Texas Bison Journal 2012 - Texas Bison Association

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2 | TEXAS BISON JOURNAL | 2012
Features
JOURNAL
2012
16 Where the
Buffalo Don’t Roam
16
Bad raps, misinformation,
negative press, cattlemen
rumors....bison have
a reputation for being
uncontainable. Can we bust this
myth, once and for all?
20 Amazing Graze
20
24
South Texas hunting operations
are looking for a ‘non-cattle’
grazing solution. Enter the
amazing American bison.
24Survival
Raising bison in West Texas
creates difficult challenges, but
they are worth it.
28 Trading Post
A showcase of new & exciting
products for bison enthusiasts
and proud Texans.
28
30 Bison Recipes
DEPARTMENTS
4 From the President
6 TBA Officers & Committees
8 Bison Business
10 Wild & Woolly
15 Join the Herd
38 Parting Shots
From the President
We’re Getting Stronger
DAN HUMPHRIES
I
am extremely proud to be a member of the Texas Bison Association (TBA). As my term
as president of the TBA comes to an end, I want to take time to reflect back on the past
year and ponder our exciting future.
We had a great 2011 Texas Bison Conference in Austin last May. It was the fourth
consecutive year that Texas Gov. Rick Perry proclaimed the first week of May as “Texas
Bison Week.” Even Miko, the trained buffalo attended the conference and made a special
appearance at the State Capitol. Miko had his picture taken with Senator Craig Estes,
interns and aids and Austinites.
Our 2011 Texas Bison Journal sold out at every Tractor Supply store in Texas. Many
stores reordered and sold out twice! There are more than 125 Tractor Supply stores in
Texas, and the Texas Bison Journal is the first and only bison industry magazine sold in
the country on retail newsstands!
We continued our efforts to educate ranchers across Texas, about the advantages
of bison ranching. We even attracted the interest of bison ranchers from other states,
thirsty for credible information for raising bison in the South. Many new bison ranchers
attended our ‘Texas Style’ Fall Workshop, where folks had the opportunity to observe
and even try their hand at working 35 head through the handling system, administering
vaccinations, attaching ear tags and recording weights. We continued to travel across Texas
with the Texas Bison Advantage message to agricultural expos and are currently working
to develop a curriculum for approved bison classes for the Future Farmers of America.
We survived one of the worst droughts in Texas history and worked to provide
members with help getting information on drought assistance. While many livestock
ranchers were downsizing due to the drought, the majority of Texas bison ranchers were
strategically planning to increase herd sizes.
In the past year, I have been active in learning from other bison ranchers across the
country as well as Texas. I attended the National Bison Association Spring Conference
in Big Sky, Mon., where there were many good speakers there and great seminars. We
visited the bison at Yellowstone Park with a presentation from their park bison manager.
We also visited Ted Turner operation’s Flying D Ranch with around 3,500 head of bison.
I attended the NBA Winter Conference in Denver, Co., where I met other attendees and
share our Texas Bison Journals and Fall newsletters. In September, I rode with Gunsel
Horse Adventures for three days in Custer State Park with many of the Buffaleros and
observed the roundup of around 700 head of bison on horseback. Most of these events
also had a good representation from other TBA ranchers.
Throughout the past year, working with ranchers and associations across the country,
the take away was always the same and a lesson learned. The bison industry is one of the
most exciting and promising industries to be in! The only negative reality I saw repeatedly
was the fact that there currently are not enough bison ranchers or bison to “provide
a health conscious consuming society with our healthy, tender, tasty and sustainable
product – “Bison, The Original Red Meat!” There is a large loyal customer base and
we are unable to keep up with the growing demand. We are getting stronger with every
additional member. Be strong; join the herd, the Texas Bison Association.
Dan Humphries
President, Texas Bison Association
The bison industry
is one of the
most exciting
and promising
industries to be in!
The Texas Bison Association works to
promote and preserve Texas bison through leadership, education
and building public awareness for the bison ranching and
meat industry. Founded in 1994, the Texas Bison Association
provides assistance in raising and producing bison among our
membership and promotes the nutritional health aspects of the
North American Bison to consumers. The TBA welcomes anyone with an interest in the
preservation and promotion and production the North American Bison.
TBA Board of Directors
President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Board of Director Board of Director Board of Director Dan Humphries
Tim Frasier
Dawn Ellzey
Pat Bierschwale
Charles Addington II
Roy Liedtke
Charles Robertson
TBA Administrative Committees & Liaisons
AMA Liason By-laws Marketing Membership Scholarship Show & Sale Youth Outreach 6 | TEXAS BISON JOURNAL | 2012
Charles Addington II, Chair
Roy Liedtke, Chair
Dan Humphries, Chair
Dawn Ellzey, Chair
Pat Bierschwale, Chair
Charles Addington II, Chair
Tim Frasier, Chair
For membership
information, visit
www.TexasBison.org.
JOURNAL
Texas Bison Journal is published
annually by the Texas Bison
Association. Statements of fact and
opinion in this publication, including
editorial and advertisements are the
sole responsibility of the authors and
advertisers and do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of TBA officers,
members, staff or other contributors.
Columnists & Contributors:
Charles Addington II
Tim Frasier
Dan Humphries
John Meng
Shawn Vickers
Graphics and production for
Texas Bison Journal are provided by
Meng & Associates Inc., Liberty Hill, TX.
For editorial or advertising inquiries,
contact John Meng at
[email protected] or 512.778.9092.
Copyright ©2012 All Rights Reserved.
Bison business
TALK IS CHEAP
TIM FRASIER
O
ne of my favorite sayings is, “talk’s cheap, whiskey costs money.” This is a common
cowboy colloquialism for the purpose of weighing the value of talk, as compared
to action. On a closer look, talk may not be all that cheap when we, as bison producers,
engage the general public on a one-on-one basis, or otherwise.
In a talk by Gene Haul with the Texas Farm Bureau at a North Texas farm and ranch
expo with 300-plus farmers and ranchers in attendance, I watched and listened while
the importance of communication between farmers and ranchers and the public was
conveyed. Coaching on word choices and positive perspectives were shared, defending
American agriculture from the constant attack based on misinformation and urban
myth. As I watched and listened, I was entertained by the folks that seemed to be waiting
for recess, while sitting through math class. Mr. Haul very wisely suggested, in conclusion,
that the consumer is calling the shots more now than ever, and we should all respect that
reality just as we would an employer’s direction.
Another one of my favorite sayings is, “My farm, My rules.” While this is true and
speaks to the independent spirit and resilience of American land stewards, it’s also part
of the problem. The “my rules” part is the part that bison consumers are focusing on as
production partners. “Production partner?” You better believe it ‘pahtna!’ Two or three
times removed it’s “Your farm, Your rules” that the consumer is buying and believing
in. The great thing for bison producers is that the unspun truth is the message and story
that best serves bison as a niche animal-agriculture reality. We manage bison in a very
appealing way for consumers, because bison actually produce more when left alone.
Adequate food, family and water, in combination with the opportunity to perform
natural behaviors, is our best and most profitable management plan. So, it’s still “My
farm, My rules” so long as the buffalo agree, and our production partners love that!
So it seems that talk is not so cheap after all and our public conversations can be
expensive. There are a lot of conversations going on about bison right now, and our
production partners are tuning in. In an independent private study, I daily monitor
Google Alert headlines about bison under many different heading choices. The two most
popular subjects, by a very wide margin, are Conservation and Culinary. I find this very
interesting and perfect! The rancher, historically and currently, provides the most positive
vehicle for the repopulation of this iconic species.
Additionally, conservation efforts make the ranching community possible. This
represents a positive conversation that should be shared. Another positive conversation
available is bison as an eco-integrity agent. We are observing more positive ecological
interactions every day, impacting everything from soil structure to bird species
populations. What we can’t prove, we can leave to the wisdom of the eons through which
bison adapted and evolved as the most successful large mammal in the planet’s history.
Oh ya! I almost forgot the most positive conversation of all — bison meat has health
nutritional which is off the chart, and tastes great!
Our conversations are positive because there is almost no room to reference any
negatives about what bison. Bison stand alone on their positive merits, and all of us that
understand those merits, stand together.
You may think that a conversation about bison with your neighbor, friend or
acquaintance is insignificant. One-on-one turns into One-on-100,000 if one person
repeats a conversation with 10 others. As a result, the conversation you have with one
person, may affect one attitude or 100,000 attitudes. Either way, the strength of the
conservation and culinary message is all positve.
Adequate food,
family and water,
in combination
with the
opportunity to
perform natural
behaviors, is
our best and
most profitable
management plan.
Bison Conference Makes Capitol Gains
S
tampedes are not uncommon in Texas history, but this was a wild and woolly stampede unlike any before seen in Austin. As part of Texas
Bison Week and the 2011 Texas Bison Conference, Texas Bison Association (TBA) members converged on the State Capitol building to
build awareness for the Texas bison industry and the species.
The guests of honor were renowned trick rider and trainer Bree Worthington (www.BreeWorthington.com) and Miko the Buffalo, who
turned a lot of heads in downtown Austin.
“Building awareness for bison and bison products is part of the TBA’s mission, and our Stampede on the Capitol was a great way to build
excitement about bison and inform our state
representatives about our growing industry,”
says then-TBA President Tim Frasier.
The annual Texas Bison Conference
is the largest event in Texas dedicated
exclusively to the American bison. The
event brings together individuals, businesses
and organizations from throughout the
bison and agriculture industries, and hosts
informative seminars, exhibitors, a fun
Buffalo Banquet, silent and live auctions
that include buffalo art, jewelry, ranch
equipment, furniture and much more.
For more information on the Texas Bison
Conference, call 512.778.9092 or visit www.
TexasBison.org.
A Few Glimpses of the Texas Bison Conference....
Bison Rebound
Top 10 Tips for Drought
T
Texas is well-known for suffering record-breaking droughts. Here are
the Top 10 Tips for your bison to weather a Texas drought.
he U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service (USFWS)
announced recently it is
considering ‘down listing’Wood
Bison (Bison bison athabascae)
from the its current ‘endangered’
status to ‘threatened’ under the
Endangered Species Act (ESA).
The USFWS reports, since
1978, the number of freeranging, disease-free herds has
increased from one to seven, and
the number of wood bison has
increased from approximately
400 to more than 4,000.
Most authorities agree on
the Wood Bison’s successful
SINCE 1978, THE WOOD BISON
recovery and urge USFWS to
population has grown 1000% and
delist the Wood Bison entirely.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is now
The National Bison Association moving to change the species’ status
and Canadian Bison Association on the Endangered Species List.
filed a joint comment with
USFWS last year stating, in part, “Although reclassifying the Wood
Bison from Endangered to Threatened is considered a positive step,
the bison industry recommends that Wood Bison be declassified.
Herds are sufficiently large for the survival of the species.”
Earlier this year, the Western Bison Association also petitioned the
USFWS to remove Wood Bison entirely from the list. The WBA cited
the latest scientific research that indicates that Wood Bison and Plains
Bison are not subspecies, and should be managed as a single species.
• Drought is about no water and little, or no, grass. Bison need
forage and water.
• Determine the total ration of the bison in combination with
the ‘bulk’ daily ration available feed. If the game is ‘Texas Hold-em’
then a 8- 12% protein total ration should supplement the bulk
ration components.
• Pasture systems should allow for the performance of natural
behaviors in response, such as wild water sources for cooling.
Newborn calves are in jeopardy during times of extreme heat without
the ability to cool. They are not endothermic for 5-14 days after birth.
Bison Boom in Texas
• Where shade is available, rotate pasture use so shade is available in
times of extreme heat. Drought, combined with heat, will make the
need for shade more critical.
I
• Keeping mineral and salt available near water sources will help
keep electrolyte balances functional for heat and drought response.
nterest in raising and conserving bison is booming in Texas. The
Texas Bison Association reports its membership has grown nearly
300 percent in the past three years.
“It’s safe to say that the secret is out about bison. People have
discovered that raising these magnificent animals is fun, lucrative
and it helps preserve the species for future generations,” says Dan
Humphries, president of the Texas Bison
Association. “Of course, not
everyone has the resources to
raise bison, so membership in
the TBA and other bison-specific
organizations is a great way for
people to support the species.
For anyone that cares about
these noble animals, I urge
them to become a supporter
of conservation and
production models.”
289
%
• Don’t waste springtime. This cool season forage may be the last you
see. Make sure your parasite control is in order and your bison grow
strong before the summer.
• Do not handle or stress bison during heat and drought unless
absolutely necessary. If necessary, work at night.
• Calculate and weigh your replacement realities with ‘Texas
Hold’em’ costs.
• Aggressively rotate to maximize residue flora and water use
efficiency. This strategy only works with some rainfall.
• Learn to ‘rain dance.’ Remember, rain dances work if you don’t
quit until it rains.
Bison Workshop Gets Hands-On
H
ands-on experience was the name of the game at the recent TBA Bison Ranch
Workshop in Hamilton, Texas. More than 80 attendees gathered to learn about
bison ranching, and it was the single largest attended workshop in TBA history.
The event was hosted by Six Spokes Bison and provided close encounters and helpful
information about working a bison herd, administering medications and also offered a fun
networking opportunity for new and experienced bison ranchers.
The Saturday workshop featured seminars on bison handling, animal evaluation and
health care and a Texas bison producers panel with experts from around the state.
Plus, attendees saw first-hand how Six Spoke Bison works its bison herd, an experience
which is impossible to duplicate in a classroom environment.
“The Texas bison industry has experienced tremendous growth in recent years and we
were very excited to offer this new workshop to help new bison producers learn efficient
and humane methods for growing and managing their herds,” says Dan Humphries,
president for the Texas Bison Association.
For upcoming TBA workshops and other events, call 512.778.9092
or visit www.TexasBison.org.
White House, Red Meat
E
njoying America’s original red meat is always a non-partisan
effort. Earlier this spring, bison was the center of attention
during a White House State Dinner honoring British Prime
Minister David Cameron.
President Obama, Cameron, and their invited guests enjoyed a
main course featuring Bison Wellington with Red Wine Reduction,
French Beans and Cipollini Onion.
“There’s no meat more American than bison, and it’s a perfect
healthy choice for entertaining guests at your home or in the
White House,” says Dan Humphries, president of the Texas Bison
Association. “Using bison in the traditional Beef Wellington recipe
really demonstrates how versatile bison meat is and that it is a very
lean alternative whether you’re preparing gourmet dishes, steaks or
even burgers.”
President George
W. Bush first served
bison at a White
House State Dinner,
hosting Mexican
President Vicente
Fox in 2002.
National Association
Honors Texas Producer
T
exas bison producer Donnis
Baggett has been named
2011 Member of the Year by the
National Bison Association. NBA
Past Presidents’ Council Chair
Gail Griffin presented the award
during the 2012 NBA Winter
Conference in Denver, Color.
Baggett was described as “a
great, willing and goto person,
always giving of himself for the
betterment of the NBA and the bison business,” He has served on
the board of the directors for the Texas Bison Association and the
NBA, and he also now serves as NBA vice president.
Three years ago, Baggett recommended the NBA revive its
Government Relations Committee and has served as its chair since.
The committee organized two visits to Washington D.C. by the
NBA in 2011, as well as other government relations activities.
Baggett, along with his wife Beverly Brown, owns Lucky B Bison
in Bryan, Texas.
As a matter of Western heritage, bison and
Texas are partners in time and the Texas
Bison Association is working hard to preserve
the legend. Join the TBA and help us
promote and preserve Texas bison through
leadership, education and building public
awareness for one of the world’s most
resilient and magnificent animals — the
American Bison.
Sign up for a TBA Basic
Membership for only $50 per year.
Or, sign up as an Active Member
for $100 per year and receive
advertising discounts in the
Texas Bison Journal.
New TBA Basic members
receive a one-year subscription to
Texas Bison Journal, TBA cap,
our quarterly eNewsletter and a
TBA key ring to proudly display that
you are helping to preserve a
true American icon — the
American Bison.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
YES, I want to join the Texas Bison Association
❑ $50 Basic Membership
❑ $100 Active Membership
(Basic membership package includes Texas Bison (Texas Bison Journal, TBA cap, TBA
Journal, TBA cap, TBA key ring & newsletter)
key ring, newsletter, voting rights, and
20% discount on advertising in the
Texas Bison Journal.
Name _____________________________________________________________________
Contact Name (if business) ____________________________________________________
Address ___________________________________________________________________
City __________________________________________________ST _____ Zip __________
Phone _______________________________ Email* ________________________________
Mail Payment to:
TEXAS BISON ASSOCIATION
P.O. BOX 10
Liberty Hill, TX 78642
*The Texas Bison Association
delivers special announcements
and alerts via email. Please
include your email so we can
keep you updated on important
industry news and events.
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16 | TEXAS BISON JO 2012
A
mong many undeserved infamies of bison is the myth that they
cannot be contained. This is simply inaccurate and all too
often stated as a matter of fact, which very quickly becomes
misinformation and dogmatic truth. As a matter of provable fact and
with the benefit of four basic needs, bison are extremely easy to
contain on any property incident-free.
The four bison-basics are food, family, water and common sense. The
fourth basic, common sense, is a human element and bison-basic that
can be regionally deficient. I have been diagnosing, documenting and
attempting to treat such deficiencies for the last 15 years and can tell
you without hesitation, that when astray bison occur, deficiencies of
the fourth bison-basic is most likely “the rest of the story.”
One theory that fits very nicely with the myth that bison are not
containable is the migratory behavior assumption. This would work
well, were it not for the observations of conservation pioneers and
ranchers like Charles Goodnight who observed and documented that
the migratory behavior ceased after the Southern Herd was reduced
to a shadow of its former self. Could it be that with the reduced herd
size three bison basics became plentiful and left the fourth bison basic
to make sense of it all? Out of 618 bison farms reported in Texas by the
USDA Census, there have been virtually no astray bison. When it has
occurred, it made the news, while farm animals of every kind went
astray, everyday, as a matter of rural normality.
BISON DON’T REQUIRE HIGH FENCES or other elaborate ‘fortifications.’
As long as the animals’ basic needs are met, a four-foot field fence with two to three
strands of barbed wire on top for a total height of 5 ft. 3-in. to 5-ft, 6-in. tall is usually
recommended.
Another common cause for astray bison, and the
most prevalent among fence damage occurrences
in bison models, is non-bison damage to fences. This
would include drunk drivers and vehicular damage,
washouts and fallen trees. Additionally, in the
North, snowdrifts can be the cause of astray bison,
as well as astray pigs, chickens, cattle, etc. So it
seems on closer examination that fences which are
no longer there, cause the few bison escapes that
actually occur, but because they are not Longhorns,
Herefords or Brangus, they make the news and are
indicted for fence damage and escape.
It’s very common for folks to assume that bison
leap tall buildings with a single bound, and behave
as a destructive and uncontrollable force of nature.
They can posses those qualities and behaviors, but
don’t when their basic needs are met.
My original career choice was cattle. I have seen
cattle do more jumping, attacking and perform more
uncontrollable force-of-nature behaviors than bison.
Plus, cattle have demonstrated a greater tendency
to go astray and damage fences.
Let’s look at a fence like a buffalo might, literally!
Can I see it? Does it look like a barrier? Can I crawl
through it? Can I crawl under it? Can I step or hop
over it? And finally, representing all four basic-bison
needs, why would I?
The answer to the last question is the most
important part of bison fencing and the reason for
a strict protocol when introducing bison to a new
property. That protocol includes a control pasture or
small one- to two-acre trap pasture for the purpose
of getting the newly recruited bison home and
accustomed to ranch operations. The trap pasture
most often features additional precautions like field
fence/net wire and possibly additional stays.
If you are planning on receiving more than 100
head of bison at once, you should consider multiple
control pastures or additional acreage within one,
but limited to 10 acres. Time allowed for bison
introduction to a new property should never be
less than 14 days. It may need to exceed 14 days
depending on their response to ranch operations
and general attitude.
The general attitude you should observe in the
bison before release is behaving contently as
opposed to ‘on edge’ or pacing the fence. It is within
this ‘getting-home’ or introduction phase that you
can get them coming to feed as a routine. This will
be an invaluable tool when gathering your bison
or dealing with astray situations, should it ever
happen. Occasional feedings, as a protocol, will also
contribute to a lack of interest by the bison to the
other side of the fence.
Perimeter fences for bison should be constructed
for reliable containment, which is an axiom that
applies to cattle as well. There are many fence
constructions that work very well, but a four-foot
field fence with two to three strands of barbed wire
on top for a total height of 5 ft. 3-in. to 5-ft, 6-in. tall is
usually recommended. As a consultant, I know that
if a bison operation has this type of fence and there
are containment problems, there is probably more to
the story. At six feet, there will be even less cause
for concern (which is a disclaimer statement, and
something I do not feel is necessary with adequate
bison management in place).
Another option for fence construction that works
well is normal barbed wire construction with five
to seven wires, and 5-ft. 3-in. to 5 ft. 5-in high. All
other considerations for good reliable cattle fence
construction apply such as good braces, threeinch wood or steel posts every 30 to 50 feet, good
quality wire and no gaps left underneath the fence
big enough to allow escape. Basically, if it will hold
OCCASIONAL FEEDINGS will be an invaluable tool when gathering your bison or
dealing with astray situations, should it ever happen. Feedings will also contribute to a
lack of interest by the bison to the other side of the fence.
Brangus, Salers, Brafords or Longhorns, it will hold
bison that are managed correctly.
In many situations it is more feasible to add
materials to an existing unreliable fence, than to
tear it out and build new. A preferred choice for
additional material to existing fence is field fence/
net-wire with the addition of more strands of
barbed wire on top. This is also a preferred new
construction at a height of 5 ft. 3 in. to 5 ft. 6 in. You
can also just add wire, posts and stays until the old
fence line is reliable and tight.
High fence, or game fence, is widely used in
Texas for ranch models that focus on deer and
game species. This is more than
adequate for holding bison at
eight feet and, if your ranch
model is based on game fence,
then a six-foot fence will be more
than adequate for your bison. The
game fence does not work well
for areas in which the bison will
be under handling pressure. The
game fence is not visible enough
and though it will hold them,
bison may jump into it and be
caused unnecessary injury and
stress. Wire fences of any kind
are never recommended in areas
where handling pressure occurs.
Electric wire, or hot-wire,
can be an affective tool for
certain situations with bison but
should never be relied on for
containment by itself. When hotwire is used, barbed wire should
be used in order to penetrate the
hair coat and deliver a deterring
shock. Smooth wire will work if
the bison touch it with their nose
or shorthaired areas, but overall
it is not as effective.
Most accounts from bison managers about
electric bison fencing agree that bison learn quickly
and retain a very healthy respect for wire of any
kind, once they have been shocked by a hot-wire.
For that reason, some bison managers use electric
wire as a training aid during the introduction period
while in the control pasture. However, most bison
managers do not recommend electric wire for more
than an addition to a well built and reliable fence.
Internal or cross fences can be built with less
attention to containment. Rotating pastures can
minimize exposure to internal parasites in bison and
maximize forage production and forage crop health.
The internal cross fences need only be built-up if there
is unauthorized rotation occurring. You will be amazed
at just how little fence will contain bison internally.
Problems arise with internal cross fencing
when you separate family group members from
one another. The behavioral ‘pull of the herd’ will
cause the separated subordinates to exhaust every
possible option for returning to the herd. If your ranch
operations cause this dynamic to exist, it might be
viable by separating the groups by whole pastures.
The distance across a whole pasture, as opposed
to across the wire, seems to suppress behaviors
associated with separation anxiety.
Water gaps and geography will hold cattle
differently than bison. In the case of water gaps,
keep in mind that bison are
intelligent and curious. They may
find opportunity to mess with
things that cattle don’t notice.
For this reason, the construction
of water gaps will be the same,
but the precautions may differ.
Something left swinging for
cattle and held in place by
gravity should be fastened with
something that breaks for debris
and enough water pressure for
bison ranches.
Geographic barriers that hold
cattle may or may not hold bison.
The perspective to apply here
is the fact that the bison are in
their natural home and quite able
and willing to handily negotiate
anything in it. Water may stop
cattle, not bison. Rugged and
steep grades may represent
containment barriers to cattle,
but not bison. If bison are caused
to do any and all things possible
with cloven hooves, they can and
will, if they have to.
At the end of the day, bison fencing and
containment is very easy. However, there are a few
things that should be taken seriously. Food, family,
water and the fact that they are a wild animal are
top considerations. But bison are the most amenable
to containment and management among all the wild
species. Contained and propagated as livestock or
wildlife makes no difference to the buffalo. For them
it’s all about their basic needs, including that fourth
bison-basic need from us, common sense.
It’s very common for folks
to assume that bison
leap tall buildings with a
single bound, and
behave as a destructive
and uncontrollable force
of nature. They can
posses those qualities
and behaviors, but don’t
when their basic needs
are met.
Tim Frasier is bison consultant who has been ‘helping buffalo with
people’ since 1995. He operates Texas Buffalo Exchange and Frasier
Bison in Gainesville, Texas.
T
ransport back to the early 1990’s
and you’ll see a burgeoning wildlife
market in South Texas. Hunting lease
prices and guided hunts began to demand
that ranchers and landowners take notice.
When a threshold of hunting prices was
reached, it triggered a massive land
exchange between working family-owned
ranches and absentee land owners with
only one, or possibly two, desires — deer
and/or quail. Another factor triggering the
exchange was the concept of managing
whitetail deer to produce better herds.
Culling bucks with inferior traits became
commonplace. The frenzy of producing
“super deer” would come less than a
decade later.
This management approach was difficult
when cattle and agriculture reigned
supreme and hunting was tolerated simply
because it was historically a part of South
Texas culture. Hunting and anything
related to it were viewed as recreational
activities and not serious work. When
sleepy, economically depressed towns
began to wake up to hoards of wellfunded, camo-clad weekenders evey fall,
a sort of gold rush began.
Television shows, celebrities, hunting
and fishing super stores, and all walks of
life began to impact South Texas wildlife
resources — and land. Hunting lease
holders where the land owner had little or
no desire to put wildlife before agriculture
began to simply buy ranches as an
alternative. At that time, the first major
change was to remove cattle, agricultural
operations and livestock infrastructure to
work toward a hunting paradise, and with
no need for the land to produce income.
Wildlife management in South Texas continues to evolve on large
hunting operations, and most devoted land owners are seeking an
effective ‘non-cattle’ grazing solution. Enter the amazing American Bison.
by Shawn Vickers
Thus began the alteration of the South Texas
entire deer populations within high fenced ranches
landscape. Brush was deemed valuable, whereas under
and replacing them with deer from breeders brought
the cattle scenario, it was at the center of a battle to
ranches surprisingly close to the livestock operations
keep grazing areas open. The pendulum began to swing
that had been removed in the name of hunting
the other way. Pastures were allowed to go fallow,
wild game. High protein supplemental feed and
and no brush control was the plan. Simply buying land
water became the biggest inputs some landowners
and letting nature take over was the general recipe.
interjected into the system, thereby reducing and even
But as deer management began to mature and receive
eliminating the practice of managing the land.
more direct input from better educated biologists and
Forward to the present and we see a mix of these
early efforts being applied,
savvy landowners, it was
along with more sound
recognized that “some”
scientific methods. The
brush management was
most sensible managers
needed.
today learn from each
Admittedly, a good
success and mistake
portion of this brush
and formulate a hybrid
control effort was geared
approach. These ranches
toward opening areas
produce impressive, healthy
to allow better hunter
herds, superior trophies,
access, food plots to
and more consistent
draw in game, and
hunting opportunities.
aesthetics. However, it
Virtually all native, and
was quickly realized that
some exotic, game thrives
most South Texas wildlife
in South Texas, as does
liked a mix of open areas
the wildlife market. This
and native brush.
scenario is now playing out
During the early stages
of this evolution, the
BRUSH SCUPTING is a standard method for ehancing wildscapes for hunting to varying degrees in all
areas of Texas.
concept of “manage the
operations, however exotic game are not effective grazers for large tracts. Today,
savvy landowners are introducing bison, the only large grazing animal native to All along this evolving
land, not the animal” was
path, remained the land.
born. Backed by huge sums North America, into their land management strategy.
However, missing since
of money, an army of yellow
the beginning was a large
iron began to change the
grazing animal. Most hunting ranches are still without
face of South Texas with one goal — better hunting
cattle and any grazing occurs under the hoof of an
opportunities. Creative and wildlife-tailored brush
exotic, most typically from Africa. With 10 to 20 years of
removal was dubbed “Brush Sculpting” (by this author)
intense, targeted management under their belts, ranch
and was a drastic departure from the total clearing
owners and managers have come full circle and are
procedures used in the past. Modern technologies
now beginning to seek out grazing alternatives.
such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and
Heavy grass cover is an on and off problem that
GPS were employed to create intricate designs that
hampers the goal of hunting management through a
enhanced the edge effect that deer preferred.
High-fenced, dependant wildlife became the
variety of ways. Forbes and “weeds” important to all
responsibility of land owners as population, predators,
types of native game are shaded out by ungrazed grass
food, cover and water needed to be carefully managed.
and unable to produce that important mass of spring
As fragmentation of large ranches into smaller, more
vegetation. Fire hazards are high especially in areas
affordable tracts became the norm, it was discovered
densely covered with aggressive non-native grasses. In
that Mother Nature spawns a limited number of large,
fact, in some cases, the only solution is to burn off the
anomalous bucks. Landowners and hunters spurred
grasses to encourage forbe production. Unfortunately,
biologists and deer managers to somehow artificially
most of these grasses respond vigorously to frequent
alter this natural tendency. The Super Buck was born in
burns. Currently, the trend toward native grass
highfenced breeder pens around the state. Controlled
restoration has led to efforts to eliminate the exotic,
conditions, known genetics, and impatience with the
invasive grasses. Of course, these same grasses were
natural order fueled the race to become the breeder that
highly prized by the cattle ranchers of the past and the
produced the buck with the most total inches of antler.
monocultures they produced.
Each year, experimental breeders far surpassed
Enter the American Bison. As wildlife management
the previous year’s record. Instances of eliminating
continues to reach sophisticated and complex levels,
most seriously devoted land owners are essentially
trying to recreate the past. The lands they now
have control over were very different than they are
today. Some of the past will never be brought back.
Regardless, most land owners do not want to see
cattle operations return and haven’t found exotics to
be effective at grazing large areas. Additionally, the
numbers of exotics that would be required would hardly
complement the native landscape. So bison are on the
table for discussion now.
Bison, and exotics, have the possibility of being
included in the hunting realm as an alternative quarry
— cattle obviously do not. Land owners see bison as
fitting ranches, even more so than cattle when included
in a wild, native game hunting scenario. Regardless
of whether they are occasionally hunted, romance,
nostalgia, and the fact that they are the only large
grazing animal native to North America give bison an
edge over exotics.
The major hurdle within the hunting ranch community
is that bison have the reputation of being a nuisance or
even dangerous. Any livestock-like animal, that is not a
primary hunting species, will be treated as something
wildlife managers would rather not deal with. The
primary redeeming quality of bison to those focused
on deer, quail and other wild game will be their use as
a tool to better manage the land while attempting to
foster native habitats.
To explore the bison alternative, producers should
work with land owners conducting pilot projects,
studies, etc. The wildlife community has proven their
willingness to adapt and invest significant resources
into the science and programs necessary to achieve
their goals. But unless bison myths are dispelled
through firsthand experiences and documented results,
their poor reputation may prevail.
Regardless of perspective and philosophy, the
hunting market is a permanent and powerful force
in Texas. With seasoned and educated land owners
deriving more pleasure from creating sustainable native
ecosystems, bison could become another tool at their
disposal. Within this opportunity for bison and the bison
industry, one must never forget the history and factors
that created it — hunting.
Shawn Vickers is a GIS, Remote Sensing, and Ranch
Planning consultant, based in Seguin, Texas. He serves
as technical advisor to several Groundwater Districts
in Central Texas and numerous wildlife foundations. He
specializes in the application of technologies to wildlife,
ranching, natural resources, and planning. His current
client list comprises 26 million acres of Texas ranchland
and 10 million acres in Tanzania.
Raising bison in West Texas creates unique and
difficult challenges...but they are worth it.
by Charles Addington II
W
hen asked about survival, most people worry about
themselves and what misfortunes have happened to them.
This article is different ibecause it’s about one of the
greatest animals on earth. As a proud member of the Texas Bison
Association, it would be remiss of me not to proclaim how wonderful
bison are but, when you will sacrifice blood, sweat, tears, money, time,
and just about everything else you have because you truly feel that
way, you are saying something.
West Texas is cattle ground and has been for centuries with vast wide
open spaces that currently have fences about every mile. So when we
had the idea of bringing bison here, we received a lot of strange looks.
“Why in the world would you bring a un-fence-able wild creature like
that to this country?” If I heard that phrase once, I heard it 1000 times.
However, when doing the due-diligence about bison it quickly was
discovered that this species was an untouched market. These majestic
creatures were in this country years before there was ever a bovine
cow. They flourished and prospered in this vast land. So with an
untouched market, history of previous success, and determination one
can only conclude that raising bison would be an excellent idea. In
the famous words of Paul Harvey, “Now for the rest of the story.” The
journey to a prosperous production model has been rough. Here are a
few of the bad events in the journey so far.
• Lawsuit. The word alone is nauseating and when you are involved
in one because of people’s ignorance and hatred of an animal that they
don’t even truly know, it only make it worse.
• Death. When your animals, specifically calves, are dying because
of oppressive heat and there is nothing you can do, it is almost
overwhelming.
• Land. When you start with small acreage and then realize that the
size of the pasture land itself is causing problems, then you have to
decide how bad do I really want to ranch.
• Knowledge. When you start learning about a species that is
somewhat foreign to most periodicals and where the science
concerning bison is still based mainly on cattle nutrition and studies,
the learning process is more difficult.
• Stock. Actually acquiring the animals is somewhat arduous due to
finding the animals that will match and work within your herd.
• Facilities. Having the right equipment to do the job. This means being
able to work the bison the way THEY want to be worked and decrease
injuries to as few as possible.
• Feed. Establishing a ration that will provide your bison with the best
nutrition and not bankrupt you to get it.
• Drought. Finally, the one thing that you have no control over that is
probably the worst adversary of all.
The drought from October 2010 to the present has
destroyed our part of the nation unlike any other event
in history. The cattle infrastructure and herds in our area
are at an all-time low and will take many years to rebuild.
Survival of the fittest is a true statement during this crisis.
But the buffalo have remained true. Let’s not forget that
they were here before many of the other creatures and
learned how to survive. It is only when we self-impose
restrictions with fences that we limit the instincts of
survival. With the fences comes our responsibility to the
animal to provide them with whatever they need.
So, when hay must be bought because grass is growing
short and extra supplement has to be purchased to make
up for poor grazing nutrition, then that is when the love of
the animal must be truly discerned.
When comparing bison to cattle it must be brought out
that to replace bison requires a larger process. Since there
are already so few bison in the United States today, to
replace what would have to be killed to make ends meet
is almost unfeasible. So we must find alternatives and
constantly research ways to decrease costs other than by
killing the animals.
Exotic game breeders all over the state will rise and fall
by simply killing off their herds and waiting for the next
cheap auction to replace the animals. Of course, not all
exotic breeders fit that category because there are some
that spend thousands of dollars to maintain their operation.
As mentioned earlier, it will require years to replace the
cattle that have been lost in the last 18 months. But, if
as many bison were eliminated percentage-wise as the
number of cattle, then it would amount to pure genocide.
Our forefathers nearly perfected that strategy 100
years ago. Studies show that there are roughly 200,000
buffalo left in the United States today. Some of those are
in conservation herds, some are in production herds, and
some are in everyday people’s lives as beautiful icons from
the past. What needs to be remembered is that we are all
stewards of the animal and have to take the responsibility
to make sure the bison last.
Developing a production bison herd has been the process
of a lifetime. My entire family has sat around the dinner
table and figured out what the entire family was going
to sacrifice to keep the herd. When the hardest times hit
and the conversation comes to selling cows to make ends
meet, it’s easy to see how much these animals are revered
when the whole family, without descent, decides to give up
whatever is necessary to keep the herd.
We have watched the lands of generations — where
grandfathers worked their fingers to the bone establishing
a ranch — sold and carved up because no one wanted to
do what it took to keep it.
Our herd is not considered an exotic adventure where
we simply get rid of animals in tough times and buy more
later. This is a true part of our family where prayers are still
said over bulls headed to slaughter and tears shed over
the ones that don’t make it. This production model called
Addington Buffalo Company is a true testament to the will
and determination of many people, but my family believes
in the bison and we will forever stand by the animal and
sacrifice as long as we can to preserve, protect, and
promote the greatest animal on earth.
Charles Addington III is the owner and operator of
Addington Buffalo Company.
A showcase of new & exciting products for bison enthusiasts and proud Texans.
Handmade by Cowboy
A pendant can be a powerful force
because it rests in line with your
tongue, throat and heart. This beautiful,
handcut buffalo nickel pendant by
Handmade by Cowboy is highlighted
with 24 kt. gold electroplate, wrapped
with a sterling silver rope and back!
www.HandmadebyCowboy.com
Red Brand Fence
The Official Fence of the Texas
Bison Association, Red Brand has
stood guard protecting on
American farms, ranches and livestock
since 1889. Whether for fulltime
farmers or part-time enthusiasts,
Red Brand is the product of
choice when selecting the best in
farm fence. www.RedBrand.com
The Buffalo Collection
at Scenic Mesa
Part of the new Colorado line from The
Buffalo Collection at Scenic Mesa, this
buffalo leather chair matched with a sofa or
loveseat will bring your living or family room
up-to-date with a nostalgic touch of bison. 10
available colors. www.ScenicMesa.com
Buffalo Gold
Designed to keep your toes toasty all night,
these luxuriously soft women’s bed socks are
made from a bison down blend and have
a reinforced bottom and gentle roll at the
ankle. www.buffalogold.net
Dan Inject Dart Guns
The CO2-powered JM Standard rifle darts at ranges up to 140 yards and an effective range
of over 40 yards. With over 20 years of proven effectiveness, it is made of the highest quality
material, lightweight, quiet, low maintenance and very humane. The JM Standard uses DanInject’s humane system of darts and disposable darts. www.DanInjectDartGuns.com
America’s Original
Red Meat
Photo courtesy Frontier Meats
H
ave you discovered the delicious, healthy taste of bison yet? Bison, or buffalo,
meat tastes similar to high-quality beef with a slightly richer and sweeter flavor.
Nutritionally, bison meat provides more protein and nutrients with fewer
calories and less fat. It’s recommended by the American Heart Association and it’s becoming
more and more popular among health-conscious diners.
Try some of these delicious recipes, submitted by members of the Texas Bison Association.
Dan’s Better Than
Good Bison Goulash
HEART HEALTHY
Submitted by: Dan Humphries, Buffalo Dancer Bison Ranch
1 lb. lean ground Bison
1 large sweet onion, chopped
1 10 oz. can of Ro-Tel diced tomato’s & green chilies (no
need to drain, your choice Hot or Original)
1 box Kraft Mac & Cheese
1 15-oz. can of whole kernel sweet corn (no need to drain,
let simmer to remove juice from corn and Ro-Tel)
2 pinches of red cayenne pepper
1 pinch garlic salt
2 pinches black pepper
1 pinch paprika
In a skillet, slowly cook the ground bison over medium low
heat, until medium rare. Break up meat while cooking. Add
the onions to skillet. In a separate saucepan, prepare the
Mac & Cheese as normal and add it to bison and onions.
Add Ro-Tel and sweet corn to the skillet. Add seasonings
and let simmer on low heat for 25 to 30 minutes with no
lid. Stir occasionally. Some like it hot and some like it the
next day cold, but everybody loves it! Serves 6, under 100
calories each.
Apple Hatch Bison Meatballs
with Smoky Corn Grits
Submitted by: Corey Harris and John Russell, High Country Bison.
This recipe won Central Market’s Hatch Chile Contest.
1 1/2 lb. ground bison meat
1 cup good quality pesto
4 roasted Hatch chiles, seeded and chopped or 2
cans green chilies
1 Granny Smith apple, finely chopped
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon fresh basil, finely chopped
1 tablespoon fresh mint, finely chopped
1 cup pecans, toasted and ground
Salt and pepper to taste
Oil for sautéing
In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients thoroughly,
except oil. Make desired size of meatballs. Cover and
refrigerate. Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet over
medium high heat. Sauté meatballs, in batches until
well browned on all sides. Do not overcook. Serve over
Smoky Corn Grits (see recipe below).
Smoky Corn Grits
Although commonly referred to as ‘buffalo,’ bison has
been a healthy food source for centuries on the North
American continent. Bison delivers a great source
of flavorful red meat that is 97 percent fat free and
contains 40 percent more protein than beef.
Bison meat is nutritionally dense, meaning the
proportions of protein, fat, minerals and fatty acids are
high when compared to its caloric value. Bison meat
also has a great concentration of iron as well as other
essential nutrients.
Compared to grain-fed beed, a six-ounce bison steak
has as about 100 fewer calories. In fact, according to
some fitness experts, you can lose up to 10 pounds a
year by switching to bison!
The American Heart Association recommends eating
bison and has included bison as a lean meat option on
their brochure: An Eating Plan for Healthy Americans
Nutrition Comparison Chart
SPECIES FAT(g) CALORIES(kcal) CHOLESTEROL (mg) IRON (mg) B-12 (mcg)
BISON 2.42g
143
10.15g
219
BEEF (choice) BEEF (select) 8.09g201
PORK 9.66g
212
CHICKEN (skinless)7.41 190
Sockeye Salmon 10.97
216
82mg
86mg
86mg
86mg
89
87
3.42
2.86
2.99
2.65
2.992.64
1.10
0.75
1.21 0.33
0.55
5.80
Bison, separable lean only, cooked, roasted. USDA NDB No. 17157
Beef, composite of trimmed retail cuts, separable lean only, trimmed to 0 fat, choice, cooked USDA NDB 13365
Beef, composite of trimmed retail cuts, separable lean only, trimmed to 0 fat, select, cooked USDA NDB 13366
Pork, fresh, composite of trimmed retail cuts (leg, loin and shoulder), separabel lean only, cooked USDA NDB No. 10091
Chicken, broilers or fryers, meat only, roasted USDA NDB No. 05013
Firfish, salmon, sockeye, cooked, dry heat USDA NDB 15086
• Bison spend most of their lives feeding on grass, so
they are not subject to drugs, hormones or chemicals.
• Eating 5 oz of bison, 3- to 4-times per week can help
most people reduce LDL cholesterol 40 to 45% over six
months.
• Bison meat has fewer calories and less cholesterol
than chicken or fish.
• Bison has much less fat than beef so that you get
much more edible meat for your money.
• Bison does not taste wild like some game meats.
• Bison is the only red meat that is non-allergenic.
• Bison meat cooks faster than beef because there is
far less fat in the meat to insulate it from the heat.
• Bison are the only mammals not to get cancer.
1 quart water
1 1/2 cups cornmeal, medium grind
1/2 cup smoked gouda, grated
1/2 cup Jack cheese, grated
1/2 cup cream
3 tablespoons butter
In a heavy saucepan, bring water to a boil. While
whisking, add cornmeal in a steady stream to boiling
water. Lower heat so that mixture simmers slowly rather
than boils. Using a wooden spoon, continue to stir. Cook
until grits are thick and grains are tender approximately
20 minutes. During the last 5 minutes of cooking, stir in
cheeses, cream and butter. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Bison Lasagna
Submitted by Donnis Baggett & Beverly Brown, Lucky B Bison Ranch
1 1/2 pounds of ground bison
1 large can tomato paste
2 small cans tomato sauce (mushrooms optional)
1 1/2 tbs sugar
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon sweet basil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 carton large-curd cottage cheese
1 can mushroom soup
1 box lasagna noodles
Mozzarella cheese
Saute onions and garlic in a little oil. Add bison meat and
brown. Add tomato paste and tomato sauce. Put a little
sauce in the bottom of the casserole dish. Alternate layers
of noodles, sauce, cottage cheese and soup. Top with a
layer of mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil. Heat one hour
at 350 degrees or until sauce bubbles through. Remove foil
for the last 15 minutes of cooking time. Let sit 10-15 minutes
before serving. Serve with salad, garlic bread and a light
dessert such as sorbet and you’ve got a winning meal.
High Country Bison
Bison Products & Meat Sales
Award Winning Herd
Home of the 2012 NBA Grand Champion Female
John Russell
512.750.4092
Granny Miller’s
Bison Meatloaf
Submitted by Lisa & Benjy Cox, Tai-Pan Station
1 1/2 to 2 pounds ground bison
1 package onion soup mix
3 eggs
1/3 cup hot water
1/2 cup Italian herb bread crumbs
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Optional:
Small can diced chiles
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Small can sliced mushrooms or 1/2 cup sautéed
mushrooms
Any other vegetable of choice
Soak bread crumbs and onion soup in water for 15
minutes. Break up with a fork. Add eggs to mixture. Add
remaining ingredients. Mix thoroughly. Spray the bottom
and sides of a loaf pan. Add meatloaf mixture and pat
down firmly in pan. If using optional ingredients, place
1/2 of the meatloaf mixture in the pan, add cheese and or
vegetables, and top with remaining mixture. Bake at 350375 degrees for 45 minutes.
Spinach Tortilla Bison Lasagna
Submitted by Lynn Mayer, Scrumptious Catering
4 lbs Cooked bison meat loaf or cooked ground bison
Spinach tortillas
32 ounces Pasta sauce
32 ounces salsa
12 oz. Ricotta cheese
2 c. Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Sea salt
2 packages spinach
1 package mini peppers
Cook in separate pans 350° oven, 10 minutes each.
Sprinkle spinach with 2-3 tablespoons olive oil, garlic,
salt and basil. Cut mini-peppers in strips, sprinkle with 2-3
tablespoons olive oil, garlic, salt and parsley. Combined
pasta sauce and salsa and spoon into a 13 x 13 inch pan,
covering the bottom. Place tortillas on the sauce. Place
strips of bison meatloaf or ground bison and mini-peppers
on top of tortillas. Mix ricotta cheese, egg, parmesan,
cinnamon in bowl, then spread over bison and pepper
strips. Add cooked spinach over the top. Repeat the
layers in same sequence until pan is full. Top with spinach
torillas, cooked mini peppers, sauces and sprinkle with
parmesan cheese. Bake in 350° oven until meat thermoter
reaches 155° or for about 45 minutes.
continued on page 34
America’s Original Red Meat
continued from page 33
Smoked Bison Ham
Submitted by Keith Glowka, Buffalo Moon Flutes
For starters, ham is a cured meat; specifically a pork
hindquarter. However, any meat can be cured, and bison is
some of the best meat for it. This recipe gives basic curing
instructions that are tailored for bison meat. The cut you
use is up to you, and the better cuts make a better finished
product. Curing meat is easy. The only difference between
curing and more conventional cooking is one ingredient
(curing salt) and time (about a week). The amounts in this
recipe can easily be scaled up or down, depending on the
size of the cut you are curing. 5 lbs. bison (Choose a cut
that is as close to solid muscle as you can get, avoiding
connecting tissue. A brisket or rump chunk is good, and a
backstrap is sublime!)
5 quarts water
1 cup Kosher or coarse sea salt
11/2 teaspoon InstaCure curing salt (other brands are
fine, but see instructions for the amount to use per
pound of meat)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
5 bay leaves
1/4 cup whole peppercorns
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Crushed red pepper (optional)
To make the brine, place all ingredients, except meat and
curing salt, into a stockpot. Bring to boil, then reduce to
simmer for 10 minutes. Cool mixture to about 40° F, then
stir in curing salt.
Trim meat of excess outer fat, and pierce all over with
a small knife. Place meat in brine inside a large Zip-loc®
bag or plastic container. Do not use metal! The goal is to
keep the meat fully submerged in the brine. A heavy plate
on top may be needed to do this. It’s easy!
Keep meat submerged in the brine for one week, turning
half-way through. Remove meat from brine. Soak in cold
water for 1-2 hours to leach out excess salt (less time
soaking for more saltiness). Remove and pat dry with paper
towels. Set on a wire rack in refridgerator for a few hours
to develop a sheen on the surface. (This sheen is called the
pellicle, and helps create the wonderful smoked flavor!)
Next, smoke the meat for added flavor. A low
temperature smoking in a grill, smoker, or pit for about 3
hours will do. As a last resort, use some liquid smoke.
Move to a pan and cook in oven at 240°F until it reaches
150°F internal temperature. Use a meat thermometer,
because the temperature is important!
Serve with your favorite ham glaze.
Swiss Alp
Buffalo Company
979.247.3405
Proud Member of the TBA Since 1995
tba parting shots
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1. Texas State Senator Craig Estes was honored during the 2011 Texas Bison Conference for his legislative support for the Texas
bison industry. From left, Donnis Baggett, Miko, Bree Worthington, Sen. Craig Estes and Tim Frasier; 2. TBA President Dan
Humphries, at left, and Jack Pearson, owner of Pearson Equipment, attend the NBA Winter Meeting in Denver. 3. Long-time
TBA members Ronny Wenzel, left, and Eric Batchelder man the TBA booth at the Texas Farm, Ranch & Wildlife Expo in
Abilene; 4. Fred and Chris Klecka, right, at the CR Buffalo Valley Ranch; 5. TBA’s John Meng, left, visits with NBA’s Executive
Director Dave Carter during the NBA Summer Conference in Big Sky, MT. 6. Kerr Mitchell of Marfa grows them big in West
Texas; 7. A playful calf at the Bull Dancer Bison Ranch in Navasota, Texas

Texas Bison Journal 2012 - Texas Bison Association

Transcription

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