Nice to Meat You: Country Butcher
Joel Sonnek never planned on running Country Butcher, a business his father Arnold “Arnie” Sonnek started in 1990 and ran for the next 20 years alongside his business partner Scott Radke. For Joel, working in the shop was just a fun hobby, until his father passed away during the fall of 2010. For the next couple years he and his brother Todd helped run the business with his mother Connie until Joel and his wife Carly bought it in 2015.
“It kind of just came down to whether someone else was either going to buy it or it was going to close,” remembers Joel. “I didn’t really want to see it go away.”
Much like his son, Arnie didn’t foresee running a business either. Not until his friend Ray of Ray’s Grocery in Minnesota Lake, Minnesota hurt his back. Being an experienced farmer with knowledge of cutting beef, Arnie stepped in to help temporarily. When it became clear Ray wouldn’t recover from his injury, Arnie bought the business and moved it to his farm.
For years Country Butcher stood on Joel’s childhood home until it was moved to its current location in the small town of Easton, Minnesota in 2019. With a gravel road leading right into the heart of town, Country Butcher stays true to its rural roots.
What started as a hobby for Joel unknowingly turned into a fulfilling career spanning 40 years. He learned firsthand from his father and skilled craftsmen in the trade, and although this wasn’t what he originally planned, Joel says he doesn’t know what else he’d do.
“There’s nothing out there that I really wish I could do, other than be retired,” jokes Joel.
Meat from his shop is sourced locally, including beef and pork raised by his family. He feeds them a grain and hay mix as soon as they are weened with no added growth implants or hormones.
“My whole life I’ve been around livestock and that’s just kind of therapy for me,” says Joel. “It’s fun and challenging at times to be at the shop and make hay, but it’s not a huge operation. It keeps me somewhat sane. I don’t do wood working, I don’t do basketball or softball. I go home and putz around with the cattle for a little bit.”
On weekdays the shop is busy prepping for customers who typically come in on Saturdays. They spend their days doing work like cutting, trimming, and smoking their products.
As Joel puts it, some days running your own business is a lot like, “chasing your tail, but you never catch it,” which is why he’s grateful for his staff.
“The people who help me are good workers,” says Joel.
Like Jerry Bruckhoff who has been a part of the team since Arnie was at the helm, and family friends Mackenzie Drager and Meghan Schirmer.
“Country Butcher has been my family’s butcher since before I was born,” explains Mackenzie, a former employee who jumped at the chance to assist when they needed an extra pair of hands to trim and wrap products. “They are like family and I had the free time to help a local small business that has supported my family my entire life.”
“It's hard work, but I enjoy it,” adds Meghan, who was the flower girl in Joel and Carly’s wedding, and was eager to work in the shop when a position became available. “My Dad and Joel have a great friendship and trade corn for beef. It's the real perk of a small town community and small business.”
That and friendly customer service which includes carrying your order out to your car.
“This small town business is one of a kind. Their products are top notch,” says Mackenzie. “I was blown away by how hard they work every day and still manage to have a smile on their faces when customers walk in.”
Although nestled in a small community, Country Butcher has big flavor.
“His products are the best around,” says Meghan. “Especially his wild rice cheddar brats, honey BBQ snack sticks, and Windsor chops!”
“Windsor chops are the hottest thing,” says Joel. “I think I cut over 800 of them last Friday and didn’t have any left.”
Always modest, Joel admits he doesn’t like promoting his products.
“I don’t want to tell people we’re good,” explains Joel. “I hope people know we’re good by our products speaking for themselves.”
But we at The Meatery can’t help boasting about his delicious meat products.
“I’m excited for The Meatery to help get his small business and great food to a crowd that may have never even heard of Country Butcher before,” says Meghan. “Getting your food straight from the source is always best.”
Arnie Sonnek quite literally put the pop in this mom-and-pop butcher shop, and with his son Joel taking the reins, the tradition lives on.
“You got to make hay while the sun shines,” says Joel. “If we can keep a good product out there and keep people coming to the door, hopefully we’re still around in 20 years.”