ADVERTISING CONTENT. Nearly ten years after having maintained this dream of having a land and raising majestic hairy animals there, Anouk Caron is setting up her business, Rustik Bison, near Saint-Herménégilde.
This adventure saw the light of day in April 2023, after a lot of work, including the successful completion of a business launch course at the Coaticook Professional Training Center – CRIFA. “What was a challenge was finding land,” says the owner. Initially, we wanted land of around a hundred cultivable acres. By talking with an agroeconomist, we reviewed our business plan. His recommendation was to start a little smaller, given our perhaps more marginal production. By chance, a piece of land was put up for sale in Saint-Herménégilde and was purchased by my parents. So we decided to rent it. It made more sense to start like this. »
It is therefore on this 23-acre land that the ten breeding females and the breeding male of the herd ruminate. “In all, we are talking about a group of around twenty heads. There will be births coming soon. That’s exciting. »
Obviously, the owner dreams of growing her business. The high price of land, however, brings some pitfalls. “The ultimate goal is to become a tourist attraction in the region and be an example to follow for sustainable meat producers. »
WHERE TO GET THE PRODUCTS?
There are a few ways to obtain products from the Rustik Bison company, whether their meat or other derived products, such as smoked meat, jerkys or even sausage. You can first order them online (rustikbison.ca). We then receive a code which allows us to access the store, located at 1400, chemin Clowery, in Saint-Herménégilde, where it will be possible to pick up our products. The three branches of the Face de bouche butcher shop, in Ayer’s Cliff and Sherbrooke, are also retailers of Rustik Bison meat. “We also want to develop other points of sale in the region,” notes Ms. Caron.
OPEN HOUSE ON JUNE 1st
Rustik Bison will hold an “open house” day on June 1st. As part of this festive event, visitors will be able to take part in one of two guided tours of the site. Those who have not been able to obtain a reservation for one of them will still be able to set off on a one-kilometer route that circles the site. “We have installed information panels there which answer the vast majority of the questions we are asked. And people will also be able to see our majestic animals in the enclosures,” mentions Anouk Caron.
The activity will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You book your visit at rustikbison.ca.
