The Thomases will sell their meat at the local Farmers Market

By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

The first Farmers Market of the year is set for Saturday, July 3, at Hines Park, and Dave and Blythe Thomas will be there selling bison meat, as they have been for the past four years.

The Thomases were one of the first four vendors to sign up when the market was organized in 2007, and they have attended every one since. “It’s been a good way to get the product out to the public,” Dave said.

The bison ranch

Before moving to Harney County, the Thomases were living and working in Central Oregon, but they were looking for a change. “I was tired of painting cars,” Dave said, and Blythe, working as a program analyst for the state, longed for more freedom than her job’s cubicle provided.

After purchasing land in Harney County, the Thomases moved in May 2006, and began to kick around different ideas for a business. One day Dave blurted out, “Let’s raise buffalo,” and their venture began.

They first purchased 21 head from a ranch in Wyoming and continued to add to the herd in the coming months. “At first, I was going all over the country picking up bison and having a great time,” Dave said. But now, with 53 head and more calves on the way, the herd is somewhat sustainable without traveling over hill and dale to purchase animals.

Their plan is to keep all heifers until they get 100 breeders, and they figure it will take seven years to accomplish that goal.

The bison graze on more than 400 acres of pasture land, and the Thomases provide additional feed for eight or nine months of the year.

The animals are processed locally by Buermann’s Ranch Meats, and the Thomases get an average of 500 pounds of meat from each animal. Dave pointed out that bison meat is very high in protein and iron and very low in fat, calories and cholesterol. “It’s really good too,” added Blythe.

Farmers Market

Their first year of operation, the Thomases were introduced to Farmers Markets in Bend and Portland and used those venues to sell their product. Then in 2007, they heard they were organizing a Farmers Market locally, and were one of the first to sign up. “Having a market here lets us use a lot less gas and still sell the meat,” Blythe said.

The Thomases have taken over as directors of the event this year and plan to have 15 to 20 vendors each Saturday. “It’s growing every year,” Blythe said.

The market will begin earlier this year, opening at 7:30 a.m., and Blythe added that one goal they have is to have concession stands set up in the park during the market so people don’t have to leave to get a bite to eat.

Just like their bison herd, the Thomases are hoping to keep the Farmers Market healthy and growing.

For more information on the operation, visit dandbbisonranch.com.