts lineup. All beef is bred, raised, and finished on the farm in Western Kentucky through a vertically integrated, sustainable process.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- BHF American Wagyu (Black Label) American Wagyu beef graded BMS 5/6, offering rich flavor with tender texture and umami depth — a bold, beefy take on classic American taste. Sold direct-to-consumer via the company website and through retail partners.
- Reserve Label Top-tier American Wagyu beef graded BMS 7+, featuring unmatched marbling for exceptional tenderness and rich, decadent flavor in every bite. Sold at premium pricing for special-occasion and fine-dining use.
- Wholesale Cuts Bulk American Wagyu beef cuts available for wholesale buyers and restaurant partners, including Striploin, Ribeye, Tenderloin, Ground Beef & Patties, Brisket, Coulotte, Flank, Bavette, Tri Tip, Flat Iron, Skirt Steak, and Denver.
Companies that use Black Hawk Farms
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Black Hawk Farms technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Black Hawk Farms partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- University of Kentucky College of AgriculturecoreCollaborative partnership with University of Kentucky College of Agriculture to develop sustainable and environmentally friendly cattle finishing processes. University expertise helped create the innovative compost finishing barn system and supported the development of the farm's unique vertically integrated approach to raising and finishing cattle locally in Kentucky.
- Feed the PartyminorRetail partner for distributing Black Hawk Farms products to consumers. Featured as a source for products delivered to customers who haven't tried Black Hawk yet.
- Wulfs FishminorRetail partner for delivering Black Hawk Farms products to customers. Alternative retail channel for product distribution.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Black Hawk Farms competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Niman Ranch: Niman Ranch is a large, established natural/antibiotic-free meat brand serving retail and foodservice across multiple proteins. Comparable to Black Hawk Farms on premium, sustainably raised beef positioning and foodservice distribution, though far broader in scale and SKU.
- Allen Brothers: Allen Brothers is a longstanding Chicago-based purveyor of USDA Prime and Wagyu steaks to restaurants and home consumers. Comparable to Black Hawk Farms on premium steak positioning and B2B wholesale to fine-dining chefs, though they distribute rather than raise cattle.
- Omaha Steaks: Omaha Steaks is a mass-market direct-to-consumer and foodservice meat company offering a broad portfolio including Wagyu. Comparable to Black Hawk Farms on premium beef gifting/online ordering model and wholesale foodservice, though much larger and broader in assortment.
Direct peers
- Lone Mountain Wagyu: Lone Mountain Wagyu is a New Mexico ranch producing fullblood and American Wagyu beef sold DTC and wholesale. Comparable to Black Hawk Farms as a vertically integrated Wagyu producer emphasizing genetic quality and ranch-to-table story.
- Crowd Cow: Crowd Cow is an online meat marketplace selling curated beef (including Wagyu) and other proteins DTC from ranches to consumers. Comparable to Black Hawk Farms on DTC-only distribution, premium/provenance-led branding, and direct sourcing from partner farms.
- Holy Grail Steak Co. Holy Grail Steak Co. specializes in 100% fullblood Wagyu beef sold DTC and through high-end steakhouse distribution. Comparable to Black Hawk Farms on premium Wagyu DNA, DTC-first model, and chef/retailer customer segments.
- Snake River Farms: Snake River Farms is a leading US producer and direct-to-consumer seller of American Wagyu beef. Directly comparable to Black Hawk Farms in product (American Wagyu crossbreed), channels (DTC and foodservice wholesale), and premium positioning.
- Porter Road: Porter Road is a pasture-raised, whole-animal meat company selling beef and other proteins DTC and to chefs. Comparable to Black Hawk Farms on regenerative/traceable sourcing story, premium DTC positioning, and chef/retail channel mix.
- Order Wagyu: Order Wagyu is a pure-play online retailer aggregating premium Wagyu and Kobe-style beef from multiple producers. Comparable to Black Hawk Farms' DTC channel and target consumer (premium home cooks / gift buyers seeking marbled American Wagyu).
Emerging players
- Wagyu Ox: Wagyu Ox is a smaller online retailer specializing in A5 Japanese and American Wagyu for DTC customers. Comparable to Black Hawk Farms as a niche premium Wagyu DTC brand competing for the same gourmet consumer, though they do not ranch the cattle themselves.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Black Hawk Farms social profiles
Digital presenceBlack Hawk Farms financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Black Hawk Farms leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
Black Hawk Farms funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Black Hawk Farms M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Black Hawk Farms
What does Black Hawk Farms do?
Black Hawk Farms breeds, raises, and finishes American Wagyu cattle on its farm in Western Kentucky, producing premium beef sold in two grades — BHF American Wagyu (BMS 5/6) and Reserve Label (BMS 7+) — for both direct-to-consumer orders via its website and wholesale to restaurants and foodservice operators. The operation uses a vertically integrated seed-to-harvest model featuring Tajima Wagyu x Black Angus crossbreeding, compost finishing barns developed with the University of Kentucky, and a 500+ day finishing period with homegrown feed and no hormones or antibiotics.
Is Black Hawk Farms a public or private company?
Black Hawk Farms is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Black Hawk Farms founded?
Black Hawk Farms was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Black Hawk Farms based?
Black Hawk Farms is headquartered in Princeton, United States, in the North America region.
How does Black Hawk Farms make money?
One revenue line is on record: direct Beef Product Sales.
Who are Black Hawk Farms's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Niman Ranch, Allen Brothers and Omaha Steaks. Direct peers are Lone Mountain Wagyu, Crowd Cow, Holy Grail Steak Co., Snake River Farms, Porter Road and Order Wagyu. Wagyu Ox is listed as an emerging player.
Does Black Hawk Farms have an API?
No public API is recorded for Black Hawk Farms.
What industry is Black Hawk Farms in?
Black Hawk Farms's product category is Premium American Wagyu Beef Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAEABAG, Beef Cattle Grazing & Pasture-Based Operations, with a secondary code of AFAEABAD, Seedstock/Purebred Beef Cattle Breeding. Its NAICS code is 112111 and its SIC code is 200.