Today we’d like to introduce you to Matt And Chelsea Tyson Berlin Bison Ranch.
Hi Matt and Chelsea Tyson, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My husband Matt and I share a life-long interest in the history of the Western Frontier, the grandeur of the Great Plains and the iconic American Bison. With this interest and a burning desire to steward our own bison ranch, we decided to risk it all and started looking for land in 2016. After four years of determination and the will to succeed we found our farm. The opportunity came in 2020 to buy a parcel that had been for sale for years. Ironically, it was right in our hometown, down the road from the house we had to sell to buy the farm. Talk about all your eggs in one basket! The ebb and flow of hope and heartbreak during this process as two aspiring first-generation landowners, with big dreams and a greater calling, was just the beginning. Sweat-equity being all we had, we got to work turning our once-tilled farmland into pasture for our planned bison herd. This included building fences six feet tall with high-tensile strength and a powerful electric charge as well as planting warm and cool season grasses for maximum forage and variety throughout the year. Once our initial infrastructure was in place on site, we were ready for bison. We purchased our first animal at auction, a bull calf that would eventually become our breeding bull. Our next purchases were a couple heifers from Delaware and later a group of cow-calves from Ohio. We continually strive to build and improve our bison operation as we gain experience. This would not have been possible without industry mentors, membership and servitude at our regional bison association, through our faith in God, and through the support of our neighbors, friends, and family. We feel a tremendous honor and responsibly to our animals. Our goal is to utilize ranching bison to sustain them, after the total population was nearly wiped out to extinction in the 1800s. This is the larger goal of most bison producers and those involved in stewarding bison nationwide. Personally, our work will never be done. We are always striving to learn more and to be the best we can be in our farming practices, animal husbandry methods and in life. We hope to serve our community by providing a premium meat product while also contributing to the larger process of sustainability and production of bison in our area.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
A large hurdle we encountered initially was doubt from local industry lenders. Proposing a non-traditional agricultural operation, we struggled to prove our business would cash-flow and we certainly struggled with equity in things like land, equipment, and name. We persisted through agricultural conservation and cost-share program enrollment, and most importantly mentorship from bison industry experts. By signing up for various programs we promised to implement enhanced, alternative farming practices that would benefit soil and water quality on our farm. This fit our business model perfectly and long-term business plan overall. It was up to us to install and continually manage these practices. For example, implementing rotational grazing versus a traditional feedlot, specified tree plantings, strategic brush management, timely soil and forage testing, and advanced nutrient management. The mentorship aspect of our story has been truly humbling and an exceptional human experience that continues today. To be taken seriously and provided numerous tools for success in working with bison through guidance and problem solving has been an invaluable resource. Learning from other’s experiences through fellowship is something we’ll never forget and nor take for granted. We absolutely plan to mentor others in this way as we grow in our ability and resources.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We specialize in growing a low-stress, minimally handled animal to produce a high-quality final product for customers that want an alternative to traditional beef. Bison is lower in cholesterol than chicken per serving and has less fat than beef and pork. Bison is lean like a wild-game animal but does not lack premium flavor if cooked properly. We feel that a grass-fed bison steak is above a typical beef steak. Berlin Bison Ranch processes our animals in small quantity at a USDA processing facility suited with equipment specifically for bison to ensure the quick, humane dispatch and thorough inspection of your ultimate meat product. After processing, we sell meat by the pound at the Berlin Farmer’s Market on Sundays from May-October when product is in stock. Steak cuts on a bison are the same as a traditional cow, so there is no difficulty in selection. Go for your typical favorite steak or try something new like bison burgers, organ meat, jerky or snack sticks. We have social media pages on Facebook and Instagram if you would like to follow the herd or current farm projects. We also have a website for online sales when we reach the point of being able to ship.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
No matter how many times you hear the word NO…keep going. If you have a passion to make the world a better place, to serve your community, to express what’s in your heart… fight for it. Know there are other dreamer entrepreneurs who are doing it right alongside you. Only you know how to get to where you need to be. Find a mentor, seek support and guidance where you need it, and accept help along the way because dreams take time.
Pricing:
- See our socials and website.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://berlinbisonranch.square.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berlin.bison.ranch
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BerlinBisonRanch
