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Thunder Ridge Ranch
Researched and Written by Janine Weins
(Posted 7/26/07)

The first cattle to come to the North American continent were Spanish Longhorns that arrived in Hispanoia as passengers on Christopher Columbus' second voyage to the new world in 1493. Because of their huge horns, wild temper, and leathery meat, they were not prized. In 1607, the residences of Jamestown Colony decided to import docile tasty cattle from Europe. The cattle that were not eaten did not survive. In 1611, cattle were again imported to Jamestown. In an effort to assure their survival, the governor of Virginia, Thomas Dale, issued a proclamation stating that "No man shall dare kill any bull, cow, (or) calf.&qout; With the help of the governor's proclamation, the cattle survived and prospered. By 1639, there were 30,000 cattle in Virginia.

Today there are nearly 100 million cattle in the United States. According to the USDA beef is the number one source of protein in the American diet. Americans spend $70 billion on beef and consume an average of nearly 70 pounds of beef a year.

Texas produces more beef than any state, but some of the small New Hampshire and Vermont farms produce tasty natural beef. One of those farms, owned by Peter and Erica Trapp, is Thunder Ridge Ranch, 354 Route 10 in Piermont, New Hampshire. The Trapps describe the way they raise their Black Angus cattle as "the old-fashioned way." During the summer, the cattle graze in Thunder Ridge Ranch's certified organic pastures. The cattle are fed certified organic hay and are finished on grain.

Black Angus is the most popular breed of beef cattle in America. Angus cattle were brought to the United States 1873 from the shires of Angus and Aberdeen in Scotland. They are hearty and produce a flavorful highly-marbled meat. In 2005, there were a third of a million registered Black Angus cattle in the United States, of which only a few dozen resided at Thunder Ridge Ranch...

Thunder Ridge Ranch is located on Route 10 about 3 miles north of the flashing light where Route 25C intersects Route 10. The farm's store is in the farmhouse on the east side of Route 10. The cattle graze in pastures between the Connecticut River and Route 10.

The Thunder Ridge Ranch store is open seven days a week. In addition to selling sides, quarters, and various cuts of Black Angus beef, Thunder Ridge Ranch sells free-range chicken eggs, chicken parts, whole chickens, lamb and pork. The eggs and all of the meat sold at Thunder Ridge Ranch are raised naturally by the Trapps on their property. None of the animals are fed hormones, animal byproducts, or antibiotics.

In addition to owning Thunder Ridge Ranch, Peter and Erica Trapp own the Fairlee Drive-In on Route 5 in Fairlee. The hamburgers served at the drive-in are made by the Trapps with ground Black Angus meat from the Thunder Ridge Ranch.

If you are driving up Route 10 to the Grafton County Fair in North Haverhill (aka the North Haverhill Fair) the last weekend in July, your trip will take you by Thunder Ridge Ranch. If you are looking for farm-fresh free-range eggs or very tasty natural meats I suggest you stop at the Thunder Ridge Ranch farm store. If you would like to get a special cut or order a side of beef you can call Thunder Ridge Ranch at 603-272-5008.

The open sign waves to traffic on Route 10 outside the Thunder Ridge Ranch farm store.	Black Angus calves graze near the cattle gate to their organic pasture on Thunder Ridge Ranch.	Beef cattle graze in the organic pastures on Acorn Hill Farm in Lyme.