Capital RC&D Council Hosts June 9 Bison Pasture Roam In Dauphin County

The Capital Resource Conservation and Development Area Council will host a June 9 Pasture Walk at the Stroup Family Bison Farm in Dauphin County from 10:00 a.m. to Noon.

Finding a balance between farming and maintaining a full-time off-farm profession is an issue faced by many, especially when including the needs of livestock. 

Dauphin county farmers, Duane and Kimberly Stroup and their son Alexander are managing this by implementing a rotational grazing system for bison. 

Bison are more self-sufficient and need considerably less direct attention than beef or dairy herds when provided with appropriate pasture and infrastructure, like fencing and watering systems.

These improved infrastructure and grazing management techniques will be featured during a pasture walk at the Stroup Bison Farm in Millersburg.

The Stroups started Lykens Valley Bison in 2021 with a single paddock and have since expanded to approximately 50 acres of pasture. 

To help facilitate grazing their herd of 14 bison, they installed six-foot-tall, eight-strand, high tensile electrified fencing and a watering system that includes energy free waterers and frost-free hydrants that ensure year-round water access.

The pasture walk will also highlight how the Stroups use a food truck to market their farm products including bison burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, and bison chili. The food truck will be on site to provide lunch following the pasture walk.

This event is sponsored by Capital RC&D through partnership with the Stroud Water Research Center and with funding through a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed grant.

There is no charge for the pasture walk and lunch is available for $10. Registration is requested by June 7, 2023 and can be made online, by emailing events@capitalrcd.org, or by calling 717-241-4361.

For more information contact Cheryl Burns at Capital RC&D at 717-241-4361 or via email at cburns@capitalrcd.org.  

Capital RC&D is a locally led non-profit organization operating in South Central Pennsylvania with a mission to network people, resources and projects to promote responsible use and conservation of our region’s natural, community and economic resources. 

Capital RC&D serves Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties.

Related Article:

-- Pike Conservation District Accepting Agriculture Conservation Assistance Grant Applications; And So Is Your County  [PaEN]

[Posted: May 4, 2023]  PA Environment Digest