In the summer of 2022, in Skagway, Alaska, Davis Larsen worked as a tour bus driver to earn money for school. He’d heard stories of how Klondike gold rush prospectors from 1898 would carry vials of sourdough starter around their necks to keep warm for baking their daily bread. As an aspiring baker himself, Davis wanted to give the bread a try and taste the history.
After posting a request for sourdough starter in a local Skagway Facebook group, he was fortunate enough to connect with a local resident who generously offered him a prized golden starter. During their meeting, Davis learned that this particular starter had been passed down through generations for over 127 years, steeped in history and tradition. Davis began experimenting with it in his own kitchen.
Upon returning to Utah for school, Davis met fellow baker Kara James where they fell in love over Alaskan sourdough focaccia. Kara followed Davis back to Alaska where they honed their baking skills, made friends, and shared their breads with the Skagway community. They ultimately married, serving their own unique sourdough at their wedding reception for their families and loved ones.
While finishing school back in Utah, Davis and Kara tried following the traditional path of seeking corporate internships and entry-level jobs, but it just didn’t feel right; so they decided to start a business — and it’s Bussin! A name in remembrance of Davis’s tour bus-driving days and the couple’s drive for delicious sourdough bread with its exceptional Alaskan pedigree.
