45° and Patchy rain nearby
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Elaine Becken returns to Becken Farms to buy beef from Don Ziemendorf and his son William. William purchased the historic business last year and has premium beef at fair prices.
There is good beef to be had at Becken Farms at 2589 Upper Mountain Road in Sanborn but only from 12-3 p.m. Saturday’s or by appointment for a larger purchase.
It was about two years ago. I stopped at Becken Farms on Upper Mountain Road for some apples and maybe some potatoes.
Elaine Becken was at her roadside farm stand. Here’s the conversation as best I remember:
“I just came back from Clinton/Bailey market,” she said. “There has been a Becken at that market every week for 70 years.”
She had a bit of pride in her voice even if she seemed weary. That's a long drive and hard work on a damp day, especially as we age.
“So how has the market changed over the years? For better or worse?” I asked.
“Definitely worse,” she lamented before talking a bit about some of the newer vendors whose culture differs from what people are accustomed to in Sanborn. They don’t show the deference and respect Mrs. Becken deserves and she’s not a woman to be trifled with or disrespected.
I cherish that memory because, unfiltered, politically incorrect and straight-to-the-point is a lost art. Respect is earned and should never be expected, even when people still deserve the benefit of the doubt. Call them as you see them but never give up the yearning to gain a better understanding.
About two months ago, I saw a Facebook ad promoting beef for sale at Becken Farms. I didn't remember freezers inside the roadside barn (actually more of a garage).
It was closer than going to see the Strobels. Strobel Farms is at 2690 Coomer Road in Newfane and offers excellent meat, including pork and chicken. As Paul Strobel says, "if you can't get it here, you probably shouldn't be eating it." Anyway, while Becken is closer to home, Strobel has some things you won’t easily find, like teres major, also known as the petite tender, a small, super tender steak extracted from the chuck roll.
We decided to make a run to Becken for the first time and met Don Ziemendorf, manning the stand for his son William who bought the farm from Mrs. Becken. We grabbed some ground beef, short ribs and a strip steak that day. It wasn’t cheap, but it is better than spending money on beef at Wegmans or Tops that came from who-knows-where.
About a month ago, we stopped again. This time we grabbed a steak and some ground beef. We might eat beef once a week. As Williams and Don were behind the counter, Mrs. Becken came in to shop and took advantage of a 15% off on ground beef sale. I grabbed a photo of her and smiled inside knowing she still supported the family with which she trusted with her legacy.
The other day, I saw the farm advertising a spring bundle sale.
$50 Bundle includes gets you 2 packages of ground beef, 1 package of patties and a chuck roast.
For $100 you can get a Chuck Roast, 3 package of ground beef, a sirloin steak and 2 sirloin tip steaks.
Preorders aren’t necessary. If you look at their prices, compare them to Tops or Wegmans. A Porterhouse steak from Tops is $19.99 a pound. Strip steak is $18.48. And that’s for choice meat.
At Becken a strip steak is $19.99 a pound. Porterhouse steak is $19.49. And in my mind, they don’t mark it as such, but the Ziemendorf’s beef is closer to premium quality, not choice.
They can tell you where the animal was raised, what it was fed, and how old it was when sent it to be slaughtered for the butcher. Even if you go to Natural Link, the premium shop in Lewiston or Federal meats you can’t get that detail, or for that matter, quality.
Stop in on a Saturday or if you need something different, call (716) 525-5025 and I am sure they will not only accommodate you but thank you for your business. Attached is the current price list.
