Bison are elusive in July as breeding happens and they have no reason to stick around as they have the grass and willows to eat.  

Checking out the hay barn

 Mr. Johnson's 4th Grade Class came out to the farm to celebrate Alaska Agriculture Day.  They asked lots of questions.  We had our bison regalia out, grass & grain seed baby chicks to view.  They walked through the shop and we talked about Agriculture in Alaska.  We strolled down to the barn where they played on the hay bales.  I passed out bandannas, wrist bands and sheriff badges. They ate lunch on the log pile and in the bed of the truck.

Scott fed the bison hay and asked us to follow him out while he drove the 4-wheeler and we were in trucks and vans.  We spent 30 minutes in the middle of the bison herd while they ran around and ate ate hay plus guarded their calves.

It was sunny (it had rained 4 days prior) and overall, a great experience I think for them to get the feel of a farm and ranch.

It's been a good winter thus far.  Scott's going out to feed the bison at the homeplace some hay.  Here's a frosty pic of last year's calf with some other bison last week at the lower game ranch. 

A photo of one of Ruby's mosaic bison skulls is featured in the new Bison Producers' Handbook under the chapter featuring the Value Added chapter.  The handbook can be ordered for $40 plus shipping for non-National Bison Association members and for $20 for Life, Active and Allied members.  Inquire at Bison World, 8690 Wolff Court, #200 Westminster, CO 80031 or call (303) 292-2833.

Photo of bison with snow on face

It's winter but it was a great spring and fall. We had a dry summer and not good for hay ground but spring came about 3 weeks early and fall extended through October.  It was very nice. 

We began taking some biosn cows out of our herd early and now are taking the remainder 1/3 of hunts and harvests off the bison herd.

Hoping for a mild winter and early spring.

The bison are healthy and had a good summer.  It was very hot for a month, no rain for 30 days plus.  We managed and watered them regularly, sometimes even turning on the irrigation pivot to cool them off.  Busy with customers, clients and visitors.  It's been a very busy fall.  Moose season has ended in the interior and those who didn't pull a bison permit or get a moose, are ready to put red meat in their freezer so they call us.

Fall in Alaska

Driving this time of year means color, everywhere.  The snow-tipped mountains against a blue sky with clouds surrounded by the fall colors of just the hint of winter, gives a breath-taking adventure-even from the road.

Watching out for moose.  We have warm weather, its time to cut the hay.  We've had several frosts since the first week of August.

Time to get ready for winter.

Grandson Colton working the booth at Global Food Alaska 2009 in Soldotna..

What a busy week we had.  I traveled 1,000 miles round trip  to Soldotna with Alaska Diviersified Livestock Association information to attend the Global Food Alaska 2009 Conference.

Packed full of information, networking and new ideas..it was an exciting time.  We had a great dinner with 350 at Kenai Landing. 

See www.globalfoodcollaborative.com for more details.