Russell County Butchery Shuts Doors After AL Department of Ag & Industries Action
Seale, AL facility had been serving local farmers and consumers since 2022
The Russell County Butchery, LLC, a local custom-exempt and USDA‑inspected facility, has permanently closed following a notice from the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. The closure marks the end of operations at 107 Kirkland Road, Seale, AL, where the Butchery had served its rural community since 2022.
On its public Facebook page, on Thursday, July 31, the business announced:
"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."—Benjamin Franklin
We regret to inform you that the Russell County Butchery will be closing our doors. Yesterday, we received a notice from the Alabama Department of Ag & Industries that we can no longer perform processing in our facility. We are extremely frustrated and disappointed at this outcome, but believe we have no other alternative than to shut down permanently. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve you, and our family of employees, customers, producers, and farmers are the ones who this impacts and hurts the most.
Over the past 3 years, we have put our best efforts into building this business, but it has always been a very fragile endeavor due to the infrastructure requirements and regulatory demands. We appreciate all the support you have given us and are thankful for the relationships we have made along the way.
We will be at the shop today selling chicken, seasonings, supplies and other items as we try to close the business and take care of financial obligations. Come on out and get it while you can, or just stop by to chat and say goodbye.
Further up, further in, Christ is Lord!
The closure follows a Notice of Suspension issued by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on May 7, 2025, which warned of serious violations at Establishment M2442—Russell County Butchery’s facility. Though a follow‑up letter from May 16 placed that suspension “in abeyance,” it underscored the gravity of inspection findings.
The butchery had offered USDA-inspected processing of beef, pork, goat, and sheep. It also sold retail cuts, sausages, and charcuterie—highlighting a commitment to serving local producers and consumers in Russell County.
Since opening in 2022, the Butchery exemplified a community‑centered spirit. Their social media repeatedly emphasized care for customers and local producers. One post candidly states: “We narrowly averted contaminating Russell County with uninspected meat!! ... Those USDA inspectors are no joke.”
This closure arrives after a challenging period for the facility. FSIS records show enforcement actions dating back to early 2025, including violations leading to enforcement entries on February 12 and March 3, 2025.
For farmers and consumers in and around Seale, the loss of this facility is significant. The butchery played a key role in local meat processing options—particularly for small producers seeking USDA inspection or custom-exempt service. Its absence forces reliance on more distant facilities.
In a biodata profile, co‑owner Ben Michael describes the business as delivering “custom exempt and state inspected slaughter and processing of livestock” for local agriculture.
With operations now stopped, the facility’s social posts encourage remaining customers to reach out for final purchases or arrangements for share-animal orders. As of this writing, they offer no timeline for any reopening or transition.
Federal and state authorities typically oversee follow-up compliance steps after FSIS intervention. But at this time, Russell County Butchery appears closed indefinitely, pending any appeal or re‑inspection.
ALPolitics.com has reached out to Russell County Butchery for comment and more information on the circumstances around their closing. This matter was brought to our attention by Republican Gubernatorial candidate Ken McFeeters.
