With the arrival of deer season, local hunters can visit Fortenberry’s Custom Slaughter Plant for all their meat processing needs.

Fortenberry’s has been owned and operated by the Fortenberry family since 1957, and over the years it has evolved into more than just a custom processing plant, offering a retail meat market with grocery items including country smoked sausage.

Leah Smith, the store’s manager, has worked at the shop since 1990. It was her grandfather, Ben Fortenberry, along with his wife Mary Jo, who started the business in Henleyfield nearly 60 years ago.

Smith said Fortenberry wasn’t a stranger to the business. He grew up around a slaughterhouse and learned everything he knew from his older brother and father, who owned a slaughterhouse on the Franklinton Highway. Fortenberry originally built a plant on Quitman Perry Road, near the family farmhouse, but when the plant burned down in 1965, Fortenberry had no choice but to rebuild on Highway 43, Smith said.

Since then, the business has been a family affair. Fortenberry’s four children, Rick, Laurie, James and Lydia, all grew up learning the business at an early age. Rick and his family continue to run the business today.

“We all pitch in and do what we have to do to keep up the family business,” Smith said.

Smith, like her father Rick, spent a lot of time at the slaughterhouse since her youth, learning the ropes.

“It’s grown a lot over the years and we see a lot of people that used to come when my grandpa was here and now their kids and grandchildren are coming,” Smith said.

The shop slaughters beef and pork from March to October. Smith said they focus on deer processing until February.

Fortenberry’s is most famous for their sausage, which is smoked for 12 hour cycles, vacuum packed and offered in a variety of flavors, Smith said.

In 1990, the shop’s general store was added and offers a variety of products, including fresh cut meats, frozen vegetables and seafood.

Every Saturday, they barbeque a variety of meats for sale on a homemade grill, including pulled pork, smoked chicken, whole or sliced brisket, pork baby back ribs and spare ribs. They also prepare sides, such as baked potato salad, baked beans and deviled egg potato salad.

Fortenberry’s is located at 5739 Highway 43 N. in Carriere and is open Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. No meat is loaded or received after 4 p.m. during weekdays and noon on Saturday.

For more information, visit www.fortenberrymm.com. To place an order, call 601-798-2156.