VALHALLA CENTRE, Alta. – Five years ago, Glenn and Eldine Kjemhus were asked to take over a retail spot at the Grande Prairie Farmers’ Market.
They had just returned from a farm direct marketing course and thought they’d try selling their bison to customers at the market.
Now they wouldn’t give it up.
“I enjoy presenting a good quality product,” said Eldine from her farm outside Valhalla Centre in Alberta’s Peace district.
Not only does Eldine enjoy meeting customers, it’s one more way to market their meat.
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Depending on the year, they sell between 25 and 50 animals direct to customers through the market, which operates three times a week during the summer.
She sold roasts, tenderloin and rib-eye cuts at first and later added sausage. After listening to customers, she now sells smokies, sausage, jerkey, primal cuts, pet food and even back scratchers from the rib of the bison.
“I sure like to be there. It’s something I’d like to continue pursuing,” she said.
Eldine and Glenn bought their first bison in 1998. The original herd has expanded to about 300 from 40.
They also farm with their son, Greg, daughter-in-law, Kerri, daughter, Krista, and son-in-law, Jared Hope.
After taking a Ranching for Profit management course, Eldine and Glenn became convinced bison were the perfect fit for the farm. The grey-wooded soil grows grass well, including fescue for seed, but does not always produce the best cereal crop.
During the course, the couple decided their goal was to see their land covered in green grass.
“They’re our lawn mowers,” Eldine said of the bison.
The Plains bison are divided into two herds and rotated through a series of paddocks every seven to 10 days, said Glenn.
Water is piped to individual pastures.
The animals are finished in a feedlot close to home, but the higher prices for bison may change that plan.
“We’ve been finishing them, but that happened out of necessity during the downturn. Mostly we’re set up for backgrounding,” he said.
Eldine said it’s encouraging to see more customers walking to her booth for bison meat. During a bison association trade show in Dawson Creek, B.C., several years ago, most of the people didn’t even want to try the meat.
“People are now more willing to try it,” she said.
