Bison Ridge Farms was one of two double-winners at the 2024 Samuel McLeod Business Awards on Friday.
The business took home the Marketing Award, while owners Denver and Becky Johnson were named Young Entrepreneurs of the Year in the ceremony at Plaza 88 on Friday night.
Becky said the recognition gave the business, which is located northwest of Prince Albert, some hope for continued success.
“It’s very encouraging,” she said. “We don’t go out hoping to win or planning to win these awards. Just the fact that we’ve been honoured (with) these awards … keeps us going and gives us that drive and motivation to keep the ball going and keep doing what we’re doing.”
Denver was encouraged to receive the Marketing Award because it showed the connection they developed with the community.
“We’re really passionate about community and the people that we connect with, like I said earlier and to be honoured by that community now is really special,” he said.
When they won the second award, Denver did not have a speech prepared and just spoke from the heart. “It wasn’t expected to win two awards tonight,” he added.
Bison Ridge Farms was founded because Becky’s family had a grain farm in the area. The couple moved home and were able to buy some land.
“The way things were going with their farm there was good access to feed and so we saw an opportunity,” Denver said. “’We thought ‘hey, maybe we should get into livestock,’ and bison seemed like a really good fit. We saw lots of opportunity within the industry.”
Their goal is to produce and raise quality animals while capitalizing on the land’s full potential.
He said their philosophy suits the market and that has also been a part of their success.
“People are really looking for sources of clean, healthy protein and what we do in raising bison has worked out really well,” he said.
The support from the people of Prince Albert and area is important to the business.
“Without customers and the people that we meet along the way, it wouldn’t be possible,” Denver said.
michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca
