Wholehearted Butchery Workshop

Join us October 8–12, 2025, for Wholehearted, a 3-day immersive butchery workshop for women, curated and hosted by Redwing Ranch in Gardner, Colorado. This intensive experience is led by Anica Wu, founder of Bonjerk, and longtime advocate for whole-animal use and food system reconnection.

Together, we’ll break down a whole, dry-aged steer. You’ll gain practical knife skills, a deeper understanding of anatomy and cuts, and take home meat you helped process yourself.

This isn’t just about butchery—it’s about grit and connection. We’ll work hard, eat well, and build a supportive, unforgettable community of women doing something truly rare.

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Participants will: 

• Learn full-process butchery and meat breakdown

• Work directly with Anica in a small-group setting

• Stay in on-ranch housing with nourishing meals prepared by a chef

• Share conversations, cuts, and camaraderie around the table

• Take home beef they helped process

Limited to 8–10 participants. All lodging, meals, beef, and tools provided.

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Who This Is For

This workshop is for women who want to:

• Learn butchery from start to finish

• Reconnect to their food and what feeds them

• Build skill and strength in a community setting

• Try something physically demanding and deeply rewarding
   

No experience required—just a willingness to show up fully and work hard.

What’s Included

• 4 nights of on-ranch lodging (Wednesday–Sunday)

• All meals prepared by our on-site chef

• All knives and butchery tools provided

• Dry-aged beef per person

• Optional evening Q&As, fireside chats, and celebration dinner

• Access to ranch walks, the river, and quiet rest between sessions
   

What to Bring

• Closed-toe boots or work shoes

• Clothes that can get messy (apron optional)

• Layers for cool October mornings

• Water bottle, hat, gloves (if desired)

• Cooler or box for bringing meat home

• No laptops or screens—this is an immersive, real-world experience

 

Schedule at a Glance

Wednesday, Oct 8

• 5:00–7:00 PM: Arrival + Dinner

• 7:30 PM: Welcome & Orientation
   

Thursday–Saturday

• 8:00 AM: Cowboy Coffee

• 8:30–12:30: Morning Butchery Session

• 12:30–1:30: Lunch (Chef-prepared)

• 1:30–2:30: Ranch walks, pasture chats

• 2:30–6:00: Afternoon Butchery Session

• 7:30 PM: Dinner
   

Friday Night: Optional fireside Q&A

Saturday Night: Celebration dinner featuring cuts from the workshop

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Sunday, Oct 12

• Light breakfast + reflections

• Depart by 11:00 AM
   

Lodging

All participants will stay in beautiful, on-ranch accommodations. Room assignments are based on availability and shared lodging arrangements:

• Malachite House – Shared lodging for 5; mostly private rooms with queen, double, or king beds. One shared room includes two twin beds.

• Star Bungalow – 2 rooms with single beds (queen, double, or king).

• River Cottage – 2 rooms with single beds (queen, double, or king).

• Huerfano House – 1 shared room with two twin beds.

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Pricing & Registration

This workshop is limited to 8–10 participants.
Ticket includes all instruction, materials, meat, meals, and housing.
Join our email list to be the first to know when it goes live.

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Questions?

Email us at info@redwingranch.farm​​