Bull Farm wins agricultural award

Facing strong competition from several impressive candidates, Bull Farm was selected as the winner by the expert jury. They will receive NOK 50,000 and go on to represent Troms in the national award, where the winner will receive NOK 250,000.

What began in 2008 with 12 suckler cows housed in a converted silo and a single job has grown into a forward-looking agricultural business with ten employees and a brand that is well known throughout Troms.

‘We work hard – sometimes far too hard – but we enjoy what we do and are growing sustainably alongside the people we love most: our own herd,’ says Birger Bull after receiving the award. He already knows how the prize money will be spent:

‘We’re going to use the prize money to take the whole team on holiday to Italy in 2026 – we’ve certainly earned it!’

Our Regional Director for the Arctic, Anne Berit Figenschau, is deeply impressed by what the team at Bull gård has achieved:

‘Bull Gård is a powerful example of how dreams and hard work can create something truly unique. From a converted silo, they have built a sustainable, forward-looking business – an agricultural success story that combines value creation, tourism and pride. Initiatives like this make our region attractive and competitive,’ says Regional Director Anne Berit Figenschau.

In 2012, Bull Gård took a bold step and built what is described as one of Norway's most distinctive free-stall barns: the round and striking Barents Barn. Now they are taking the next step by creating tourist accommodation on the barn's first floor. Here, visitors can enjoy a truly unusual experience, sleeping just a few metres above a herd of bulls.

In 2020, Bull Gård decided to take control of the entire value chain. By building its own abattoir, café and local food shop, the farm ensured that more value stayed within the business, the village and the local community. Everything sold in the shop is locally produced, and the café has become a popular meeting place for local residents and visitors alike.

Today, Bull Gård is a model for modern agricultural development and a powerful example of what is possible when innovation, local roots and sustainability go hand in hand. The farm has received support from us, the Sámi Parliament of Norway and Troms Holding, among others. It has been described as one of Norway's last true examples of pioneering farm settlement, built from uncultivated land through hard work and vision.

With support and encouragement from Karlsøy Municipality, they have shown how farming can drive both business development and tourism, while creating jobs and fostering pride in the local community.