our history

What started in 1960, as a mobile slaughter and butchering service, has become a humble success and a leading institution in meat services in the South Puget Sound area.

It all started In 1956, fresh out of the Army’s 101st Airborne Division, 

Glenn Probst started work clearing land and hauling cattle for Taylor Bishop in the area that is now Gold Crest, on Cooper Point in Olympia.  Over the next couple of years, Mr. Bishop, who was in his 80’s at the time, taught Glenn the skills and insight needed for the butchering trade.  By 1960 Glenn was encouraged to start his own mobile service, traveling to local farms to slaughter on site, and thus began Home Meat Service.  

Glenn grew up in Pennsylvania, where the winters were harsh, but after being stationed at Fort Lewis he decided to stay where the weather was milder and settled with his young family on a piece of property near Mr. Bishop’s, on Cooper Point.  Here Glenn built his first stand-alone building with a cooler that could hold 44 head of cattle.  The whole operation was a family affair, from adult family members cutting & wrapping, to the nieces helping wash dishes. Sadly, in 1967, his property was seized by the Evergreen State College under imminent domain, leaving Glenn with only his mobile unit to keep his business going.  

However, in 1968 an old, abandoned horse slaughter & packing plant was up for sale in Kamilche, just one county over.  Having been abandoned in 1953, the building was in desperate need of updating.  There was no well, no power, and no real road to speak of.  With only $2000 in his checking after the loss of his property in Olympia, and a divorce at the same time, Glenn was given a hand up by Edwin Taylor. Mr. Taylor was invested in the property and was willing to loan Glenn the interest he would gain in the sale towards the down payment.  

Glenn worked diligently with the Mason County Public Utility District to get power to the building and was up and running within seven days of acquiring the property.  From there, improvements were made to the building as quickly as the mobile unit and profit would allow, and has become the trusted meat shop it is today.  

Glenn shares gratitude towards the people that supported him, trained him, and took a chance on him in his early years.  Now, in his 90s himself, Glenn continues to work seven days a week to ensure his building is operating as it should, his employees are taken care of, and that the reputation he has built over the last sixty plus years is upheld.  He is dedicated to his craft and has worked hard to build a legacy for his family, in this truly family owned and operated local business.

These days, Home Meat Service caters to local farmers as well as wild game hunters for their cutting and wrapping needs, and has a retail service that sells USDA certified products.  If you’re looking for local and farm raised beef, pork, or lamb, Home Meat Service believes in connecting their customers to farmers in the area for the freshest cuts, and the healthiest way to fill your freezer.