Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed
Lifetime grazed beef from Minnesota family farms
Overview
Thousand Hills Lifetime Grazed sources beef from family farms across the upper Midwest and is one of the few brands that explicitly certifies 'lifetime grazed', meaning no grain at any point in the animal's life, including in the feedlot before slaughter.
Full Review
Thousand Hills was founded in Minnesota in 2003 with a specific mission: to produce beef that is truly grass-fed for the animal's entire life, without the loophole that some 'grass-fed' brands exploit by finishing animals on grain or in feedlots before slaughter. The 'Lifetime Grazed' designation is their central differentiator and is third-party verified. They work with a network of small family farms in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and the Dakotas, where cattle graze on pasture during the growing season and eat stored forages (hay, haylage) through the winter. The brand is particularly strong in the upper Midwest, appearing in Lunds & Byerlys, Hy-Vee, and many independent natural food stores, as well as nationally at select Whole Foods and via online shipping.
Thousand Hills also emphasizes soil health and works with farms transitioning to more regenerative practices. Their products include ground beef, steaks, roasts, and a line of snack sticks and jerky.
✓ What We Like
- ·Explicitly 'Lifetime Grazed', no grain ever, including feedlot
- ·Strong regional retail presence in upper Midwest
- ·Family farm network with strong transparency
- ·Good value relative to quality
- ·Snack sticks and jerky for on-the-go options
Considerations
- ·Regional availability strongest in upper Midwest
- ·Smaller product variety compared to specialty DTC brands
- ·Winter feeding relies on stored forages, not fresh pasture
All Certifications
Available Cuts & Products
Our Editorial Assessment
GrassFed Source Editorial Team — based on certifications, published farming practices, and aggregated customer feedback. We do not accept payment for reviews or assessments.
The 'Lifetime Grazed' designation is a meaningful distinction beyond standard grass-fed labeling. Many brands use 'grass-fed' as a descriptor while still allowing grain finishing in the final weeks before slaughter — Thousand Hills gets third-party verification that grain is excluded for the animal's entire life, including that final feedlot stage. That specificity matters. Their upper Midwest farm network (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, the Dakotas) produces reliable quality, and the retail presence in regional chains like Lunds and Hy-Vee makes this the most shelf-accessible AGA-certified option in that geography. The product range is narrower than DTC-specialist brands, and national availability is more limited. Our assessment is based on their AGA and Lifetime Grazed certification documentation, retail distribution data, and aggregated customer feedback.
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Quick Facts
- Founded
- 2003
- Location
- Cannon Falls, Minnesota
- Sourcing Region
- Minnesota & Upper Midwest USA
- Price Range
- $8–$28/lb
- Grass-Fed %
- 100% Grass-Fed