Rapid City, SD — This Saturday, November 7, marks the 15th annual National Bison Day! Bison stewards from across the country will celebrate our National Mammal of the United States–the bison–at farms and ranches, parks and zoos, tribal communities, and beyond. The United States Senate passed the observance in a resolution on September 30, as introduced by Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).
Since 2012, the United States Senate has annually designated the first Saturday in November as National Bison Day. This resolution started as a collaboration between the InterTribal Buffalo Council, the Wildlife Conservation Society, and the National Bison Association. These three organizations championed the enactment of legislation in 2016 designating bison as the National Mammal of the United States and represent the three major stakeholder groups in bison restoration: tribal, conservation, and commercial.
The President signed the National Bison Legacy Act on May 9, 2016, making the North American bison the official National Mammal of the United States. This is a great milestone for an animal that once faced extinction and played a central role in America’s history and culture while shaping the North American Great Plains. Today, bison live in all 50 states, Canada, and Mexico, and serve as a symbol of unity, resilience, and healthy lifestyles and communities.
Today’s bison producers are stewards of the land, replicating the species’ innate grazing behavior through regenerative ranching practices that support healthy grasslands, biodiversity, and rural livelihoods. Bison are “Regenerative by Nature”—undomesticated animals that retain their natural instincts, birth cycles, and self-sufficiency. They are not artificially inseminated, do not receive growth stimulants, and are raised without branding, castration, or selective breeding. This approach ensures humane treatment that preserves the species’ integrity while producing lean, nutrient-dense meat that has become a sought-after delicacy among chefs and households alike.
Bison’s unique role in sustainable agriculture has positioned it as a thriving sector in the American marketplace. Bison meat is entirely born, raised, and processed in the United States and Canada. As consumer demand grows, so does the need for more bison producers. The NBA is actively recruiting new bison stewards who adhere to its ethical standards and holistic management practices.
As we celebrate National Bison Day, we honor not just the animal itself, but the collaborative spirit that saved it, the regenerative practices that sustain it, and the communities that continue to champion its success. Join us in recognizing the American Bison—a living symbol of resilience, restoration, and regeneration.
About the NBA
The NBA is a member-based non-profit association of producers, processors, marketers, and bison enthusiasts. The mission of the National Bison Association is to bring together stakeholders to celebrate the heritage of American bison, to educate, and to create a sustainable future for our industry. Learn more at nationalbison.org, or @nationalbison.