The Sweet, Red Smell of Grey's Prepared Beef Plant


Hello! It’s me, Marlene!

Today we’re going to Grey’s Prepared Beef Plant! Our first step! (And what a step!) Turbot, who loves you!?

In a town made up of 143 people, about 100 off us work over there! It’s a half mile away from the trailers so many of use the trek to and from for a little exercise. (Trust me, some of us could use it. There’s more than one big gut and large fanny around here!)

The building where the plant is located has been around for a while. It was an auto plant way back in the day. “We’ve got the Model T!” During, WWII, they used it to make some kind of bombs. They added on all sorts of bits and did all kinds of top secret shenanigans inside. Then, after the war, it became a marshmallow factory. This building produced the tastiest mallows this world has ever known. Mr. Tasty’s Mallow-Riffic Yummies were genius. Cushiony, white and sweet, oh so sweet. This was the most prideful factory in the country. No one ever had a bad day. The marshmallows made sure of that. In the early 80’s, they moved to Guam and the place closed down. Most people moved to the hard hat factory in Ovid.

After a few years of inactivity, Mr. Grey opened it up again selling fantastic prepared beef. G Bless him! My husband and I moved here about 16 years ago. We needed the work and we’d heard about the plant and we owned a trailer. Match made in heaven.

I’m one of the Gift Package Packers. I work on T-5. We load up all the gift orders for the entire world. It’s a great job. I am the Assistant Supervisor, which means I get a salary.

My husband is an accountant. T-3. He’s very happy but one day he will achieve his dream of becoming an actuary. (Keep reaching, hon!) His supervisor’s name is Ron.

If we can get a picture of the plant on here (Arthur!), it looks like a small 2 story office building. That first floor is the main security area and the execs offices. The main security area is where all the employees must pass through at the start and end of each shift. If you have direct contact with the beef, they do full body searches. Just to make sure that you’re not sneaking off with anything. We have a very generous employee discount program so really… Shame on You.

The second floor is marketing and all of the sales staff. “They need windows. They need sunlight.” Mr. Grey always says. And, he’s right. I like sunlight too.

The bulk of the work is done beneath them. It was something to do with the arms factory. No one ever told us for certain. But, the building reaches 10 stories deep under Turbot. That’s where we are

T-1 Shipping and Receiving. They have a direct link to the surface. We have our own line of trucks that ship out the prepared beef and ship in stock. Those boys are a lot of fun. They joke, they yell, it’s great to see them. (Though, I only do when I take things up to them, which is rare.)

T-2 Office Supplies. All boxes and labels and pens. There are a few folks who supervise but this is one of the most silent floors.

T-3 Accounting. It’s pretty quiet here too but not for lack of people. They have lots of paper here.

T-4 through T-6 is filled with Packagers.

T-4 Rush Orders Next Day or Same Day! (People love their beef prepared.) Each packaging floor has their own supply of product. We also have a direct elevator that comes up from the Supply Floor. When there is an order, it goes to the computer. The right floor gets the order and they take it from present supply. If there is nada, we yell down to the Supply guys and they haul up everything we need.

So, T-4 does all the stuff that goes out Now! And, there’s a lot of it.

T-5 That’s me! And Sally & Jean & Joy & Kris & Linda & Lavinia, our supervisor. & Rod. We’re really great. We do the gift packaging like I said.

T-6 Corporate packaging. Any business that has a regular account with us. They do the HUGE orders but they don’t rush as much.

T-7 The Product Supply floor. (dried) This is where the entire prepared beef product waits to be shipped. Huge shelves filled with well-prepared beefery goodness/ Just the smell is enough make you think you’re in heaven seven floors underground.

T-8 Supply (frozen) There is an express elevator that goes (very fast) (Too Fast) from the S&R floor to here. Keeps the freezer full of meat. This is the quietest floor in the building. Lots of frozen beef and men in long coats moving slowly around.

T-9 Sick bay and the labs. If you’re sick, go see Dr. Sickler (oddly enough) and he’ll make you nice. The labs…Well, new product is tested there. I never go there.

T-10 The Marinaters Floor. This is where the preparing is done. (I’ve heard that they use this floor because it’s closest to the earth’s core.) We’re good friends with a Marinater, Pete Knowles. He’s going to write us an entry with more info on the spicing of the beef and the Marinating Men.

Well, there you are! If they let me take pictures of the inside, we’d have some here for you. Unfortunately, there will be no pictures because Mr. Grey won’t allow it. (It is his plant.) Too bad, though. I could try to stash a camera but it’s not worth it knowing I’m going to get a full body search.

So, that’s where we work. Arthur’ll be telling about where we live next. Feel free to write us about the places where you work. (Especially if it’s a hot air balloon! Yowza!)

Talk to you soon!