Texas Agriculture Daily

By Jennifer Dorsett
Field Editor

After Nolan Ryan retired from professional baseball in 1993, he turned even more of his attention to his other career and first love—raising cattle.

Now, 50 years after buying his first ranch and 20 years after the launch of Nolan Ryan Beef, the Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) member has introduced his latest venture—Goodstock By Nolan Ryan, a boutique butcher shop in Round Rock.

The store brings together the aspects of the perfectly grilled meal all in one place.

Fresh, hand-cut meats, along with wines that pair well with the meat case, grills and grilling accessories, cooking tools, spices, rubs, marinades, cookbooks and more are available in the butcher shop and market.

And shoppers can also learn how to properly prepare the products, too.

“We’re going to do a lot of educational opportunities—how to prepare different cuts, how to cook different cuts, as well as retailing some products that we think compliment Goodstock and our products,” Reese Ryan, Nolan’s son and chairman of Nolan Ryan Beef, said in an interview with the TFB Radio Network. “Most unpleasant beef eating experiences are due to preparation error. There’s a lot of opportunity to really help people improve their dining experience and their beef experience.”

Nolan Ryan Beef products have been sold through retailers for several years, but Reese said his family is excited about the opportunity to connect with customers and showcase the different ways their beef can be prepared and enjoyed.

“We’ve never had a retail outlet before, so we’re really excited about that personal interaction directly with the Nolan Ryan Beef and Goodstock customer,” he said.

But the products won’t just be for area residents.

Soon, consumers across the state will be able to enjoy Nolan Ryan Beef and other Goodstock products, too. Later this year, Goodstock will offer retail sales online.

“We did a little test run over the holiday season of 2019, and we had a great response. This retail store is giving us an opportunity to do all of our own fulfillment and really expand that business, and it’s something we’re very excited about,” Reese said.

As part of the Nolan Ryan Beef team from its inception, Reese said it’s been gratifying to help build a recognizable, quality brand from the ground up.

“I’ve been associated with the brand since the beginning, and it’s really been rewarding to watch this go from an idea that came out of a Beefmaster Breeders United long-range planning session to a reality,” he said. “It’s been a lot of fun to see how this company has grown over the years and how we continue to deliver locally-sourced products to our customers.”

And it’s all thanks to an 8-year-old boy with a good arm who had the dream of owning a ranch someday.

“Most people know my father as a Hall of Fame baseball player,” he said. “But his first passion, before baseball, was ranching. He got into the beef business at eight years old. He bought dairy calves with the money he earned delivering papers. It’s something he has been passionate about for the past 65 years and continued to grow. To this day, ranching and beef production occupies the bulk of his time.”

The Round Rock store opened in June, and the Ryan family hopes the business model of connecting consumers with quality beef and educational opportunities is a winning combination.

Visit https://goodstocktx.com to learn more about what’s in store, shop online and see upcoming events.