Red Springs, NC — What started as a father’s vision and a veteran’s healing journey has grown into one of the region’s most inspiring success stories. Briarwood is no longer just a farm—it’s a mission in motion. Today, the brand proudly encompasses Briarwood Cattle Farm, Briarwood Custom Meats Butcher Shop, LLC, and its nonprofit arm, F.A.R.M. (Feeding America Real Meat)—each contributing to a powerful purpose: feeding families, educating communities, and building bridges through meat and mission.
At the heart of it all are Marvin and Tanisha Frink, the husband-and-wife duo leading the charge with grit, grace and a deep sense of responsibility.
From Soldier to Cattleman
Marvin Frink’s journey began after high school, when he joined the U.S. Army and served for 15 years, including deployment. Upon returning home, he struggled with anxiety and PTSD. It was his late father, Rev. Kirby Frink, who saw the healing potential of working with the land and encouraged Marvin to pursue farming.
After his father’s passing, Marvin kept that dream alive, founding Briarwood Cattle Farm near Raeford, North Carolina. What started as a way to find peace quickly turned into a mission-driven operation. Today, the farm produces and sells grass-fed beef, free-range chicken and pork while also providing meat processing services for local farmers and retailers.
“I found healing through farming,” Marvin shared. “And now, I want others to find nourishment, opportunity and dignity through what we do.”
A Butcher Shop Built for the Community
The dream grew bigger. In July 2025, the Frinks opened Briarwood Custom Meats Butcher Shop, LLC at 5476 Blue Springs Road in Red Springs. Designed to be more than a retail location, the shop blends education, culinary craftsmanship and community pride into every square foot.
Upon entering, visitors can use an interactive touch-screen panel to explore different protein cuts, learn how to cook them and even get ingredient suggestions. The shop features both fresh and frozen meats, custom cutting services, drive-up pickup parking (with reserved spaces for veterans), and a dedicated halal section offering halal beef, goat, lamb and chicken. For those who want to learn more, customers can even watch the butchers at work through a front-facing window.
Education at the Core
Education is foundational to the Briarwood brand. The Frinks are preparing to launch a robust lineup of community classes, including:
- Craft butchering
- Team-building through carcass breakdown
- Knife sharpening
- BBQ competition training
- Protein education for families
Each class is hands-on, designed to build knowledge and confidence while helping participants understand where their food comes from and how to prepare it.
“We don’t just want to sell meat,” said Tanisha Frink. “We want to create conversations around food, family and culture.”
Meat with a Mission
Briarwood’s impact extends beyond the shop floor. As a veteran-owned business, the Frinks are committed to honoring those who serve. Through a new community policing and outreach initiative, first responders in uniform can stop in for a free cup of coffee—a small but powerful gesture of appreciation.
Meanwhile, their nonprofit division, F.A.R.M. (Feeding America Real Meat), a registered 501(c)(3), works to fight food insecurity with real, responsibly sourced proteins.
“We want to be part of the solution, not the problem,” Marvin said. “In a food desert community, we’re showing what’s possible when purpose meets passion.”
More Than Meat
In addition to meats, the shop carries Briarwood-branded coffee, sauces, honey, low-sodium seasonings, and branded merchandise. A fresh bakery now offers white, wheat and sourdough loaves every Tuesday and Thursday, giving customers access to the two staples most often sought in emergencies: bread and meat.
The shop also offers bulk pricing on ground beef, pork, chicken and sausage—ideal for restaurants, food trucks and government agencies seeking affordable, local sourcing.
The Legacy Lives On
Today, Briarwood is more than a family business—it’s a movement. From its origins as a healing space to a growing brand rooted in service and self-reliance, Briarwood continues to inspire.
As Marvin and Tanisha shared after an afternoon of laughter and reflection in the rocking chairs just outside the shop, one sentiment captures it all:
“Briarwood Cattle Farm—we’re more than a brand, we’re a family.”
And that family is building something powerful, one cut, one class, and one community connection at a time.