The Beef Ring.
In the mid-1930's a Beef Ring was organized in the Esther area.This was done so the families in the area would have fresh meat once a week, the membership was $5.00. Walt Cartwright who was a butcher in England assisted by his brother Frank did the butchering, in later years Jeff and Beth Barnett did the butchering, cutting and wrapping. Each member donated one beef for butchering, they would receive two pieces of meat, a choice piece and some stewing meat, cut and wrapped each week and by the end of the year, they would have received the equivalent of the beef they had donated. The Beef Ring eventually extended as far as New Brigden and Sedalia and the meat was delivered to Esther on Friday's. In 1953 a Locker Plant was opened in the Loverna and at that time the Beef Ring was disbanded.