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By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

LEESBURG — Owens Fresh Meat Market provides “custom” butchering, says one of its owners, Mark Owens.

“If you don’t see it, ask us. We can cut it for you,” he said. “If we don’t have the right size for you, we’ll cut it for you. If we don’t have the right grind, let us know. That’s what a custom butcher does.”

The Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce and Whitley County Chamber of Commerce had a double ribbon-cutting ceremony for the market at 6287 SR 15, Leesburg, on Friday, March 8.

Owens had its grand opening then, having originally opened on Feb. 8. Mark co-owns it with his wife, Kristy Owens.

Along with the meat at Owens, which is processed “onsite,” said Mark, there are also dairy products, bakery items, pickles and lots more.

Mark emphasized the market’s turkey special, whereby people may sign up to have their Thanksgiving turkeys grown for them.

“We’ve got to have the orders in pretty quick here because if I don’t start them by June, they won’t be the right sizes,” said Mark. “We’ll butcher them just before Thanksgiving.”

There will be fresh flowers in soon for Mother’s Day, he said.

Nearly all of the products sold at the market are from Indiana, including some from Warsaw, Plymouth, New Paris and Elkhart.

“We’re trying to help out everybody local,” said Kristy, adding the business was “trying to be a real specialty store.”

“(We’re) continually adding new items as we go,” said Mark.

Whitley County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jennifer Esterline, who’s friends with the Owenses, noted the business had products that were “artisanal, sustainable, farm-to-table and custom.”

“You’re not going to get anywhere else where you have the personal touch of the food to your plate,” said Esterline.

Owens has 15 employees, including “six butchers on staff,” said Kristy.

It’s open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“Saturdays, we just moved last week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., but we expect to change for summer hours also,” added Mark.

The deli and meat sections at Owens Fresh Meat Market are shown on Friday, March 8. The Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce and Whitley County Chamber of Commerce had a double ribbon-cutting for the business at 6287 SR 15, Leesburg.

A look at dairy products in the business.

Specialty products in the business are shown.