Family / Number One Dad: Chris Bolyard

Number One Dad: Chris Bolyard

Even after a long day working at Bolyard’s Meat & Provisions, where Chris Bolyard is head butcher and owner, he still puts his family first, from playing make-believe to hiking trails.

Basic Stats

  • Age: 37
  • Height: 5-foot-9
  • Weight: 165 pounds
  • Family: Abbie, wife of seven years; daughters Betty, 3, and Ona, 3 months
  • Job: Head butcher and owner of Bolyard’s Meat & Provisions in Maplewood

Being Present 

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With his demanding work schedule, Chris capitalizes on each moment at home. “Betty’s at such a fun age. There’s going to come a time when she doesn’t want to spend every waking moment with me, so I try to keep that in mind when I come home tired. I never turn down playing with her.”

Chris’ Principles

“An important lesson is teaching respect. Betty’s 3 years old, and she can be very defiant, so lately it’s been a challenge to teach her boundaries. Respect is something my parents instilled in me.”

Play Date

“Betty loves to play make-believe. Since she spends some time at the shop, she pretends that I’m a customer and that we’re at the grocery store. At home, she’ll use the iPad as her own cash register.”

Memorable Make-Believe

“The most bizarre scenario was probably Tiger and Zookeeper,” Abbie says. “Chris hangs in there—he plays those scenarios a lot longer than I could stand!”

Getting Outdoors

The family occasionally goes hunting for mushrooms in the woods. Chris and Betty enjoy finding hidden trails and making s’mores on a fire pit at home. 

Chicken Coop

Chris and Betty often feed the family chickens together. “Chris has passed on his love of animals to her,” Abbie says. “He calmly gets a chicken out of the pen, and Betty takes notice.”

Daddy’s Girl

“Since Abbie spends a lot more time with Betty, I’m more apt to give her a cookie at the store because I don’t have as many chances to spoil her. It’s hard for me to say no; she’s got me wrapped around her finger.”