A Local Collaboration: The Day Family Farm Burger
The Day Family Farm sits nestled in the woods of Otisfield, only 5 miles from The Laughing Loon. The Days are the kind of family that define the culture in our corner of the state. Hardworking, salt-of-the-earth folks, who live close to the land and are rooted in the rhythm of the seasons. They began with Day Brothers Logging, when the family worked the woods with oxen before transitioning to modern mechanical equipment. In the past decade, they’ve added a thriving beef cattle operation to the family business, raising a herd of 60-80 red and black Angus cattle.
Sewell Day and his brother with one of their logging steers.
Their herd grazes on acres of pasture around their home in Otisfield, and feast on piles of hay grown and harvested in fields across Harrison, Oxford, Casco, and Norway. Their hay fields are naturally fertilized with the herd’s manure. It’s a sustainable and regenerative agriculture practice that is a lot more work, but takes better care of the land and yields healthier grasses and cows. The farm is a third generation operation that holds fast to the values of caring for their animals, respecting the land they’re raised on, and maintaining integrity in their final products. They’re values we share in our business as well, which created the foundation for a natural partnership.
We first met the Day family not as suppliers, but as customers. Their smiling faces appeared at our service window, with kind words exchanged over summer evenings as they ordered our burgers and fried haddock baskets. They became regulars at The Loon, and like so many of our guests, they quickly felt like friends.
One evening a message came through our Facebook page from Meredith Day. “I just have to say your burgers are amazing!!! From someone who raises their own beef, you would be the only place we would buy a burger from, knowing that it isn’t the pink meat you buy from the grocery store!” That message meant so much to us and coming from someone who knows good beef, it was the highest compliment we could receive. It also sparked an idea to bring our shared values to the plate.
The Days send 8-12 cows to the butcher every year, and we were lucky enough to catch them just before one of their cows was to be sent to Weston’s Meat and Poultry in West Gardiner. Together, we conceptualized a special burger patty just for The Loon. A blend of chuck, brisket, and short rib formed into 6 ounce patties, from a grass-fed cow raised in our own community, and made just for us.
Weston’s has garnered favorable reviews from many local livestock growers. The Days find the cuts to be higher quality, and praise Weston’s ability and willingness to create custom cuts and ground beef blends, without which these burger patties could not have happened. The facility always has a USDA inspector on the premises, and is frequently visited by federal inspectors that take samples of meat for additional testing. By chance, the Days have had 3 of their animals undergo this additional testing, always returning favorable results. As growers and cooks, we all appreciate strict and thorough food safety and quality standards.
Our custom grass-fed beef patties.
Did you know that a pound of the typical mass-produced ground beef found in grocery stores can contain meat from multiple cows? These patties are from one single animal, ensuring safety in processing and high quality.
The quality of this beef is exceptional and the flavor is so deep and rich, it doesn’t need any fancy frills or ingredients. It is simply dressed with melted provolone cheese, local lettuce and tomato, a slice of sweet onion, ketchup, and mayo, all layered on our butter toasted potato bun. A classic simple burger featuring honest, beautifully raised beef prepared with care.
The Day Family Farm Burger - A 6 oz. local grass fed beef patty, melted provolone cheese, local lettuce and tomato from Crestholm Farm in Oxford, a slice of sweet onion, ketchup, and mayo.
It’s not just about the burger. It’s also about the collaboration between two working families, the food producers and the food preparers, each contributing their skills and labor to create something special.
We’re so proud to share this special burger with you. It’s limited, and once these patties are gone, they’re gone, but the representation of the connection between those who grow and those who cook will always be at the heart of our culinary journey at The Loon.
Order beef directly from the Day Family Farm:
Buy beef and pork available by the pound or fill your freezer with a half or full animal.
