A snow-capped mountain with rugged slopes and a green forested base, under a partly cloudy sky. The image is of Mt. Joseph which is located in Joseph, Oregon.
A lone bison (buffalo) bull grazing in a vast, open field with mountains in the background under a mostly clear sky.

A RESTORATIVE approach

From “the slope” to “the hills,” all of our bison are locally grown and harvested

Our herd grazes on a system of pastures totaling thousands of acres and teeming with wild grasses and plants, the natural forage of these great animals. Decades of experience ranching this land informs how we supplement native plants with grasses we seed in, how we divide large areas with cross-fencing to maximize grazing efficiency, and how we rotate the sub-herds to prevent overgrazing and damage to soils.

By avoiding the conventional feed rations used in stockyards, Stangel Bison Ranch produces high-protein and flavorful meat without the significant inputs and energy footprint required for grain-fed animals.

For winter feeding, we raise and put up hay right off of the ranch or purchase it locally from trusted neighbors.

A large portion of our land (2200 acres) is also actively in a rotational conservation to ensure our operation can be positive for the environment here in Wallowa County for generations to come.

A smiling man wearing glasses and a cap stands outdoors in front of a rustic farm setting, surrounded by other people with partial views of their faces, holding drinks, with a cloudy sky and rolling hills in the background.

“OUR WORK WITH THESE ANIMALS IS part of a big picture of health—for us and FOR the land.”

— Bob Stangel