Ray Thieman of Prairie Ridge Buffalo is the 2024 National Bison Association (NBA) Member of the Year. The honor was presented during the association’s recent winter conference. NBA members have the ability to nominate someone for the honor. The NBA Past Presidents’ Council is then tasked with collecting nominations and selecting the recipient of the annual award.
“Ray focused his time, effort and energy into creating a business for his family and creating many successful relationships with others in the industry. He has also graciously offered his time and expertise as a board of director for two terms. Today his operation spans three generations and is truly a family business with successful
agritourism, hunting and ranching enterprises. He continues to pass his love and passion of the bison industry down to these new producers and his family,” said Chad Kremer, representative of the Past President’s Council.
Thieman and his wife, Debbie, started Prairie Ridge Buffalo near Limon, Colorado in
What began as a small hobby ranch has turned into a diversified operation spanning three generations featuring nearly 800 bison on 15,000 acres. The Thieman family has shown strong support of the NBA over the years, with Ray serving on the association’s board of directors. In one of his nominators noted, “Throughout his time in the NBA he has helped foster the idea of helping each other become better stewards of Bison within this organization. He has opened his doors, answered questions, and fostered relationships with both new producers and old
friends throughout his time in the NBA. He has taken these new members under his wing and helped them create strong and sustainable bison ranches.”
Said Thieman, “I sure do appreciate this honor. It is a friendship organization and we look so forward to coming every year just for the friendship. I appreciate the honor, thank you.”