Show me the beef!

The Patagonia area is home to cattle ranching as well as feral cows

Source: Veral Earl Premium Beef

Published on March 27, 2025 - Updated on March 28, 2025

On one's first trip to the Patagonia area, it's hard to miss all the signs of the open range: cattle guards, cow pies, and the occasional feral cow.

My first encounter with cattle was while hiking the Arizona Trail in Patagonia. Since then, I have moved to the area and these magnificent beasts are weekly visitors to my land.

It's a blessing to have these animals in the landscape, but it does not stop there ~ they're the source of some of finest and highly nutritious beef.

Vera Earl Premium Beef in Sonoita sells grass fed and dry aged beef that is not just nutritious, but also has a unique beef taste due to:

• Raised on the grasslands in the area
• A unique breed called Black Baldies which is a cross of Black Angus and Herefords

Not to be outdone, San Rafael Valley Natural Grass-Fed Beef also provides the area with some of the finest beef in the US.

The cattle ranching culture of Southern Arizona is shared across the border into Sonora (Northern Mexico), which is known worldwide for its beef.

Obviously, the best carne asada tacos are to be found in this area. More on that soon . . .