Cole “Tug” Nay, the owner of Nay’s Meats, was recognized as the “Utah Rural Small Business of the Year” by the Utah District of the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Cole was honored in Salt Lake City during National Small Business Week (May 1-7), along with six others of Utah’s over 300,000 small businesses. Awards were presented at a banquet on Friday.
Joni Anderson, the director of Southern Utah University’s Business Center and regional manager of Utah Small Business Development Center, said that Nay’s Meats is well-deserving of the recognition: “Nay’s Meats contributes to the economic vitality of Garfield County and of Utah, and they are a worthy recipient of the Utah Rural Small Business of the Year award.” She added, “It’s a privilege to be able to work with and assist local small business owners, and it’s especially exciting to help recognize such a deserving business and business owner.”
Cole began working in the meat processing plant with his father and grandfather when he was very young. His father, Martin Nay, wanted to make sure his children learned to work. Martin ensured that Cole inherited more than just a business — he inherited a work ethic that his family has been known for, for four generations. Nay’s Meats has been in operation for 70 years with ownership by the same family.
Cole applied last year for a Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He was assisted in this effort by Joni Anderson and SUU Small Business Resource Center Director, Craig Isom.
This grant is designed to help small meat processors increase production to a level where they can help fill gaps in the food supply chain. It has been extremely difficult to get meat processed in southern Utah in the last couple of years. Processors have been so busy that they have had to put ranchers on a long waiting list to get their beef in to be processed.
Part of the problem is that when COVID began, many major slaughterhouses were shut down. Being an innovative thinker, Cole decided to expand and began looking for financing to complete that expansion.
He plans to build a plant that will process 70 to 75 animals a week, where he is currently only processing 20. He also plans to hire five new employees. In November of 2021 Nay’s Meats was awarded a $200,000 USDA grant to accomplish his goals.
Garfield County’s economic development board also awarded him a $30,000 grant to help out with the project. The total cost of the project is expected to be $700,000 and the shop will take at least a year to build after ground is broken.
Cole said, “Once I build the shop, I’m going to be the only modernized federally inspected kill facility within 250 miles that has a lead time to get an animal processed in less than four months. It’s going to grow the economy, not only by helping create jobs, but it’s going to give local and regional producers an avenue to make more money as well.”
The new plant, being a federally inspected plant, will not be able to process game meat such as deer and elk, but Cole indicated that some of his workers may want to take on that task using the old facility.
Kaden Figgins, Garfield County’s Economic Development Director, said “Nay’s Meats has had a positive impact and will have an even bigger impact with the completion of this project.”
Figgins commented, “One of the things that I’m most excited about will be, where he’s federally certified, not only can he sell over the counter, but he can also sell to all of the local grocery stores and restaurants. It literally goes from the local ranches to the meat processing facility to the restaurants, and it never leaves our county.” In addition, Cole said the shop has plans for a store where meat, spices and rubs may be purchased.
Year-round jobs are hard to come by in Garfield County because of our dependence on tourism. “This gives us another basket to put eggs in, so to speak,” said Elaine Baldwin, Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
“It seems like everybody wins on this one,” Figgins added. “It’s a tremendous project.”
Cole Nay, Joni Anderson and Kaden Figgins all attended the awards ceremony at the Marriott City Center in Salt Lake City on Friday, along with members of Cole’s family.
Topping off the excitement was the addition of a new baby boy to the family about three weeks ago. Life seems to be treating the Nay family well at this time.
– The Byway
Feature image caption: A sign for Nay’s Meats at their location in Panguitch, Utah. Screenshot from the Nay’s Meats video shown in conjunction with the award.