The Frontier Meat Packing Story
Founded in the heart of Morgan County, Georgia, Frontier Meat Packing is Georgia’s premium meat packing facility. Our mission is to provide producers with a modern option for processing cattle, hogs, sheep, and goats while supporting families and communities with a superior customer experience. We are proud to support our local farmers and ranchers, whether you bring us one animal or hundreds. Our facility is designed to handle your harvest, regardless of the size of your operation.
Our founder, John Ball, saw a need to provide producers with a modern option for processing their livestock. John Ball comes from a Georgia family with deep roots in agriculture and a strong connection to the land. His family has had a farm in Walton County, Georgia and the dream has always been to raise cattle and horses. After graduating high school, John went to Georgia Southern. During that time, John got a couple of horses and worked at a horse farm and his uncle’s cattle and pig operation through college. After graduating in 2008, John worked in commercial construction for Van Winkle. He then went to Montana for two years where he was an elk, deer, and bear hunting guide that provided hunts all on horseback. During that time, he also learned how to rope, pick up and train horses.
In 2011, John launched a landscaping company after identifying a need in the market. Around this time he also started raising horses and cattle. In 2020, he sold the business, closing a rewarding chapter in his career. John used landscaping as a way to get to his true passion and love, which is raising cattle and horses. It was through this love and passion that he saw a need for a processing facility in this area of the state.
Through Frontier Meat Packing, he is focused on supporting those operations by providing a reliable, local option and an alternative to the traditional sale barn system, helping producers retain more value while strengthening the agricultural community.
With respect for time-tested practices, he is working to create a process that is more efficient, cleaner, and overall better for both producers and consumers. His approach is grounded in the belief that strong local processing plays a critical role in feeding friends, families, and communities.
John and his wife, Lauren, are raising their three children (Batch, Emma Kate, and Wyatt) with the same appreciation for agriculture, hard work, and community that has shaped his own life. Family remains central to everything he does, and much of his work is driven by a desire to create opportunities and a strong foundation for the next generation. Whether on the farm or through his business, he values the importance of keeping traditions alive while building something meaningful for his family’s future.
With a background that blends finance, entrepreneurship, and hands-on agricultural experience, John Ball brings a practical and forward-thinking perspective to an industry rooted in tradition, while working to help ensure its longevity for future generations.
"Meat" The Team
The Frontier Meat Packing team is committed to providing producers with a modern option for processing cattle, hogs, sheep, and goats while supporting families and communities with a superior customer experience.
John Ball
Owner
John Ball started Frontier Meat Packing with a focus on bringing a new-age mindset to a long-standing, traditional industry. As a cattle producer himself, John understands the challenges small operations face. For more information on John’s story, check out the About Us section above.
Justin Whittier
Manager
Justin Whittier was raised in the Salmon, Idaho area, growing up on his family’s ranch where he developed a sound understanding of livestock and meat processing. From a young age, he was involved in harvesting and processing wild game and beef, building a hands-on foundation that shaped his approach to quality and efficiency.
After high school, Justin began his professional career at a local custom processing facility, where he trained under experienced industry veterans with over 35 years of knowledge. He later expanded his education at Bridgerland Technical College in Logan, Utah, earning a Meat Services Certificate while gaining additional experience in both custom processing and retail meat operations, including a leadership role as an assistant meat department manager.
Justin has worked across multiple small processing facilities in Idaho and Utah, developing a well-rounded skill set in cutting, production flow, team training, and day-to-day plant operations.
Through his experiences, Justin's passion has remained the same: connecting the ranching and butchering industries with their consumers and communities. He believes every producer has the right to share their story, just as every consumer has the right to know where their meat comes from.
Thea Baldridge
Meat Processing Associate
Thea Baldridge is a recent graduate of the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor's in Animal Science- Meat Science and Food Technology. Thea raised steers for her local county fair and became very interested in carcass quality and consumer preferences in high school.
After touring the University of Wyoming’s facilities, she knew it was the best choice for her. She spent 3 years of her time there working at the campus meat laboratory, honing her skills from harvest to retail. Her passion is quality and food safety, and she will work every day to ensure our customers have ethically produced and quality meat.
Regulations and Certifications
Frontier Meat Packing is proud to operate fully in compliance with all federal and state environmental regulations, including rigorous standards set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.
Our facility consistently meets or exceeds requirements for wastewater discharge, air emissions, and waste management, demonstrating our commitment to environmental stewardship. By implementing best practices and maintaining strict monitoring programs, we ensure that our operations protect Georgia’s natural resources while delivering high-quality, responsibly processed meat products to our customers.
We are proud to be HACCP and USDA certified, following strict food safety protocols that ensure consistency and confidence for both producers and consumers. Our team has also completed training through the UltraSource Meat Processing Academy, bringing advanced knowledge and modern techniques into a traditionally rooted industry.
We take great pride in maintaining a clean, safe, and sanitary processing environment at every step of the process. Our facility is built with sanitation as a top priority, and we’ve made significant investments to ensure the highest standards are consistently met. From thorough daily cleaning protocols to our state-of-the-art septic system, every detail is designed to protect product quality and uphold the trust our customers place in us.
Organizations we are a part of
We are proud to be actively involved in organizations that support the strength, integrity, and future of agriculture and meat processing.
About & Frontier Meat Packing's Team
Frontier Meat Packing is Georgia’s premium meat packing facility. We have a team of trained experts to handle all of your livestock processing needs. With a modern option for processing cattle, hogs, sheep, and goats, we are proud to support our local farmers and ranchers, whether you bring us one animal or hundreds. Additionally, we strive to work with those who share our values of quality, integrity, and sustainability. Reach out today to schedule your spot with Frontier Meat Packing.
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