Susieville Cattle Company and the Thistle Dew Ranch

Jon and Susie Eickhoff retired to Southwestern New Mexico after managing an engineering services company in Michigan, seeking a healthier lifestyle and open spaces. They purchased Criollo cattle and the Thistle Dew Ranch, embarking on a journey of discovery in grass-fed beef farming. The Criollo cattle, descendants of those brought to the New World by Christopher Columbus, have a genetic foundation preserved by the Tarahumara Indians in Mexico. The farm has grown to supply beef to various retail and restaurant locations in Southern New Mexico and Arizona.

The farm raises cattle on open range and rotational pastures, utilizing underground drip irrigation for finishing steers. The Criollo cattle, adapted to desert conditions, require less water and graze on a variety of plants, reducing their impact on riparian areas. The cattle are raised without added hormones, steroids, or unnecessary antibiotics, resulting in beef with a balanced Omega-3 to Omega-6 ratio, increased CLA, and additional vitamins and minerals. The farm's practices emphasize animal welfare and ecological sustainability.

The farm's beef is available at several retail outlets and restaurants in Southern New Mexico and Arizona. The Criollo cattle's smaller stature and grazing habits make them more resilient to drought conditions. Customers are advised to reduce cooking temperatures or times to avoid overcooking the lean beef. The farm believes in partnering with select retail outlets to make their product widely available and sees the Criollo breed as key to preserving the Southwest's ranching way of life.