We’re on a mission to deliver high-quality bison, sustainably. But we don’t want to just sustain the planet, we want to make it better. Here’s how TenderBison is making that happen.
We’re committed, not competitive
We prioritize the land and animals we work with. We’re not competing with other ranchers or for profit, which is common in the cattle industry. North American Bison, LLC doesn’t own any Bison; instead, we put all our energy toward sustaining independent ranchers. That way, they can focus on keeping their herds as wild as possible.
Regenerative agriculture is a key practice for our ranching partners. Bison have been an influential part of the region for a long time, laying the foundation for grassland ecosystems across the country. When ranchers mimic the bison’s historic grazing patterns, they restore herds and revitalize the prairie.
Skull Creek Bison, located in Rhame, ND, spends immense time restoring native rangelands. By promoting native grasses and wildlife suited to the land, their bison can graze more sustainably. They’re just one of our many partners devoted to better ranching practices; read more about the ranch in our full profile.
TenderBison’s partner ranchers are a team working toward a common goal: to deliver high-quality protein without sacrificing respect or humanity. Competition has no place in our mission, but sustainability does.
Bison do it better
Compared to cattle, bison are naturally more sustainable. Because of their grazing habits, they help to restore the prairie — the most endangered ecosystem in North America — in many ways.
According to modernfarmer.com, Bison love to eat bark, which stunts tree growth. This means trees stay low and won’t shade out the sun-loving grasslands. While cattle graze on almost anything that grows, causing deforestation, bison are much pickier. They opt for grasses, not forbs, which account for most of the prairie’s biodiversity. When they’re done eating and it’s time to take care of business, Bison revitalize the soil with nitrogen, a much-needed nutrient for plant growth. The bison’s build also makes them a friend to the prairie. Their cloven hooves naturally disturb the topsoil, incorporating organic matter to encourage plant growth.
Thanks to the bison’s grazing habits and our ranchers’ sustainability goals — TenderBison is positively impacting the environment.
We partner smarter
Bison is our only business, and our ranchers are no different. We want to work with ranchers who know bison through and through, not those who raise other breeds of livestock. We’re proud to work with so many family businesses that align with our values: putting the animals first, respecting native lands, and giving back to the planet.
Our friends at Hidden Bison Ranch enjoy the partnership as well. “Through a lot of hard work and dedication, we’re excited to be able to live out our dreams of being surrounded by bison while providing a sustainable product to our customers,” said owners, the Meyers. Specific to sustainability, the Meyers prioritize rotational grazing and source local feeds for the bison. The farm’s motto? “If we take care of the bison, they will take care of us.” We feel confident that all our partners agree.
