Kara Smith

About Kara Smith

I’m the co-founder and Head of Brand & Product at Colorado Craft Beef — a vertically integrated beef company rooted in five generations of ranching and built for today’s values-driven consumer.Our mission is to share our craft with wisdom, intentionality, and innovation—producing exceptional beef that fuels enduring legacies. We control our supply chain, dry-age every cut, and ship directly to families, chefs, and retailers across the U.S. — all while honoring the land, the animal, and the customer.Before launching CCB, I spent nearly a decade in animal health, managing key ruminant accounts and collaborating with veterinarians and producers to drive herd health, performance, and long-term outcomes. That foundation gave me a deep understanding of not just the science and systems behind beef, but the people and relationships that drive it.Today, I use that expertise to lead strategy across product innovation, brand development, customer experience, and education. Whether launching shelf-stable products like tallow and beef sticks, leading mission-aligned partnerships, or building an educational podcast, I focus on translating technical depth into clear, trustworthy storytelling.I believe the future of beef — and food as a whole — hinges on connection: to health, to heritage, and to meaning. Let’s connect if you’re building something in food, brand, ag, or believe that science and story belong at the same table.

Experience

1. Co-founder

   Colorado Craft Beef

   Aug 2017 — Present

   Launched and scaled a vertically integrated beef brand that delivers 21-day dry-aged, premium beef directly to consumers, chefs, and retail channels — all from a legacy family ranch in Colorado.Key Responsibilities: • Lead product development, brand positioning, and voice across all channels • Oversee DTC marketing strategy, campaign planning, customer journey design, and loyalty/retention • Launch shelf-stable products including tallow skincare and meat sticks • Guide long-term brand partnerships with health & lifestyle companies (e.g, Jocko Fuel, Origin USA) • Co-host Steak Bites podcast to drive education and story-driven transparency in the beef industry • Align legacy ranching values with consumer-facing innovation

Education

• West Texas A&M University

  Master of Science (M.S.), Animal Sciences

• Texas Tech University

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Animal Sciences