Cutting Through the Layers
Anica Wu’s Butchery Story
Jerky completely changed the trajectory of Anica Wu’s life.
Her leap into whole-animal butchery started with an unexpected passion for making the perfect piece of jerky. Her journey began with kitchen experiments and a taste of the meat industry that would catapult her into a full career change and the founding of her successful Asian-spiced jerky company, Bonjerk.
“Walking into a butcher shop for the first time and feeling powerless and intimidated because I didn’t know what cuts to choose for jerky made me realize I needed to learn more,” Anica explains. Determined to become self-reliant, she immersed herself in the world of butcher shops, learning about meat and animal anatomy. Her commitment to understanding meat sourcing and animal welfare deepened her dedication.
Growing up as a first-generation Chinese American in Kansas, Anica’s family used food to preserve their cultural heritage and maintain their traditions. Her passion for meat, combined with the scarcity of high-quality options in American Chinese grocers, led her to pursue butchery. In 2018, she began training as a whole-animal butcher, marking the start of her journey into meat.
Embracing her identity as an Asian American woman, Anica has found a nurturing and genuine community within Women in Ranching, where her unique perspectives are valued and her contributions celebrated. Her involvement with Women in Ranching began serendipitously in 2022 when she was invited to teach a lamb butchery class at the PT Ranch Gathering in Ione, California—her first opportunity to share her expertise in whole-animal butchery. “The encouragement from Amber and the team has been vital,” Anica reveals. “Amber’s mentorship has guided me through challenges and helped me grow my business. The community’s support has been invaluable."
Anica’s upcoming dumpling-making workshop is more than just a cooking class; it’s a chance to experience a tradition that’s deeply valued in her Chinese culture. Making dumplings is all about bringing people together—it’s something families do as a group, from rolling the dough to folding the fillings. The process itself is just as important as the final meal, creating a space for sharing stories, laughter, and connection.
“In Chinese culture, making dumplings is never a solitary task; it’s a collective effort that strengthens family bonds and honors the spirit of togetherness.”
Her experience as a butcher adds depth to the workshop. “Being a butcher connects raising animals to consuming their products,” she explains.
As a butcher, she is committed to using every part of the animal and minimizing waste. “In my culture, we eat everything,” she says. Dumplings are an excellent way to apply this principle, allowing her to utilize a wide variety of cuts and parts of the animal that might be overlooked in Western cuisine. By drawing on her butchery expertise, Anica can transform cuts like the shoulder, belly, and even organs into flavorful dumpling fillings.
This approach not only honors the practice of using the whole animal but also educates on the diverse flavors and textures that different cuts of pork can offer, reinforcing the value of using every part of the animal.
Anica is no stranger to charting into the unknown. Venturing into the entrepreneurial world, she’s learned that creating a great product is just the beginning. Building a brand, scaling a company, and thriving involves a unique set of challenges and requires balancing many priorities. Despite this, she manages to humanize her experience and acknowledges the efforts of other women in her ranching community.
“I wish people would ask, ‘How are you doing?’ It’s such a simple question, yet it holds incredible power,” she says.
This question serves as a reminder that behind our daily grind, whatever it looks like, there’s a human being with emotions, challenges, and victories. Recognizing this reality helps foster a deeper connection, emphasizing that it’s just as much about the people involved as it is about the work—something she hopes attendees will take away from the workshop.
Don’t miss the chance to join Anica at our upcoming Yellowstone Circle Gathering!