If you've made it this far into our ranch notes, you might be wondering: So when can I actually buy some bison?

The short answer is 2027. The longer answer is the reason this post exists.

Why we're not in a hurry

Bison are not a fast business. They grow more slowly than most cattle, heifers usually don't have their first calf until they're two or three years old, and building a healthy, sustainable herd takes years, not months.

We could have tried to rush things. Instead, we decided to do it the way we'd want it done if we were the ones buying: let the herd grow at its own pace, raise the animals well, take care of the land, and only bring bison to your table when we're confident it's something we're proud of.

What we're working on

Between now and our first harvest, our focus is simple:

Growing the herd. Our founding 24 are the foundation. Every calf born on the ranch helps the herd grow stronger and more self-sustaining.

Caring for the land. Healthy pastures mean healthy bison. We're learning how our ground responds to grazing, rest, water and weather, season by season.

Learning the craft. Through the Montana Bison Association and neighboring ranchers, we keep learning from people who've raised bison for generations.

Doing it right from start to finish. When the time comes, we want every step, from pasture to processing to your kitchen, to reflect the same care we put into raising the animals.

Why bison?

People choose bison meat for a lot of reasons. It's known for being a rich, flavorful red meat that tends to be leaner than many cuts of beef. Many people also like knowing their meat comes from an animal raised on open pasture, close to the way it would live in the wild.

For us, the biggest reason is personal: we want people to know exactly where their food comes from, and who raised it.

Why we started this website now

You might think it's a little unusual to launch a ranch website a year before having anything to sell. That's intentional too.

We'd rather you get to know us first. We want you to see the herd grow, read about calving season and winter storms, and meet the family behind the name. That way, when our bison is finally ready, it won't be coming from a stranger. It'll be coming from the family down the road in the Bitterroot Valley that you've been following along with.

How to be first to know

If you'd like the first word when our bison is ready for your table:

• Join our email list. It's at the bottom of every page. We send a few emails a season, nothing more: ranch updates, new calves and the news when meat is available.

• Follow along on Instagram. Our account is coming soon, and we'll share it here as soon as it's live.

• Say hello. Questions about the herd, the ranch or bison meat in 2027? Write to us anytime at TripleTBison@gmail.com.

Something good is grazing in the Bitterroot. We can't wait to share it with you.