Land is Kin.
Together, let's leave it better.
Land is Kin.
Together, let's leave it better.
Together, let's leave it better.
A vertically integrated, rancher and employee owned meat company.
Founded by Cole Mannix in 2021, Old Salt Co-op brings together partner ranches across Montana that promote responsible land stewardship. Following their motto “land is kin,” Old Salt Co-op operates two restaurants in Helena, Montana: The Union and Old Salt Outpost. Both restaurants feature damn fine meat raised responsibly on partner ranches and other made-in-Montana products. Old Salt Co-op also hosts the annual Old Salt Festival on the Mannix Family Ranch in Helmville, Montana each June, bringing together wood-fired cooking, Americana musicians, Montana ranchers, and western makers in a three-day celebration of both land stewardship and community.
Helena Independent Record
Old Salt Festival 2025 announces music and culinary headliners
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HTVH News
The Union named finalist for the 2025 James Beard award for Best New Restaurant
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Travel and Leisure
"I ate my way through Montana's cattle country - and found the perfect steak"
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Montana Free Press
Land is Kin: Old Salt Festival celebrates local food and open landscapes
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The New York Times
"Montana has more cows than people. Why are locals eating beef from Brazil?"
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Meet our Founder
Cole Mannix is the founder and president of Old Salt Co-op. As a fifth-generation member of a ranching family from Helmville, Montana, his love for people, ranching, and land stewardship is deeply rooted in Montana. He founded Old Salt Co-op in 2021 to promote land stewardship, ecological health, and community through the production and sale of damn fine Montana meat. Cole continues to lead Old Salt Co-op's efforts to build a resilient, regional food system that directs more value back to the land and the people who care for it.
"One of my mentors described land stewardship as an effort to create more heartbeats per acre. I think that's a pretty damned good idea." - Cole Mannix
