The Making of Lady Butcheress

An Idaho butcher bringing purpose and craftsmanship to the art of tallow making

By Like Media Team

In Athol, Idaho, where hard work and heart often meet, Lady Butcheress stands as a reflection of both. Owner Samantha Means, a former U.S. Marine turned butcher, built her business around a simple truth: women can embrace strength and femininity without compromise. Her company name emodies that message: women can remain entirely feminine while doing the hard, hands-on work often seen as a man’s trade.

Her path began in the most practical way, by feeding her dog. While working at Packsaddle Meat Processing, Samantha noticed how much usable meat was being discarded. She began saving the scraps to make raw dog food for her aging lab, who quickly regained energy and vitality. The change sparked an idea to provide quality, affordable pet food to local families without the inflated prices of corporate brands.

Soon, another discovery emerged from her work. While handling suet, the beef kidney fat used in processing, she noticed her skin was healing faster and feeling healthier. A customer taught her how to render fat into skincare tallow, and after experimenting with it for herself, friends, and family, Samantha launched Lady Butcheress to bring those products to market.

Her collection now includes tallow-based skincare, cooking tallow, and raw pet food—each built on craftsmanship and care. “The tallow is the star of all my products,” she explains. Cooking tallow is rendered twice to remove impurities, while skincare tallow and healing balms undergo five renderings for an exceptionally clean, pure finish. Face creams and body lotions combine 80% tallow with natural carrier or essential oils. Healing balms, such as her popular Boo Boo Balm and Massage Balm, are crafted with beeswax and organic ingredients to soothe wounds and aches.

Body lotions like Herb Garden and Sunrise Roundup use castor oil for hydration, while face creams such as Royal Radiance and From the Vine feature lighter grapeseed oil for daily nourishment. Every formula is tested for consistency, texture, and scent, a process Samantha takes seriously. “I know exactly where the tallow came from because I harvested it myself,” she says.

All animal-based ingredients are sourced from livestock processed locally at Packsaddle. Samantha personally inspects and selects the suet and organs used in each batch. “If I wouldn’t feed it to my own dogs, it doesn’t go into the pet food I sell,” she adds. The result is a product line that’s not only handcrafted but also anchored in accountability and trust.

Her mission is clear: repurpose what would otherwise go to waste and turn it into something that benefits people and their pets. “God created livestock to serve His children in more ways than one,” she says. “I want to use everything for the sake of healthier living.”

Over the past two years, Samantha has become a skilled butcheress, learning how each animal’s care, diet, and breed influences the quality of suet. It’s a process that requires precision and patience, traits she honed in her years of service and caregiving. Before this work, she spent two decades in roles dedicated to helping others, from serving as a Marine to working in trauma counseling and equine ministry.

That same calling continues through Lady Butcheress. Her products may begin with tallow, but the purpose runs deeper. “The heart of Lady Butcheress is to help bring healing on a physical level,” Samantha says, “but it comes from a desire to bring healing on an emotional and spiritual level as well.”

Looking ahead, Samantha plans to expand her market presence, attend local fairs and educational events, and launch a new line of beef organ supplements by the end of 2026. Grounded in faith, fueled by hard work, and guided by a heart to serve, Lady Butcheress is a true reflection of its founder: strong, sincere, and steadfast in purpose. To learn more or shop her handcrafted tallow products, visit LadyButcheress.com or find Samantha at upcoming North Idaho markets.

Lady Butcheress

4308 E. Rosemont Dr.

Athol, ID

509.496.1641

LadyButcheress.com

FB: Lady Butcheress

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