Tribe extends ag initiative with unveiling of first meat plant

The Quapaw tribe recently marked the opening of its new meat processing plant in northeastern Oklahoma. It is believed to be the first such USDA-inspected facility on tribal territory that’s owned and operated by a tribe, the Joplin Globe reported. The 25,000-square-foot plant just north of Miami, OK, will produce beef, bison, pork, and goat products, with plans calling for about 50 animals to be processed weekly. The products will be sold at the tribe’s casinos and local stores. The tribe maintains its own herds of cattle and bison. Representatives told the Joplin Globe that the opening of the plant is an extension of the tribe’s work reclaiming and remediating land for use in agriculture. Plans for the processing facility also include educational and training collaborations with several area colleges and universities.