BERWICK — Two childhood friends have come back home to raise bison, educate others and honor their southern Maine heritage.
Christopher Gallot, 24, and Conor Guptill, 25, have begun The Bison Project and have started a bison ranch on the Guptill family property in Berwick.
The two bought their first bison in April and currently have six bison. They plan to purchase five more within the next two weeks, said Guptill.
They plan to sell the meat they raise on site, and the first slaughter will be in the fall. They currently sell bison meat from Yankee Farmer’s Market in New Hampshire, where they bought their bison.
Guptill is a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky. After returning from a year in Israel, he was looking for some way to “get rooted” and find a way to make use of land in his family that was currently unused, he said. The land has been in the Guptill family since the 1600s.
“It was almost sinful to see it sit there and fallow,” said Guptill.
Gallot was previously working at an architecture firm in Boston, and was looking to get out of the city and get back to Maine. He focused on sustainable architecture while studying at Carnegie Mellon University and said he is interested in the characteristics of a location. To him, architecture is much broader than just buildings.
Their goal is to raise 30 bison on 24 acres of Guptill family property.
The ranch is located in back of the Hackmatack Playhouse, which has been run by the Guptill family since 1972. Often times, people going to see a show will take a walk down to look at the bison. As well, there are many curiosity seekers who have heard about the ranch and stop by to visit.
Guptill said his personal theology is about seeing all of creation restored and redeemed to its original holistic balance.
“This means looking beyond individual souls to include the restoration of our land and nature,” said Guptill.
As they began their project, the two sought advice from area farmers, who gave them much help.
They were able to get financial backing from friends, family and personal acquaintances excited about the project, said Guptill, and were able to avoid loans from banks. Some of the loans will be paid back in meat.
“It’s been incredible. Everything’s worked out so incredibly well for us,” said Gallot.
They chose to raise bison, in part, because they are indigenous to North America. As well, the animals provide healthy meat that is locally and sustainably grown. According to information from the National Bison Association’s website, bison meat has less fat than beef, and has a comparable amount of protein.
Grazing animals like bison chew off excess growth of grass that can choke the soil and prevent healthy growth. Bison’s manure fertilizes the grass, and their hoofs stir up soil, which helps to bury seed and create small pockets in the earth to capture moisture, according to information found on the National Bison Association’s webpage.
The Bison Project, as the name suggests, is more than just a farm.
Bison are a fairly low maintenance animal, which will free up the two men to focus on other areas, such as education and land conservation, said Gallot.
They plan to teach the community about sustainable food production, balanced ecosystems and traditional farming through classes on site, school field trips and volunteer opportunities. The young men have held, and will continue, “jubilee gatherings” which will feature local food potlucks, a local goods market, area musicians and artists, and co-op exchanges. The two hope to some day lease out other pastures to preserve the land and keep it in use.
— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.
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