from Country Woman - Sept/Oct 2001
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This Ranch Wife Raises Big Horns Aplenty

THE HANDSOME HERD that Nancy Bohn-Fochs raises in the heard of dairy country raises plenty of eyebrows when folks drive by!  On her ranch near Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, she and husband Charlie tend to about 120 registered elk on grassy pastureland.

"Here at Nanchas Elk Ranch, we specialize in pure-blooded elk for breeding," she explains.  The Fochses made their leap into alternative livestock 7 years ago. . . and now sell their domestic elk to farmers and ranchers nationwide.

Meanwhile, so many people have stopped by to ask questions about their  unusual livestock  that the couple has launched a rare breed of agri-tourism business as well.

"We're open to the public from Memorial Day to Late October," Nancy reports.  "After showing visitors a video on elk life in all seasons, we take them through the chutes and pens where stock is sorted, tattooed, doctored, etc."

"Then they hop aboard a tractor-pulled wagon and ride along the outside of the pastures.  It takes 8-foot-high fences to keep our long-legged animals in their place," she chuckles.

"Depending on the season, visitors might hear a mother elk 'chirping' to here calf in spring or a bull bugling an autumn mating call."

All sorts of 4-H clubs, senior groups, schools and curious folks from as far away as South Africa and China have toured the ranch.

"Everyone is especially interested in the antlers," says Nancy. "The rack on a bull weighing 1,000 pounds or more is just awesome.  In March, when the antlers are shed, we gather them to sell to crafters who fashion them into everything from jewelry to chandeliers.

"Plus, Charlie makes antler letter openers, salt & pepper shakers, napkin rings and more, which we sell in our on-ranch gift store.

"Elk are magnificent and fascination animals," she adds.  "They can be quite friendly when they get to know you, but we remind people that they're still wildlife, not pets.

"They're very curious, too.  One day, we came home to find the bulls had un-latched the gate.  They were having and elks' club meeting right on our lawn!"

EDITOR'S NOTE: For more details on Nanchas Elk Ranch, contact Nancy & Charlie Fochs, E7568A Acorn Ln., Lyndon Station WI 53944. Call 1-608/524-4355 or check out their web site at www.elkranch.net

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