About the Farm
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Backwoods Buffalo Ranch is owned and operated by Chad and Laurie Trigg, a Metis family from rural Mayerthorpe, Alberta. Backwoods is an organically minded ranch and homestead situated on 320 stunning acres of natural Alberta prairie grasses, striking woods, rolling hills and scenic river views. They raise a variety of proteins including: pastured Pure Plains Bison, Pastured Pork, Pastured Chicken and Free-Range Eggs. They believe in raising animals the same way they raise their children, free-range and as natural as possible. Their animals have comparable dedication, respect, focus and value on their nutrition and wellness as the members of their family and live wholesome lives from birth to harvest.
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About the Apprenticeship
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Chad and Laurie pride themselves on feeding as many families as they can. The apprentice will be helping with all farm activities under both Chad and Laurie’s mentorship, and alongside their three small children who are very much involved in everything that goes on at the farm. The apprentice will get to participate in the whole cycle of rearing multiple kinds of livestock. This includes farrowing and calving; rotational grazing; pasturing chicken, pigs, and bison; egg production; and animal harvesting. The apprentice will learn proper handling, labelling, and marketing the various farm products at the farmers market and at The Triggs’ recently opened farm store! The family milk cow will keep an apprentice interested in small-scale dairy busy making butter, cheese, and other dairy products. The apprentice will help in the vegetable garden and greenhouse. Covid-permitting, the apprentice will join Chad and Laurie to help with cattle brandings on neighbouring farms and participate in farm events such as Alberta Open Farm Days.
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As part of the apprenticeship, you will meet with other apprentices across Alberta who are part of the Young Agrarians Apprenticeship program. Field days, learning opportunities and potlucks will be planned with this group at each host’s farm. You will also be invited to attend the 2023 Organic Alberta Conference.
