Noble Bison logo-dark logo_words
Contact Us
en English
en Englishfr Frenchda Danishnl Dutchde Germanhu Hungarianit Italianpl Polishes Spanishsv Swedish
Noble Bison logo-dark logo_words
Contact Us

Home » Bison Blog » Bison Producer Keegan Kitzul

All Posts
Bison Producer Keegan Kitzul

Bison Producer Keegan Kitzul

With the rising cost of food, consumers are even more discerning about what they put in their shopping cart. Knowing who’s behind the product they buy and what goes into making it, helps retailers and consumers make informed decisions.

As part of our ongoing bison story, we’re introducing our clients, chefs and customers to some of the dedicated producers behind our product. So, meet Keegan Kitzul.

Keegan may be one of our youngest bison producers but he’s by no means wet behind the ears. A fifth generation farmer, Keegan is taking the knowledge and experience of his parents and grandparents before him, and applying it to his business of growing crops and raising bison.

We caught up with Keegan this month, after a delayed honeymoon in Bali with his wife Kendall, to ask him a few questions about being a bison producer in Canada.

You’re clearly one of the new generation of bison producers. How did you get into this business?

For me, it started when I was basically a kid, working for my dad on the farm one summer. He said, “do you want to get paid in cash or with a buffalo?” Of course, I took the buffalo calf, and looking back, I see that I was severely underpaid. But from then on, I was hooked.

My family got into bison in 2000, after my grandpa developed some health issues and was looking to move away from the cattle part of the farming operation. Dad wanted elk, grandpa wanted bison; it was something pretty new at the time, not a commodity, and they were easier to raise. You can see who won out.

When grandpa passed away in the fall of 1999, my parents bought our first bison the next spring, thinking it would be more of a hobby, with 20-30 bison. Twenty-three years later, I have 1100 head on Roaming K Bison ranch in Saskatchewan.

When considering bison, did their ability to regenerate the land impact your family’s decision?

That was definitely a part of it. In the early 90s, we diversified back into livestock from only grain farming, realizing how beneficial grazing animals are. There was a lot of marginal land on our farm too, that couldn’t be fully utilized with grain farming. With livestock, we can utilize the whole thing. By adding grazing animals, the revenue per acre improved but just as importantly, so did the health of the land. Grazing bison instead of cattle helped to regenerate that land even more.

By keeping bison on the land in the winter, we get some nutrients back in the soil and end up with a better cash crop the following year. Bison are a great tool for increasing our bottom line at the end of the year; as much as bison are a great addition to the land, we need to be profitable to keep them there.

Have you seen specific improvements on your land since you started raising bison?

We integrate the bison into our operation as much as we can, to get the soil healthier and less reliant on synthetics. We have real lively soil in the samples we take on a regular basis. On land that we winter and rotational graze the bison through, the samples are phenomenal; the agrologists can’t believe the amount of organic matter in the soil. Which is great because that’s what we’re striving for.

Some of the new land we’ve recently fenced has only been grain farmed and never had bison on it. We’ll soil sample this year to get a baseline, and track the data in the coming years. We’re optimistic that the bison can regenerate this land, too. We’re trying to get more diligent at sampling on a regular basis, so that we can use the bison more and fertilizers less.

Some of our customers ask us why we grass raise and grain finish. How does that work on your farm?

It takes a lot of grass to finish one bison, and we don’t have the land base to do that. We also have really cold winters here in Canada and although the bison are very hardy, it helps them get through the winter. The oats and barley we add to the mix is essentially grass that’s gone to seed, so we give that seed back to the bison, along with straw and forage. So, in that sense, they’re finishing on what they normally eat.

The market is adapting to consumer demand, and that includes the feed industry. Before we even plant a crop, we have to commit to raising it without pesticides, and we pass that commitment and accountability onto the consumer. All our grain gets tested to make sure there’s nothing in it that shouldn’t be. And our cereals don’t get sprayed for pests because there’s really nothing harming them.

People put a lot of trust in the companies they buy their product from, so it’s important to know who they are and what goes into making the product.

How long have you been supplying bison to Noble?

I’ve been raising bison for Noble since Doug (Griller) and Kelly (Long) started the company in 2016, but I’ve known Doug since I was a little kid. He and my dad got into bison about the same time. I always admired Doug and the way he grew his business. Whatever he said he would do, he did, and very successfully. When we heard he was getting into marketing bison through Noble, it was a breath of fresh air for the industry; that we finally had a marketer really going to the table and showing what we can produce as an industry.

What’s the value of the marketer in the equation?

There’s farmers and marketers – say no more. We need their help to get our product to market and the value with Noble – and Kelly – is that they know how to market very well. It’s a big job. You need a great team, you need the resources to process humanely, you need to deliver a consistently safe and quality product. And you need to keep promoting the industry as a whole.

For Canadian consumers to finally be exposed to Canadian bison meat on a national level is great. Bison is a part of the conversation now, and as producers, we need to do our part at a grassroots level to promote bison. In the grocery store, I’ll see someone holding up a grass fed beef steak, then pick up the Noble bison steak, weighing out the options. So, I say, “get the bison!” When they ask why, I tell them what I do and why bison is so great.

What is one of the most rewarding things about working in the bison industry?

One of the benefits of the industry is that we’re pretty small – more like a big family. Most everyone gets along and we can strategize, socialize, and support one another. At the end of the day, we’re all working for the same common goal – to sell bison. We need each other to do that and we need to keep telling our story, because it’s a good one.

Instagram

noblepremiumbison

Canadian producers/suppliers of sustainable bison meat, pasture-raised on nature’s grassland. No hormones or antibiotics. Retail 🇨🇦 DM for Foodservice

Noble Premium Bison
From ribeye to steak cubes, we’ve got so many ta From ribeye to steak cubes, we’ve got so many tasty bison cuts to choose from #eatbettereatbison
Check it out y'all! Stuffed Shells with Bison Vodk Check it out y'all! Stuffed Shells with Bison Vodka Sauce #newrecipe #superyum
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Your Favourite Female #grillmasters @maddieandkiki will be going LIVE at 12pm EST this Friday to show us another amazing way to crush it in the kitchen – with bison! What better way to start the weekend than with a little bison/maddieandkiki fix 😀🎉
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Head to our Where-to-Buy online so you can pick up your Noble Premium Bison Steak Cubes and cook along! #eatbettereatbison
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#noblepremiumbison #canadianbison #bisonmeat #steakcubes #themeat2eat #healthymeat #pureprotein #grassraised #regenerativebynature #nohormones #noantibiotics #eatwellbewell #bisonrecipe #maddieandkiki
It's easy to make the switch – to bison! ⠀⠀ It's easy to make the switch – to bison! 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Bison meat has a sweet rich flavour that will get your mouth watering! But some of what's best about bison meat is what you don't see or taste. Bison meat has less fat so is more nutrient-dense that beef. And, our bison are grass raised without the use of antibiotics or hormones, by Canadian farmers who care for the land as much as the bison 🌾 #goodfoodstory
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Visit our Where-to-Buy for a retail store in Canada near you and #eatbettereatbison
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#noblepremiumbison #canadianbison #bison #bisonmeat #bisonburger #healthymeat #pastureraised #themeat2eat #sustainableproducts #cdnag #sustainableagriculture #regenerativebynature #eatwellbewell
So, what's the buzz with bison and regenerative ra So, what's the buzz with bison and regenerative ranching?
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The trend towards buying products that are sustainably raised continues to grow, and for good reason. Eating bison meat regenerates a healthy planet, restoring Canada’s grasslands and ensuring bison’s survival. But what does ‘regenerative ranching’ mean?
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Universally called “regenerative agriculture,” this promising agricultural methodology promotes multiple practices aimed at building soil health that can improve agricultural lands and ultimately sequester carbon. Grasslands are second only to Earth’s oceans in their ability to sequester carbon, and bison are helping them do that.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
To learn more, and meet some of our producers, visit our website at noblepremiumbison.com
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#noblepremiumbison #canadianbison #goodfoodstory #regenerativebynature #healthyplanet #soilhealth #grasslands #carboncapture #sustainableproducts #sustainableagriculture #climateheroes #eatbettereatbison #themeat2eat @canadianbisonassociation
It's not Hump Day! It's High Five the Home Chef Da It's not Hump Day! It's High Five the Home Chef Day!😀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Put bison meat on the menu at your house, and get ready for some big smiles around the table. Bison meat is slightly sweeter and richer tasting than beef, but is cooked in much the same way. When grilling, just remember bison is leaner than beef so needs less time on the #bbq 🥩
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Check our website for Tips and Suggestion, as well as Recipes for all our tasty bison steaks, cubes and ground. Available at retail right across Canada 🇨🇦 Find a store nearest you on our Where-to-Buy link.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#noblepremiumbison #canadianbison #bisonrecipes #pureprotein #grassraised #themeat2eat #healthymeat #eatbettereatbison #sustainableproducts #regenerativebynature #homechefs #grilling #bbqfamily
Don't wait for the Easter bison to tuck into these Don't wait for the Easter bison to tuck into these 'eggs' 😋
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Another deliciously creative recipe from Canada's Favourite Female Grillmasters and #bisonmeat lovers @maddieandkiki 👍 These Smoked Bison Scotch Eggs are a great way to use Lean or Extra Lean Ground bison - and what a protein hit! You'll find the recipe on our website, along with Where-to-Buy all our #sustainablyraised products across Canada 🇨🇦 #eatbettereatbison
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#noblepremiumbison #canadianbison #bisonrecipes #scotcheggs #groundmeat #bison #themeat2eat #healthyprotein #grassraised #hormonefree #antibioticfree #noadditives #pureprotein #maddieandkiki #onthegrill #bbqfamily
Follow your passion and never let anyone tell you Follow your passion and never let anyone tell you it can’t be done 💯
#internationalwomensday #womeninfood #cdnag
Time for some crunchy Bison taco supremes!! #tacot Time for some crunchy Bison taco supremes!! #tacotuesday
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
These are as fun to eat as they are delicious! Head to @costco_canada for our new triple pack of Extra Lean Bison and you’ve got a taco party 🌮🌮🎉 Recipe on our website #eatbettereatbison
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#noblepremiumbison #canadianbison #bison #bisonrecipes #maddieandkiki #crunchytacos #tacotime #funfood #kidfriendlyfood #eatwellbewell #dieticianapproved
We raise bison because it's a good food story 🌎 We raise bison because it's a good food story 🌎🌾
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Noble's Canadian producers strongly support their local communities and economy. When you purchase our sustainable bison products, you're supporting those communities, and regenerative ranching too. #eatbettereatbison
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#noblepremiumbison #canadianbison #bison #regenerativebynature #cdnag #goodfoodstory #sustainableagriculture #grassraised #farmfamilies #eatwellbewell #themeat2eatforahealthyplanet
Sometimes you just feel like a great STEAK 😋 #e Sometimes you just feel like a great STEAK 😋 #eatbettereatbison
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We've got you covered! Our Bison Striploin, Top Sirloin, Ribeye and Inside Round are all available at retail right across Canada.🇨🇦
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Bison is #themeat2eat for a healthy planet. Our #bison are raised regeneratively on Canadian grasslands, without the use of hormones or antibiotics. Their natural grazing habits feed the soil which helps with both biodiversity and carbon capture. 🌾🌎
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But let's get back to that STEAK! Tasty, lean and nutritious, you'll find great recipes and tips on how to cook the perfect steak on our website – plus Where-to-Buy all our #sustainable products!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#noblepremiumbison #canadianbison #bisonsteak #steak #getgrilling #bbqtime #bbqfamily #grillmasters #eatyourmeat #pureprotein #ketofriendlyfood #bisonrecipes #healthymeat #grassraised #regenerativebynature
CHEF TIP: The bison Tri-Tip will #ElevateThePlate CHEF TIP: The bison Tri-Tip will #ElevateThePlate and your bottom line!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Named for its triangular shape, the tri-tip is a hidden gem from the bottom of the sirloin primal - with the same great flavour characteristics 😋
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
From Back Ribs to Brisket, Tri-Tip to Teres Major, #chefs will love the advantage our Creative Cuts give you. These under-utilized bison cuts are a game changer, offering intrigue and increased profitability 💯 #eatbettereatbison
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Contact info@noblepremiumbison for more details on how you can put premium Canadian bison on the menu 🇨🇦
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#noblepremiumbison #canadianbison #hospitality #chefsofinstagram #topchefs #topchefcanada #catering #grillmasters #tritip #bisonmeat #themeat2eat #regenerativebynature
Who doesn’t love food on sticks?! Especially whe Who doesn’t love food on sticks?! Especially when it’s bison 💕
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We think everything tastes better when it’s served on a stick! Food that’s easy to make, fun to serve and SUPER tasty is a winner at our house 💯 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Head to our website for loads of great recipes plus Where -To-Buy our #sustainablyraised bison products 🇨🇦
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#noblepremiumbison #canadianbison #eatbettereatbison #themeat2eat #grassraised #hearthealthy #pureprotein #bisonrecipes #meatballmonday #healthyfastfood #familymeals
Load More… Follow on Instagram

Tag Cloud

anuga / bison / bison recipes / bisonsteak / bisonvsbeef / branding / buffalo / canadianbison / chefs / climatechange / entertaining / foodies / foodservice / gobeyondbeef / grasslands / hospitality / kelly long / know your supplier / knowyourbison / nutrition / online / packaging / rangeland / recipes / regenerative / retail / sirloinsteak / steak / sustainable / tomahawksteak / values / wheretobuy / wheretobuybison

Featured posts

5 Reasons to Buy Bison and Why It May Be The Meat of The Future featured image

5 Reasons to Buy Bison and Why It May Be The Meat of The Future

Alberta Grasslands: Where The Buffalo Roam Again featured image

Alberta Grasslands: Where The Buffalo Roam Again

Bison is the Best Meat to Eat and Save the Planet featured image

Bison is the Best Meat to Eat and Save the Planet

Recent Posts

The Journey to Building a Brand article image

The Journey to Building a Brand

The journey to building a brand always starts at the same place—with a dream. A …

Showcasing bison to Chefs at SIAL article image

Showcasing bison to Chefs at SIAL

Noble Premium Bison joins the Canadian Bison Association at SIAL Oct 15-19 in Paris, France …

Bison Conservation: Hope for the Future article image

Bison Conservation: Hope for the Future

With Wes Olson, everything begins and ends with a story. “They annoyed me,” Wes said, …

View All Posts

Footer

Quick Links

  • Recipes
  • FAQs
  • Where to buy
  • Where to buy in Quebec
  • Where to buy in Montréal
  • Where to buy in Ottawa
  • Where to buy in Toronto
  • Where to buy in Winnipeg
  • Where to buy in Calgary
  • Where to buy in Edmonton
  • Where to buy in Vancouver

Legal

  • Privacy Policy

Contact Us

  • +1 825-509-1436
  • Calgary, Canada T2Y 4S6

Email Updates

Enter your email address here to receive news, recipes and more!

LET'S CONNECT​

We invite you to engage with us on social media, so we can answer all your questions and share all those fantastic recipes and photos! Tag your posts #eatbettereatbison and we’ll be sure not to miss you!