Ballpark Dining

A new addition to the Owlz experience this year is Jones Creek Beef.  For the past several years, the hamburger patties used at the ballpark were provided by a local warehouse store.  The burgers were frozen,  bought in bulk, and provided the fans with a traditional, generic-tasting sandwich.  Jed Chrisman, Director of Sales and Marketing for the Owlz, decided that the fans deserved better.  So he contacted Mike Weingarten, Marketing Director for Jones Creek Beef.  Jed and Mike were once former baseball rivals (Jed played for U of U and Mike for BYU) and became friends after college while playing together on a softball team.  Mike provided the beef for a softball BBQ and Jed fell in love with the burgers.  When it came time to update the food choices at the ballpark, Jed remembered Mike and his burgers.

Jones Creek Beef is a local, family-owned company that produces and markets premium free range, grass-fed, grass-finished beef.  Mike and his father, Bob, handle the sales and marketing for the company.  Wes Crandall is one of the ranchers and manages the operations of the company.  All were on hand for opening day at the ballpark.

Mike, me, Wes, and Bob from Jones Creek Beef on Opening Day at the Owlz!

Now, I'm not going to lie to you--I'm not much of a hamburger connoisseur.  I can't really tell the difference between an In-N-Out burger, Smashburger, or a Five Guys burger.  I can, however, tell the difference between a frozen warehouse burger and a fresh, grass-fed burger.  Jones Creek Beef burgers are simply AMAZING!  I haven't had a hamburger that juicy and flavorful in a long time, especially not at a ballpark.  

I chose to put grilled onions on my hamburger and I stand by that choice--it was delicious.  The nice thing about the grill is that YOU put on the toppings.  You can choose to load up your burger with onions, lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles, or you can leave the toppings off in order to enjoy the natural flavor of the beef.  Warning--the burgers are a half-pound of beef.  My 13 year-old twins had no problem scarfing them down, but younger children could probably split a hamburger and be plenty satisfied.

Jones Creek Beef can be purchased at Harmons grocery stores and at Stokes Market in Salem.  The company is hoping to expand into more local stores by this fall.  Until then, come to the ballpark and enjoy the best (and healthiest) burger in the valley!