"Eat Bison to Save Bison"

FULTON COUNTY — Passing through the sprawling countryside on Country Road 4 just north of Swanton in northern Fulton County, you may catch a glimpse of one of roughly 45 bison that roam Bracy Gold Bison Ranch. The ranch is owned by Stacy Nofziger, who has converted 55 acres of cropland into a pasture for North America's largest land mammal. The bison graze year round in sunshine, rain or snow, munching on grass and hay in the winter. The ranch relies on regenerative farming, an approach designed to improve soil health, prioritize animal welfare and restore ecosystems. Nofziger became a bison rancher after her ex-husband expressed interest in raising the species. "He mentioned he wanted to raise bison," she recalled. "I'd been in the zookeeping business and I'm also a vet tech, so I thought, 'Alright, let's do it.' We chose bison because they're incredibly nutritious, they're native to North America, and they help regenerate the landscape rather than take away from nature." Purchasing the property in 2018, Nofziger and her ex-husband transformed the farmland into a carefully managed ecosystem. They put up electric fencing, divided pastures into paddocks, and installed automatic water stations in the center of each field. "We started out with nothing," Nofziger said. "After we bought the farmland we built it from the ground up." The ranch uses a rotational grazing system to ensure all bison are able to eat what they need and still have enough forage to bale into hay for the winter. Every few days, the herd moves to a new paddock, giving the grass time to regrow. This cycle attracts an array of birds and pollinators, helping regenerate a pocket of wildlife in the area. Unlike most ranches, Nofziger brings in a wealth of scientific knowledge with a zoology degree and experience as a vet tech. A few years ago, she noticed that her herd was losing condition without explanation. Using her expertise, she was able to pinpoint the problem. "I was able to use my scientific background to send out samples to different laboratories," Nofziger said. "I found out that I had a copper deficiency in my herd." Her findings led to a research partnership with South Dakota University to study mineral content in bison east of the Mississippi. With $10,000 secured in funding, the project, led by Dr. Phillip Urso, is working to establish nutritional standards for bison, something Nofziger says is lacking in the community. "There hasn't been much done on bison nutrition that would help a bison rancher," Nofziger said. "They're starting to get into that now to build those baselines and give veterinarians information that would help them help us." Nofziger said raising bison is drastically different from cattle due to their stubborn nature. "They will pretty much do what they want," Nofziger said. "You have to kind of convince them to think they want to do what you want them to do. You can't force a bison to do anything, they're very stubborn and willful." Bison at Bracy Gold are grass-fed and grass-finished, with no added hormones or antibiotics. Cuts available for purchase include ribeye, tenderloin, brats, burger patties and organ meats. The meat is much leaner than traditional beef, with just two grams of fat per serving compared to a beef's eight or 10. It also contains a higher content of vitamin B12 and iron. Contrary to the belief that bison meat is tough, Nofziger said it ranks high in tenderness if cooked correctly. "If you were to cook it too hot or too long, it'll get really tough," Nofziger said. "That's where people have experienced tough bison. If cooked right, it has a more intense flavor and is a little bit sweeter without the fattiness of beef." Beyond meat, the ranch sells bison wool socks and occasionally skulls, hides and horns. The ranch also extends its services to tent and RV stays. Through Hipcamp, visitors can book a stay at the ranch and walk along the trails near the bison pastures. In April through November, guests can schedule a tour into the pasture on a tractor-drawn wagon that can hold up to 14 adults. The tour lasts 45 minutes to an hour and costs $10 per person with a $40 minimum. At Bracy Gold Bison Ranch, bison are more than just livestock, but keystone species in our ecosystem. Their motto, "Eat bison to restore bison," reflects their mission to restore the animal to North America, increasing soil health and the diversity of native plants and animals. "It's North America's original red meat, choosing to eat bison enables farmers like myself to keep bison around and continue to breed them and help them come back from the near extinction that they had in the past," Nofziger said. In the late 1800s, the bison population had dropped to fewer than 1,000. Efforts made by the National Bison Association, public herds and private ranchers like Nofziger have now restored the population to more than 450,000 in North America. For more information on Bracy Gold Bison Ranch, visit bracygoldbison.com.