Contributed by Amanda Lee
Boyd Bison Ranch
It was my third day working as a ranch intern when Adam Boyd took me to the lake. We slipped and slid down to the lake in the spring mud, and he shared the rich, 85-year history of this now 420-acre homestead. The lake was conceptualized by his father, Robert Samuel Boyd. Despite being told that it would never work, Robert did not let the nay sayers deter him. It took 7 years for the lake to fill, and it became the heart of the homestead. Robert loved nothing more than to give tours of the ranch – even to strangers he’d meet at a restaurant or gas station. All were welcome. He would tell them the story of how his family came to Alaska in the late 1930’s, the struggles of Alaskan farming, as well as tales of hunting and trapping. As we stood on the edge of the lake feeding swans, as so many visitors had before, Adam shared his plans for a wedding and event center at the lake. Coming from the California wine country and planning events at large winery venues, it was not hard for me to see the potential. I stared out upon the natural and undeveloped area around the lake, and I assumed that we were discussing a 5-7 year plan – but that was before I really knew the Boyd’s.
At the end of our 10-hour workday, Mr. Boyd would ask the crew about their plans for the evening while he loaded his chainsaw onto the back of his truck. My plans were those typical of an Alaskan mom – feeding kids and watering a garden – but his evening plans were always the same: cut trees and clear land for the pavilion. By the end of September 2022, the 88’ x 32’ log pavilion was completed. In 2023 our modest crew of three added an additional 20’x 40’ log pavilion, 3,200 sqft of concrete, a parking lot to accommodate 400+ guests, and a fully functional restroom facility, including showers for our overnight guests. 2023 was the soft opening of the venue and we were pleased to host four events, and our 2024 calendar is filling quickly.
The venue is only one of the things happening at Boyd Bison Ranch. The real meat and potatoes of the operation is still, well – meat and potatoes. In the spring, the Boyd’s broker and distribute seed potatoes to various retailers across Alaska, and in the fall, they sell whole bison. The herd of roughly 70 bison do not require much, as they roam free on over 180 wooded acres living as wild and free as a meat animal can.
The demand for natural, ethically raised, sustainable meat has skyrocketed in recent years. 2023 is proving to be no exception, and we are down to only 24 animals available to reserve for fall harvest. If you’re looking for a low fat, low cholesterol, and nutrient-dense meat to incorporate as a regular part of your diet, look no further than bison. For most people, the flavor of bison meat is indistinguishable from beef. With significantly less fat and calories than beef, bison also has a higher protein density. A serving of grass-fed bison has three to six times the amount of Omega-3s as that of grain-fed animals. You can learn more about the herd and find instructions for reserving an animal at www.boydsbison.com.
Whether you’re looking to fill your freezer, or fulfill your ranch wedding dreams, we hope to see you at Boyd Bison Ranch. Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date on all of the new and exciting things happening at the ranch!