Blizzard Branch lies on the border of the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge in Chesterfield County. The engine on display next to the sign is indicative of owner John Catoe’s passion for collecting and rebuilding old engines. “Old iron collectors are some of the best people you will ever meet,” he says on his website, where he has generously posted many pictures of his old farm machinery.
SCIWAY, 2010 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent
The grits mill and cane press are housed inside this barn, which provides a sort of gathering place for visitors and those hoping to purchase some freshly ground, South Carolina grits. Beyond the barn the field of sugar cane is visible. Had this picture been taken just two weeks earlier, corn stalks could also be seen in the background.
SCIWAY, 2010 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent
From left to right: Andy, Randy, John, and Jerry after a full day of grits-making. The farm prides itself on being family-owned and operated – John and Randy are brothers, and Andy is John’s son.
SCIWAY, 2010 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent
A rebuilt tractor engine runs Blizzard Branch’s grist mill. The sign’s instruction is not for the faint of heart; in an effort to ensure they would not miss any visitors, the Catoes wired an air horn to the rope and installed it on the roof of the barn.
SCIWAY, 2010 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent
Blizzard Branch uses a mill made in the 1930s which owner John Catoe obtained from Wilkesboro, North Carolina. On the left, Jerry scoops cornmeal, while Randy readies the next batch of kernels for grinding.
SCIWAY, 2010 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent
Dried kernels are poured into the hopper, then funneled into the grinder. Two granite grinding stones are located in the box shown here under the hopper.
SCIWAY, 2010 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent
A close-up shows yellow corn seconds away from becoming our state food!
SCIWAY, 2010 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent
Ground corn is transferred to a machine with different sized filters which separate cornmeal, coarsely ground grits, and finely ground grits from the chaff. The chaff is then discarded or used as feed for farm animals.
SCIWAY, 2010 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent
Blizzard Branch grits retain the healthy germ, and they are unbleached. The grits in John’s right hand are not as coarse as those in his left. Some people prefer one consistency over the other, but Blizzard Branch combines the two consistencies.
SCIWAY, 2010 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent
Grits are placed in 50-pound sacks, then weighed on this particularly beautiful old scale. They are then ready to be sold to various retailers around the state, who will package them in their own bags for grocer’s shelves.
SCIWAY, 2010 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent
Grits are also packaged and sold directly from Blizzard Branch. In the character of Blizzard Branch, the back of the packages read, “Made by people who want you to enjoy some good old fashioned farm products that may have fallen by the wayside.”
SCIWAY, 2010 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent
That is the best grits you can buy. I miss the open house they use to have each year.
Are any of your products sold anywhere close to Greenwood,SC?
Hi, Marilyn! Check with the website above the map for more information on Blizzard Branch products. Good luck!
Do you have any sugar cane stalks for sale this time of year?
Hi, Lee. Check with the website above the map. Good luck!
I’m wondering if it’s old fashioned, non-GMO corn?
Would you please tell me how to cook the grist mill grits?
Is the corn you use for cornmeal the old fashioned field corn, or the hybrid corn?
Hi Anna!
SCIWAY is a website about South Carolina, and we were just lucky enough to be able to visit the Blizzard Branch Mill and wrote this article about our visit. We’re not sure what type of corn Blizzard Branch is currently using, but the best place to find this information is here:
http://www.blizzardbranch.com/
Thanks and good luck!
These grits are the best in the USA….