North American Bison LLC Works to Maintain Herd Sustainability for North Dakota Bison Industry
In partnership with: North Dakota Department of Agriculture
The story of the majestic American bison is woven deep within our nation’s history, from the verge of extinction to a remarkable comeback. Now, ranchers and family farms in North Dakota and other parts of the United States are raising them, helping create a sustainable food source.
In New Rockford, a small town with a population of only 1,520 residents, a sense of pride can be found amongst the employees of North American Bison LLC for their efforts in the growth and success of the bison industry.
This healthy, humanely raised and all-natural protein product is in high demand among consumers.
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Investing Locally
Working with 65 independent ranchers total, 30 of which are in North Dakota, Jim Wells, North American Bison CEO and president, feels strongly about the work he and the company’s employees are doing through efforts to support regenerative farming and increase growth in the bison herd, as well as the industry.
“Having a true concern for the land and keeping it healthy, as well as the regeneration of the bison herd, are two things that strike me as very powerful,” Wells says. “Bison is the healthiest protein product that consumers can find out there, and there’s a high demand for it, globally and stateside.”
Operating under the TenderBison brand, the higher demand for the product meant looking for better and more sufficient ways to increase the number of bison harvested per year, in addition to other changes to the processing plant in New Rockford.
All of this resulted in the North American Bison plant’s $8.4 million expansion. Being the largest employer in the town, the company focused on many changes during the expansion, with the biggest investment utilized to improve the freezer and cooler areas. However, all the expansion focused on employee welfare and an improved work environment.
“We spent a lot of money on reconfiguring the plant with custom workstations where employees can adjust their workstation for height and other factors,” Wells says. “We also installed a lot of hydraulic equipment and lift equipment. The improvements we implemented were centered around making the jobs for our employees less physically demanding.”
The company also prioritized comfortable spaces for workers to recharge in their downtime.
“We also added an employee welfare area where we built a gorgeous lunchroom and breakroom and expanded the office spaces,” Wells says.
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Quality in High Demand
Shanna Johnson, North Dakota Department of Agriculture international and domestic marketing coordinator, works with North American Bison and other local companies at domestic and overseas shows.
“Trade shows are all over the U.S. and the world,” Johnson says. “It’s a really big community. Both international and domestic buyers come to the domestic shows, and there is a ton of opportunity to get your product out into the world by going to both types of trade shows.”
North Dakota has a reputation for producing quality products, which puts the state’s commodities in demand at the trade shows. These products are available in grocery stores and served in restaurants in the states as well as globally.
“North Dakota is special in that we are known for great quality,” Johnson says. “We have good air and soil quality, which makes our crops exceptional and our ingredients better than the rest.”
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