In this Meat the People episode, we go inside the finishing pen—literally—with Adam Wackel of Plum Creek Wagyu. Surrounded by 80 full-blood Wagyu cattle, each tipping the scale at over 1,000 pounds, Adam walks us through what makes his herd different: calm, well-treated animals raised with intention.

We talk about the temperament of Wagyu and how low-stress handling directly impacts meat quality, marbling, and texture. Adam breaks down the difference between feeding corn versus force-feeding corn, especially in large-scale feedlots vs. small, local operations like his. Yes, he uses corn—it’s Nebraska—but it comes from the farm next door, not a commodity mill. Everything is sourced locally, with care and transparency.

We also dig into how Wagyu cattle behave differently from Angus, why scale matters, and what it takes to raise some of the best beef in the country. If you’ve ever wanted a behind-the-scenes look at ethical Wagyu farming done right, this episode delivers.

Learn more about Adam’s work and order his beef at plumcreekwagyubeef.com