Cherokee Chronicle Times

New Marcus meat plant underway

Jordan takes up Marks family cutting legacy


Participating in groundbreaking ceremony for Jordan’s Meat Market in Marcus were, front row from left: Morrie Marks and Jordan Marks. Back row: Kimberly Kuchel, Steve Schmillen, Bob Leavitt, Nathan Punt, Joe Mouser, Mike Olson, Grant Leavitt and Tim Holmes.

The Morrie Marks family of Remsen, long steeped in the Marks Meat Processing Center in Remsen, is building a new red meat processing center in Marcus, with construction well underway. 

Groundbreaking ceremonies for Jordan’s Meat Market were held last week at the Marcus Business Park on Hwy. 3 south of town.

Jordan is Morrie’s son and currently studying at Iowa State University with a major in animal science and meat science. He also works at the family processing center in Remsen when he is not in school. He has two more semesters at Iowa State. 

“Upon graduation we will have this new facility up and ready for him to operate,” said Morrie. “Jordan has been working at Remsen Processing since he was a middle school kid. He is now a fourth-generation meat cutter and processor. This will be a new construction facility capable of producing beef, hogs, sheep and deer. Along with custom processing,  this plant will have a full-service retail counter.” 

Jordan’s Meat Market is scheduled to open in May 2023 with construction underway. Jordan will own and operate 100% of the new business expected to employ six full-time workers.

The new Marcus facility is expected to produce 10-15 cattle per week and 20 hogs per week.

“The economic impact to Marcus is large due to the fact Marcus has not had a locker or retail meat shop since the 1990s,” said Morrie, who is also a meat inspector for the Iowa Department of Agriculture. 

“I am a former third-generation meat cutter at my family processing center in Remsen.  I have 25 years experience as a meat cutter at this time. I will oversee the plant construction. I designed the plant. But once complete, I will turn it over to Jordan and it’ll be his own operation all the way. We’re very happy to be in Marcus and excited to get Jordan’s locker up and running.”

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