INTRODUCING…

INTRODUCING… CREEKSTONE FARMS NATURAL BLACK ANGUS BEEF Natural Protocol Manual Creekstone Farms Natural* Black Angus Beef Raised without supplemental hormones  No antibiotics – ever  USDA Certified  Raised on a 100% vegetarian diet  Source verified - all cattle born and raised in the U.S.A.  Random residue testing for antibiotics and growth promotants  Guaranteed tender  *Minimally processed with no artificial ingredients  Creekstone Farms Premium Beef, LLC 604 Goff Industrial Park Road Arkansas City, Kansas 67005 620-741-3100 620-741-3195 Fax The Creekstone Heritage The Creekstone Farms® legacy began over a decade ago with one simple idea: provide superior quality food products to satisfy the most discerning of palates. Upon this vision, the Creekstone Farms Premium Black Angus Beef program was established. Using our own Creekstone Farms Black Angus Beef genetics as our guideline for quality, we quickly established ourselves as a producer of premium beef products for foodservice, retail and export. In early 2004, the decision was made to take our Black Angus beef program to a new level. To meet the needs of consumers looking for beef raised with strict protocols regarding the use of added hormones and antibiotics, Creekstone Farms Natural Black Angus Beef was introduced. Our new natural beef offers consumers the same rich flavor they have come to expect from Creekstone Farms, but now we offer a product that is also natural and guaranteed tender. Our goal over time is to become the nation’s leading producer and marketer of natural Black Angus beef products – both fresh and value-added. To achieve this ambitious goal, we are continually searching for quality cattle that meet our program specifications. Those producers wishing to partner with Creekstone Farms in the production of this superior beef product must meet several requirements. However, the rewards derived from the added work and dedication required by such a program will ultimately be there for consumers, retailers, livestock producers and Creekstone Farms. Our Mission Statement: The objective of the Creekstone Farms Natural Black Angus Beef Program is to provide consumers with a wholesome, consistently satisfying product from animals raised in a humane and environmentally friendly manner. Quality Standards The Creekstone Farms Natural Black Angus Beef program is based on source-verified Black Angus or Black Angus cross cattle. Unlike other Angus programs that are based simply on the hide of the animal being a minimum of 51% black, Creekstone Farms actually seeks to procure cattle with known Black Angus genetics. Cattle producers able to meet these initial criteria will receive substantial marketing incentives. Program Requirements Once our Black Angus genetic requirements are met, an additional set of production criteria must also be met in order for cattle to be considered for the Creekstone Farms Natural Black Angus Beef Program. The following protocols outline our program:        The cattle have never received supplemental hormones or growth promotants from birth to harvest. The cattle have never received antibiotics of any kind, either fed in subtherapeutic doses or administered by injection, from birth to harvest. Feedlot partners are not allowed to treat sick animals destined for the Creekstone Farms Natural Black Angus Program with antibiotics. If cattle at the feedlot require treatment with an antibiotic, then those cattle are ineligible for the program and must be identified and sold separately. The cattle from birth to harvest have been raised on a 100% vegetarian diet. Feedlot partners must provide signed affidavits verifying all feeding practices. All cattle will receive a finishing ration containing Midwestern corn fed for a minimum of 120 days. Cattle must have been born and raised solely in the U.S.A., and feedlot partners will be required to sign affidavits verifying the origin of the livestock. Producers and feedlots must allow for periodic visits by Creekstone Farms personnel or representatives to certify all standards have been met. Producer and feedlot partners must maintain accurate and auditable records. In addition to these production requirements, Creekstone Farms promises consumers the following:    Our natural beef is minimally processed and contains no artificial ingredients. Cattle have been humanely and safely handled at our feedlots and processing facility. Humane handling is monitored via affidavit back to the source of origin. All Creekstone Farms Natural Black Angus Beef is guaranteed tender. Program Specifics Growth Hormones or Implants Cattle cannot receive growth promotants or implants at any time. Specifically, none of the following are allowed: Compudose (Ralgro), Synovex, Implus, Finaplix, Revalor, MGA, Component, Encore or Optaflexx. Feed Additives, Mineral Supplements and Weaning Rations No feed can be utilized that contains any antibiotics or ionophores. Feed additives, minerals and protein blocks that contain Bovatec or Rumensin cannot be used. Water sources cannot contain these additives or any antibiotic such as Tetracycline, Aureomycin or Tylan. Treating Sick Animals At Creekstone Farms we understand that livestock are a valuable asset. That is why we support timely health maintenance vaccination programs at the farm or ranch where cattle are raised. However, because many consumers are developing concerns over long-term exposure of livestock to antibiotics, animals will be disqualified for our program if antibiotic-type drugs are administered either through the feed or by injection. If feedlot partners treat a sick animal with an antibiotic, that animal must be identified and segregated and as a result becomes ineligible for the program. Cattle Feed Cattle must be raised from birth to harvest on a 100% vegetarian diet. Cattle must be fed only natural feed such as pasture grass, legume pasture, hay and grain. A vitamin and mineral supplement program is strongly encouraged. At no time may any antibiotics or ionophores be included in the feed ration. Our cattle remain at the finishing feedlot for a minimum of 120 days, but typically remain on feed for 120-180 days. Identifying Disqualified Animals Cattle that for any reason are disqualified from the Creekstone Farms Natural Black Angus Beef Program must be identified and sorted out prior to natural-qualifying livestock being delivered to Creekstone Farms for processing. The feedlot partner must maintain records on ineligible cattle identifying the reasons for program disqualification and all head counts must be adjusted accordingly. Ranch and Feedlot Visits A representative from Creekstone Farms shall be allowed to periodically visit participating ranches and feedlots to certify and verify program requirements are being followed. Quality Standards Upon Delivery Creekstone Farms maintains strict cattle receiving policies covering cattle health and breed type. USDA staff at our processing facility visually inspect each day’s cattle inventory to ensure they meet our Black Angus breed and health criteria. Nonambulatory animals are not allowed into Creekstone Farms for processing. Record Keeping The Creekstone Farms Natural Black Angus Beef Program requires additional documentation such as receiving records that enable us to track individual cattle back to the producer. In addition, our Creekstone Farms Natural Black Angus Source Verification Affidavit will be used to document the following: 1) The genetic make-up of the cattle are Black Angus or Black Angus cross and managed to promote the Creekstone Farms promise to the consumer. 2) No ruminant meat, bone meal or tallow has been fed to any of the cattle specified. 3) The cattle have been fed a 100% vegetarian diet. 4) The cattle have been handled in a humane manner. 5) No antibiotics or ionophores have ever been fed or administered. 6) No implants or growth promotants have ever been administered. 7) Management records will be kept and accessible to the auditor, Creekstone Farms representative and/or purchaser of the cattle upon request. 8) The cattle are of United States origin and source verifiable. The following outlines the types of affidavits that must be maintained:    Source verification – The movement of cattle from ranch to feedlot and ultimately to our processing plant needs to be tracked and a relocation affidavit provided as cattle transfer from one owner to another. Feedstuffs -- The types of feed, rations, minerals, etc. Disqualified animals -- Affidavits must be maintained on any and all cattle that were treated with or fed antibiotics or ionophores that disqualifies them for the Creekstone Farms Natural Black Angus Beef Program. Processing Our state-of-the-art processing plant is devoted solely to the production of Creekstone Farms Black Angus Beef. Our plant is second to none in terms of sanitation measures and safe food handling practices. It is the primary reason why we believe so strongly in the safety and wholesomeness of our final product. The cattle receiving areas at Creekstone Farms ensure the continued humane handling of animals because our facilities were designed with the assistance of Dr. Temple Grandin, one of the nation’s foremost experts on animal welfare. Humane livestock handling reduces animal stress and superior quality beef is the result. Employee training is also provided to ensure proper livestock handling. During processing Creekstone Farms conducts random residue testing for antibiotics and growth promotants. Our residue testing is an additional internal audit conducted in order to verify the natural claims we are making and assure our customers of our dedication to the program. Marketing Options Available Our primary objective at Creekstone Farms is to acquire premium Black Angus beef for our natural product offering. As such, there are options available to producers and feedlot operators to market natural Black Angus cattle through our program at very competitive pricing. Contact a Creekstone Farms representative for more information. Carcass data will be provided to producers in order to help them continually evaluate and improve on herd performance. Guaranteed Tender Program Creekstone Farms has initiated a “tenderness management” system containing the following elements:     Feeding Management Program – Cattle are finished on a feed ration containing Midwestern corn fed for a minimum of 120 days. Creekstone Farms source verification ensures only youthful animals are allowed in our program. Electronic Carcass Stimulation -- High voltage electronic stimulation of every carcass is utilized to enhance tenderness. Product Aging Guidelines -- Creekstone Farms ages beef for this program a minimum of 14 days in combination with our retail and distributor partners. PLUS  Shear Force Testing – Creekstone Farms conducts shear force testing to verify product tenderness. For More Information To learn more about our program requirements, answer specific questions or enroll your cattle in our Creekstone Farms Natural Black Angus Beef program, please contact the following personnel: Ryan Meyer, Director of Livestock Procurement (620) 741-3321 rmeyer@cfpbeef.com