Join host Mike Chmielewski and his guest, Chris Flickinger, a rancher in Kodiak, Alaska. Listen as they discuss the challenges facing farming in remote parts of the state.
Chris Flickinger is at least a fifth-generation rancher based on Kodiak Island, Alaska. His ancestors came to North America from Germany and Switzerland in the 16th century and ventured west to Colorado, where they became ranchers. The four generations before Chris ranched in the Gunnison Valley of Colorado, primarily raising cattle. They added chickens and corn to make ends meet during the Great Depression. Chris came to Kodiak Island in 1999 and purchased a 31,000-acre state grazing lease and ranch from a previous rancher, along with the cattle. He named it Pasagshak Ranch after the name of the bay on the grazing lease. The name Pasagshak is derived from the Alutiiq place name “Pas’rsaq” which is believed to be a traditional term for the region.
photo/text credit: NRCS