Our Heritage
Our Story
Ankeny, Iowa → Turtle River, Minnesota → Everywhere
The Beginning
Ankeny, Iowa
Willis "Jipe" Stittsworth opens a butcher shop with wife Madge and their kids. By day he cuts meat. By night he builds bombs for WWII. The standard is set from day one.
Second Generation
Bemidji, MN
Willie "The Golden Beaver" Stittsworth and wife Arla retire early from Bemidji State University to give everything they have to the family business — grilling brats at every fair, carnival, festival, show, and open house across the region.
Third Generation
Bemidji, MN
Corey Stittsworth and his brother Clay purchase the Nymore Food Mart in Bemidji — originally built in 1899. Goal: create an old-fashioned meat market. They perfect the brat recipe. It becomes an instant hit.
Family Focused
Bemidji, MN
Corey buys Clay out and runs the operation solo. Tighter. Leaner. Still the same smoke and spice that built the name.
Fourth Generation
Bemidji, MN
Mychal Stittsworth — Corey's son — takes over as owner. He modernizes operations, expands distribution, and begins building toward a Smokehouse production facility.
The MSU
Minnesota Statewide
Mychal invents the Mobile Slaughter Unit — Minnesota's first USDA-approved mobile unit. The concept becomes Friesla. The industry takes notice.
Smokehouse Opens
Turtle River, MN
The Turtle River smokehouse opens. 28 team members. Still family-owned, still handcrafted.
Ships Nationwide
Everywhere
From Minnesota to your doorstep. The same smoke your grandparents would have recognized. Four generations of family, nothing important has changed.
The Fifth Generation
Turtle River, MN
Sophie and Willie Stittsworth are growing up in the business. The smoke keeps rising. The tradition continues.