I'm struggling a little bit to really say "support local", and then not define it. When I say support local I am thinking that means support a small local business that has products that are made in the USA, made possibly right in Northern California, or locally grown and raised within the local region. So many "local" businesses are actually selling a lot of made in China items, but them I'm like is that ok? It is still circulating money locally, and it often makes enough money to employ local individuals. What are your thoughts? Personally I fight this in my mind, but my real opinion is to try to go to local stores that sell USA made items, that is what I want to promote. It may not be popular with everyone, but that is my belief and opinion. Also, I am finding a lot of "local" butcher shops do not buy local meat and that really bothers me, and it is not because our prices are too "high"... I encourage you to ask questions to all your local businesses. If we want to see more local we have to make it a point to tell the businesses this is what we want and need as consumers. 

I think there is a lot of fear right now in our nation, and even in our small communities. Politics are playing a major role in our daily lives right now and no matter what part of the spectrum you fall on you still need essential items and COVID is making this difficult. For us our restaurant clients are feeling stressed and unable to order like they normally would, friends and family are on unemployment, and so many are worried that the country may shut down again. We have made a really huge decision to butcher several steers right now to ensure we have enough meat for our customers. This is a lot of money out for us as well, and I'm not going to lie it makes me nervous, but we started this business so that we could ensure that our customers wouldn't be waiting in long lines for bad meat, and they would have a healthy option for their families. Opening a small business during COVID is not easy, but our support from our local community has been encouraging and is why I am up until late and up early feeding, watering, boxing meat, and delivering. 
Overall, if you are thinking of supporting a small business or you have not made it into a local venue that you have been meaning to get to please do it, they need your support. Let's not live in fear, let's plan and work together! We have a lot of pork and beef, I am also buying more mature guilts to raise more pork and starting a pasture raised project. That is for a different blog... I am not sure, but I may have quite the pig farm going.