Farm management (3 years+) - Managed Native Plant production based nursery
General degree - General Management Degree
General farming (3 years+) - Grew up on an orchard in Alberta; Also have a successful bison rancher of 25+ years mentoring this process
Other experience/agricultural/business training - Biologist (9 years)/Water Management/Native Plants/Project Management for Reclamation/Rangeland Managment
Do you have a business plan?
Yes - Building the formal plan now.
Do you have financial resources available to start your farm?
Yes - combination of savings, and working on loan applications, assets to support loan approvals, and investors
Do you have access to other financial resources (such as a financial partner, loan, etc.) to start your farm?'
Yes - Always open to more investors and working on loans/grants
Project
Farm Name
Artisan Bison Ranch
Farm Project Description
My Partner and I want to start an Artisan Bison Ranch. Well managed bison can increase the health and population of native plant species on their pasture land significantly, as well has proven to be a profitable industry. The herd management models that we plan to incorporate are holistic in their approach. Health of the land, health of the heard, and health of the population we would produce for would be our priority. We would incorporate a full use and diverse model, where all parts of the bison are utilized. Our target market is the local economy - tourism, restaurants, artisan shops, artists, and agri-tourism. Our vision is holistic land sustainability and stewardship, healthy, natural hands off heard management, full utilization of harvest, and diverse local marketing. Our model design would suit the requirement of property on ALR land. An opportunity to produce native plants for sale and to build the native plant populations in the pasture land would be ideal, as increasing native plant populations increases the success and health of the ecosystem and herd.
We have a starter herd lined up, currently fed in Saskatchewan. We will be able to start moving them or their next generation over within 3 years (or when we find local land). We also have significant business support through an experienced and successful bison rancher of 25+ years.
Preferable we are able to purchase, and reside on the land (if no house then able to build) with our young family. However, we are also open to starting with a lease.
Preferred Arrangement
Registered Lease on Title -
Lease -
License -
Transfer / Succession -
Sale of Land -
Duration of the desired agreement
For the foreseeable future.
Ideal date to obtain land by
July 2025; flexible depending on conditions
Participant in BC Land Matching Program
Yes
Land & Features Desired
Total Land Size (acres)
50+ acres
Wooded Area (acres)
Yes - If roamable, yes. Ideally a combination of grassland/open areas, and some wooded area.
Cultivable Area (acres)
not necessary.
Possibility to expand area currently available (acres)
Yes - as much as possible
Zoning
Either
Preferred current state of the surface of the cultivable area
Cultivable area not necessary. The goal would be to return any cultivated are into native grassland species, as that is the preferred feed if the bison.
Open to landowner residing on property
No
Need farm buildings
Yes - not necessary but ideal, hay shelter, opportunity to setup handling area in pasture, shelter for equipment.
Need fenced land
Yes - if not available or not up to standards of the bison needs, then we would need to fence it for the pasture area - looking into good designs that are wildlife friendly for the movement of wild ungulate populations.
Need farm machinery and tools
Yes - If available great! also open to setting ourselves up.
Need established water source and infrastructure
reliable licenced water source (prefer well) access to river or wetland would be good too.
Need on-site housing
Yes - Would prefer but open to leasing grazeland and finding alternative residence nearby
Production type
Greenhouse - small space opportunity for native plant production
