Locals Day at the Large Animal Research Station
By Aaron Thomas
On Sept. 6, the Large Animal Research Station, or LARS, concluded its summer tour season with locals day, a community oriented event giving people the opportunity to spend time around reindeer and musk ox, learn about Alaska's fauna, and help to raise funds for the station's continued operation. The event additionally served as a food drive for the Fairbanks Community Food Bank with the cost of admission being three non-perishable food items that were to be donated to help with local food security.
Beginning at 11 a.m., clear skies signaled a break from the typical rain that accompanies the early autumn. Various food trucks served Thai food, coffee and pastries at the entrance with many attendees grabbing a bite before touring the facilities. Crowds of families, students and Fairbanks locals walked across the farm and conversed with the tour guides and visited the various educational stations that gave information on the history of LARS, the ongoing research at the station, and the animals it studies.
LARS has been an iconic part of UAF’s campus and has long caught the eyes of tourists and locals looking for some Alaskan fun.
Initially founded in 1979, LARS has boasted herds of reindeer and musk ox for decades. Recently, LARS adopted a herd of wood bison as part of a restoration project piloted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
The work that LARS does in researching and supporting the musk ox represents an important ecological project for Alaska and the broader Arctic. Musk ox have inhabited Alaska for tens of thousands of years and nearly went extinct in the late 19th century due to overhunting. They were reintroduced in the 1930s from a herd of 34 musk ox taken from Eastern Greenland, which eventually multiplied to form the population of 4,500 musk ox that inhabit the state today. Having reestablished their numbers in the Arctic tundra, they now inhabit a considerable amount of their former range.
Photo by Aaron Thomas
Garrett Wilson holds a musk ox skull at the LARS open house.
This reintroduction project was partially overseen by The Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines, which would eventually become the University of Alaska Fairbanks. This project marked the beginning of the university’s involvement in musk ox research and breeding, eventually culminating into LARS.
One area at the event towards the middle of the farm had tables lined with musk ox hide, skulls, horns, and a variety of products made from Qiviut or the wool of the musk ox that is eight times warmer than sheep’s wool.
Garrett Wilson, one of the tour guides and employees at the station, explained the process of harvesting Qiviut and the properties that make it such a useful material.
Wilson explained that each musk ox only produces around three to five pounds of Qiviut a year—except for the infamous Max, a thousand pound male musk ox at LARS that produces upwards of seven pounds a year.
Musk ox shed their coat once a year in spring when temperatures rise, and it must be harvested in a short period of time due to how fast the fiber degrades.
Harvesting Qiviut is a lengthy process that requires the animal be sedated and placed in a chute that restrains it. The Qiviut is then meticulously combed out of the fur and separated from impurities.
Qiviut has a superior warmth to weight ratio to nearly all natural fibers and it has a lack of barbs on individual hairs, which make it smooth to the touch unlike the scratchiness that regular wool typically has. Due to these factors, it remains among the most expensive fibres in the world, with a single ounce of raw Qiviut costing around $35.
Wilson went on to explain how LARS ships their Qiviut to a processor in Peru who spins the fibers into yarn and knitted articles of clothing which are available for purchase at their gift shop. As part of the fundraiser to support the research and continued operation of LARS, a Qiviut scarf and beanie were raffled off to attendees who purchased tickets.
Various tour guides and workers at the station were quick to engage with audience questions and share knowledge.
Photo by Aaron Thomas
A herd of reindeer eat in a field at the Large Animal Research Station on September 6, 2025.
“You know, people love LARS.” said Ron Standlee-Strom, the Animal Resources Center Facility Manager. He began working on and off at the station in the ‘90s and early 2000s, and became the ARC manager in 2018 where he helps to run the station.
Standlee-Strom described the station's long standing community involvement, with school field trips and educational events being commonplace. He noted the outreach programs that LARS conducts and the integral role that it has played in the university’s Biology and Veterinary programs. His favorite part about his position at LARS is working alongside peers he has known for 30 years and having the opportunity to spend time with the animals.
“I’m a musk ox junkie,” said Andra, a tour guide at the station who stood in front of the enclosure that housed the male musk ox. She has long been a fan of LARS and when she realized she could be on the other side of the fence and get to work with the animals, she applied for the job.
“Everybody who works here loves being here,” said Andra. She noted the positive work environment and passion for learning that all the employees share. The event concluded at 3 p.m. and marked the end of summer tours at the station. As the animals and workers alike prepare for the coming winter, LARS remains a key part of UAF’s research, legacy, and community involvement.