Locally Sourced Beef Coming To Ivinson Dietary Dept.

This partnership represents a significant stride in Ivinson’s ongoing commitment to the health and well-being of the community by supporting sustainable, locally sourced food options.

The Satanka Food and Community Innovation Hub will serve as a pivotal center for connecting local producers — including gardeners, farmers, and ranchers — with wholesale buyers, thereby creating new opportunities for local agricultural enterprises. Located within Ivinson Memorial Hospital’s Mountain View Café, this collaboration will feature locally raised beef from 9H Ranch, offering high-quality, fresh options to patients and guests.

“It’s exciting and fitting that Ivinson Memorial Hospital has stepped up as a lead player in helping to create a local food hub in Albany County,” said Gayle Woodsum, CEO of Action Resources International and founder of Feeding Laramie Valley. ​“By signing on to purchase beef that’s locally raised, processed and USDA-inspected and approved, (with plans to add local produce from Sheila Bird Farms soon,) the hospital is taking frontline steps to increase access to healthy food and sustainable food security throughout Albany County.”

The partnership with 9H Ranch, managed by Cody Humphrey, is a testament to the community-driven nature of this initiative. As a multi-generational family business rooted in Albany County, 9H Ranch brings a legacy of quality and dedication to local food production. ​“We’re just trying to raise a good product and market it ourselves to ensure that consumers are getting something they can count on,” said Humphrey. ​“If it’s good for the consumer, it’s good for the community, and it’s good for us.”

Ivinson’s Dietary Supervisor Ian Friderich emphasized the importance of this collaboration for the hospital’s food services. ​“At Ivinson, we believe that nourishing our patients goes beyond just meeting dietary needs — it’s about offering food that’s fresh, wholesome and sourced with care from our own community. By partnering with Feeding Laramie Valley and 9H Ranch, we’re not only providing top-quality meals but also supporting the local economy.”

The Satanka Food and Community Innovation Hub is not just a food distribution center; it is a community-driven project that empowers local producers and institutions alike. As the Hub continues to grow, it will expand its reach to include a broader range of locally sourced products, contributing to the overall health and wealth of Albany County.

The Hub’s success is rooted in its collaborative approach and gradual, steady pace of development, ensuring that it meets the needs and capacities of all stakeholders involved. Supported by a USDA Local Food Production grant and built on 15 years of community food system efforts, the Satanka Hub is poised to become a cornerstone of food security and sustainability in the region.