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Bison Rancher Ivan Smith

Bison Rancher Ivan Smith

Ivan Smith grew up around cattle, but when he decided to get into ranching himself, bison were his calling. “I never did much research but I really liked the bison story and their history. Then I saw that first bison come off the truck and thought, “Wow, what have I got myself into!”

Ivan has been operating Big Bend Bison Ranches in Red Deer Alberta since 1998 and has seen a lot of changes in those 23 years. Noble got Ivan on the phone to talk about the bison industry, consumer markets and what the future could look like. 

What’s the perception of bison meat out there, compared to when you first started selling your products?

People used to come to the farmers markets and give my bison table a wide berth; they didn’t really understand it. But small industry farms, and bison advocates like Doug and Kelly from Noble are changing that. Now customers come from as far as Yellowknife specifically for bison meat, preferring bison to other protein, and wanting more and more product.

What positive changes have you seen in the industry these last few years?

The bison industry has many cycles – we’re in one now. There have been lots of changes but I would say the right animals are now going to consumers. The availability of animals, the quality, variety and consistency of cuts has allowed us, and others, to grow in the meat market.

How long have you been working with Noble and what do you value about the relationship?

The bison industry is very small but we’re really like a big family. This is my second season with Noble, a relationship that started with a handshake. Doug and Kelly are known in the industry to be straight shooters and I value that, plus the integrity they bring to their business. They’ve been in this industry a long time, know how to weather the ups and downs, and I admire their focus on making this industry sustainable.

Ivan Smith, Big Bend Bison Ranches

What are you hoping for, with regards to the future of the bison industry in Canada?

More federal support for slaughter capacity, for one thing; the backlog is a real problem. The industry is still pretty volatile so more stabilization, like the beef industry is doing, would be welcome. I’d like to see the borders open up for our cuts to go south, and have more access to global markets.

When you’re not out on the ranch, what do you like to do?

Raising bison gives me freedom to spend quality time with my family, play competitive soccer with a bunch of guys half my age, and use my experience and skills to help other producers where I can. Folks call me the bison whisperer because I like to go anywhere the bison are – you could say I’m more comfortable with bison than people.

Across Canada, we’re raising bison alongside ranchers who are invested in so much more than their land and animals. Folks like Nolan, Ivan, and Robert believe that with integrity and transparency, we can build a great industry in Canada. One that benefits producers, marketers and the communities we live in. Visit our ranch, try our premium products, and let us know how we’re doing at  

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Weekends comin’ and you know what that means…b Weekends comin’ and you know what that means…bison burgers on the grill! Check out the recipe on our website for Jerk Bison Burgers with Grilled Corn & Pineapple Salsa 🤩 #eatbettereatbison #bisonburgers #whatsonyourgrill #bbqfamily #maddieandkiki #noblepremiumbison
Congratulations @recipeswithtracey 🤗 You’re o Congratulations @recipeswithtracey 🤗 You’re our Big Box of Bison Winner this month 🥳 Thanks to all of you who entered! Keep following Noble for more new bison recipes every month from your favourite #grillmasters @maddieandkiki and of course a chance to win our next Bison Giveaway! #eatbettereatbison #bbqfamily #noblepremiumbison
Fix those mid week meal doldrums with our Coffee R Fix those mid week meal doldrums with our Coffee Rubbed Bison Striploin! Recipe and Where to Buy Noble on our website! #eatbettereatbison
It’s not very often our Bison Giveaway winners l It’s not very often our Bison Giveaway winners love to grill as much as we do 🥳 stay tuned for our next big Giveaway ‘cause summer grilling season is just getting started! #bisononthegrill #noblepremiumbison #eatbettereatbison
No dinner doldrums here! Go online for our juicy B No dinner doldrums here! Go online for our juicy Bison Brussels Sprout Salad from your fave grill masters @maddieandkiki 🤩
We love us some bison TACOS!! #tacotuesday #eatbet We love us some bison TACOS!! #tacotuesday #eatbettereatbison #noblepremiumbison 🇨🇦 Recipes online! 🥳
Creating a menu with Noble Premium Bison has endle Creating a menu with Noble Premium Bison has endless possibilities!

Visit our website to see how we raise our animals, our commitment to regenerative ranching, and our passion for delivering premium quality🇨🇦 bison meat 🤩

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Whether you’re a professional chef looking to #e Whether you’re a professional chef looking to #elevatetheplate or a home cook ready to try some delicious 🇨🇦 bison, Noble Premium Bison is the best game in town 🤩 Home-grown, ranch-raised, and 💯Canadian #eatbettereatbison
Don’t put that slow cooker away yet! We’ve got Don’t put that slow cooker away yet! We’ve got the perfect recipe for you 😋

Winter or summer, firing up the slow cooker is an easy way to make a meal that’s both tasty and nutritious. Our latest recipe for Cuban-style Bison with Black Beans & Plantain is just that! 

It used to be that ingredients like bison meat and plantains were hard to find, but now you can find both at your favourite retailers. Visit our website for Where-to-Buy Noble Premium Bison across 🇨🇦, and #bison recipes featuring all our home-grown products #eatbettereatbison 

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One of our favourite things is to see what y’all One of our favourite things is to see what y’all are making with Noble Premium Bison! 🤗🇨🇦

Tag us with your next culinary creation or share your own favourite #bison recipe. We’re updating our site every month with new recipes and love to see what our fellow food enthusiasts are whipping up 😋

Visit the Where to Buy link to find Noble nearest you, and thanks for supporting 🇨🇦 bison ranchers #goodfoodstory 

#noblepremiumbison #canadianbison #buycanadian #cdnag #eatbettereatbison #themeat2eat #buylocal #ranchraised #pureprotein #bisonrecipes #eatwellbewell
We love to give away bison meat to our fans and Fo We love to give away bison meat to our fans and Followers, and we’re just getting going!

We’ve picked 3 winners and can’t wait to see what’s on the grill for Ross, Neil and Becca! @baskinsbears @saucyrossybbq @beccathenonna 

Thanks to ALL of you who entered from across 🇨🇦 and let us get to know y’all a bit better! 🤗 Your support for our products means our bison ranchers can keep doing what they do best - regeneratively raising bison on grasslands right here in Canada 🦬 #goodfoodstory 

Follow Us for new recipes, updates on our next giveaway, and how you can tune in to the grill studio with @maddieandkiki

#noblepremiumbison #eatbettereatbison #themeat2eat #canadianbison #getgrilling #grillen #bbqfamily #bbqlover #maddieandkiki #grillstudio #grillmasters #bisonmeat #bisonsteak #bisonburgers
No idea what’s for dinner tonite? We got this! M No idea what’s for dinner tonite? We got this! Make it a movie or game night featuring our 7 Layer Bison Taco Dip 🥳 it really is like a party in a bowl with all those flavours and colours - not to mention the FUN factor! Guaranteed #kidfriendlyfood 👉🏼 Recipe online along with Where-to-Buy your favourite 🇨🇦 bison meat #noblepremiumbison #eatbettereatbison
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