July 1, 2026 (Rapid City, SD) – The National Bison Association announced the annual kickoff of July Bison Month today, encouraging consumers to add this uniquely American, delicious, humanely raised, supremely healthy protein to their regular diets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The American Bison, whose population once exceeded 30 million animals across North America, was decimated to near extinction in the late 19th<\/sup> century through a combination of hunting, slaughter, drought, and introduced disease. However, the bison have made a tremendous comeback and now number over 400,000 across the continent. This is thanks to a unique collaboration among American farmers and ranchers, Native American tribes, and conservation groups all working to restore the species to its historic range. It is this collection of bison stakeholders that also successfully lobbied to make the American bison the first-ever National Mammal of the United States in 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By adding bison to your diet, you are eating a delicious, naturally raised, nutrient-dense protein that is healthy for you and good for the environment. In choosing bison, you are helping to restore herds to North American grasslands while supporting regenerative agriculture. In short, by supporting bison ranchers, consumers are in turn supporting grassland regeneration, carbon sequestration, soil regeneration, increased biodiversity, and more bison on the landscape!<\/p>\n\n\n\n July Bison Month, while not a federally designated observance, is celebrated each July by the bison community and is a time in which bison stewards promote the delicious taste of bison burgers, steaks, ribs, and roasts as a summer grilling treat. Bison is the leanest protein commercially available to consumers today, which is supremely nutritious with 26% more iron and 87% lower in fat than conventional beef, for example. Bison has 766% more B12 vitamins than chicken and 32% less fat based on nutrient data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Bison is easier to find than ever, with all major grocery chains carrying at least ground bison, packaged steaks, and fresh cuts available at natural and specialty food stores, local butchers, etc. Bison is also showing up on more restaurant menus, and not just bison burgers, as chefs discover the versatility of this uniquely American protein. And that\u2019s not to mention bison\u2019s growing prevalence online, at farmers\u2019 markets, farm stores, and in CSA programs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Find a local bison producer near you, or order online with the National Bison Association\u2019s handy online buyer\u2019s guide, available at https:\/\/nationalbison.org\/buying-bison-meat\/, and find bison-specific recipes, nutritional data, cuts, and instructional cooking videos at https:\/\/nationalbison.org\/how-to-cook-bison\/. <\/p>\n\n\n\n