News and event information for Williams Lake, BC - as it happens.

By LeRae Haynes

More than 200 visitors enjoyed a guided tour and open house at Chilcotin Harvest at Redstone on Saturday. Besides touring the abattoir and butcher shop, guests were treated to fresh BBQ delicacies, beverages and live music.

(Photo: Chilcotin Harvest owners Jasmin and Felix Schellenberg hosted an open house at their abattoir and butcher shop on Saturday.)

Felix and Jasmin Schellenberg are the owners of Chilcotin Harvest, a certified organic abattoir and butcher shop which opened last September.

The Dean River Band entertained visitors throughout the afternoon with sets of country music favourites. The group featured Chris Smith on acoustic guitar and vocals, local singer Dale Tuck, Paul Lowry on drums, Mike Holte on electric guitar and vocals, George Mullins on bass, Joy Holt on keyboards with Roger Andrick as sound man.

During the tour of the facilities, Felix said that animal respect is a top priority at Chilcotin Harvest. He said that there are no clanging gates in the holding areas or in the harvesting pen---they are equipped with ‘soft-close’ hardware. In the holding area, classical music plays softly in the background and animals rest in pens with fresh bedding.

He also pointed out the tile mosaic on the floor where the blood is drained and stored for composting. The mosaic contains artistic renderings of a bear, a cow, symbolic blood drops, human hands and an eagle.

“We tried to come to holistic solutions, such as taking care of waste, using sustainable fuels and creating a state-of-the-art composting facility,” he continued. “The composting system represents the only government funding we received, and their support and interest in the project is very welcome.

“We put through an average of 10 head a week and everything is local—we’re here to serve the Chilcotin,” he concluded. “It’s not about high volume: it’s about high standards of excellence and customer service.”

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