Meet Our Producers
Mary Bryant (Two Bridge Ranch)
Nestled along the Bulkley River just minutes down the Telkwa High Road is picturesque Two Bridge Ranch, owned and operated by retired school teacher Mary Bryant. Her farm currently raises 21 head of Angus cattle, as well as 30 ewes and 55 lambs − all guarded by her two attack-llamas and faithful dog, Comet.
Mary’s farm is different from many. It’s small and diverse, and in years past she had no problem direct marketing her livestock at the farm gate. But when BC’s new meat regulations prohibited her from slaughtering livestock herself, Mary found her business in jeopardy. That’s when she joined Northwest Premium Meat Co-op, which has a government-inspected and certified abbattoir.
“The Co-op has really saved me,” Mary says. “It’s the reason I can keep farming and selling my animals.”
Northwest Premium Meat Co-op is the only licensed slaughter facility between Vanderhoof and the Queen Charlotte Islands. It has become key to keeping small farms like Two Bridge Ranch open for business.
For Mary, farming is more than just business — it’s a labour of love. She is thankful for the faithful support she receives from family and friends and admires the dedication of the Co-op’s founding members who have fought to secure a future for small, rural farms like hers.
If you’re concerned about the future of small, rural farms in the Northwest, get involved and become a member of the community-owned and operated Northwest Premium Meat Co-op. Let’s bring the future of farming back home.