Join us for a two-day, jam-packed weekend of all thing’s bison. On Friday, September 12th, we spend the afternoon in Sheridan, WY where we will visit Western Heritage Meat Company to tour their USDA processing facility, smokehouse, and see a bison carcass processing demonstration. We will then travel a few minutes away to tour a University of Wyoming Extension research plot for controlling invasive grasses. A short distance away we will tour JG Bison and their small ranching operation. That night we will feast on a bison BBQ by NOLA Catering & Private Dining under the relaxing Wyoming sky (please bring your own chair).
Saturday morning, we will be in Thermopolis, WY to tour the public bison herd and handling facilities at Hot Springs State Park. We will enjoy a nice bison burger lunch at One Eyed Buffalo Brewing Company. After lunch we will split into two groups to visit Buffalo Grass Tannery and Merlin’s Hide Out to see their two business operations and the products they produce. We will then travel to the Wind River Indian Reservation to get a detailed tour of their Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative and all they are doing to restore buffalo to their land.
Friday, September 12 | Sheridan, Wyoming |
||
| Time | Activity | Location |
| 12:30 PM | Arrival and check-in | 42 E Ridge Rd, Sheridan, WY 82801 |
| 1:00 PM | Western Heritage Meat Company Bison Carcass Cutting Demonstration and Smokehouse and Processing Floor Tour | |
| 2:30 PM | Invasive Grasses Range Tour, University of Wyoming Extension | Off of Highway 14 (on the way to JG Bison) |
| 4:00 PM | JG Bison Ranch Tour | 351 Upper Cat Road, Sheridan, WY 82801 |
| 6:00 PM | Bison BBQ Dinner, NOLA Catering & Private Dining | |
Saturday, September 13 | Thermopolis & Kinnear, Wyoming |
||
| Time | Activity | Location |
| 9:30 AM | Arrival and check-in (Big Spring Parking Lot) | Big Springs Drive, Thermopolis, WY 82443 |
| 10:00 AM | Hot Springs State Park Tour of Bison Herd and Facilities | |
| 11:30 AM | Bison Burger Lunch, One Eyed Buffalo Brewing Company | 535 Broadway St, Thermopolis, WY 82443 |
| 12:30 PM | Buffalo Grass Tannery Tour | 818 S 7th St, Thermopolis, WY 82443 |
| Merlin’s Hide Out Tour | 626 Richards St, Thermopolis, WY 82443 | |
| 1:30 PM | Travel to Morton, Wyoming | 10929 Hwy 26, Kinnear, WY 82516 |
| 3:00 PM | Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative Tour | |
LODGING: Please contact hotels in each town directly to reserve a room that meets your travel needs.
Please use the addresses listed for the best direct to each location. The stops in Sheridan are all within 20 minutes of each other. From Sheridan to Thermopolis is about a 2.5 hour drive. Thermopolis to WRTBI is just over an hour drive time.
About Each Location/Organization
Western Heritage Meat Company: Established in 2020, Western Heritage Meat Company, located in Sheridan, Wyoming, offers USDA-inspected meat processing and custom exempt meat processing for bison, beef, pork, lamb, & goat. Also available is USDA-inspected smokehouse and specialty products. All meat processed at their facility comes vacuum-sealed with the option to use custom labels for direct-to-consumer businesses and meat providers. www.westernheritagemeatco.com
University of Wyoming Sheridan Research & Extension Center: The Sheridan Research and Extension Center (ShREC) is one of four University of Wyoming R&E sites in Wyoming; it is in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Plant Hardiness Zone 4 with an average growing season of 120 days and average annual precipitation of 15 inches. ShREC now has two active sites within Sheridan County. At ShREC we are able to provide dry land and irrigated land for studies to facilitate research and education on agriculture, forage management, horticulture, and viticulture (the science, study and production of grapes), along with various other possibilities. www.uwyo.edu/uwexpstn/centers/sheridan/index.html
JG Bison: Established in 2020, JG Bison is a 170-acre bison ranch that was converted from a cattle ranch with no infrastructure. The ranch is now home to a small bison herd raised for local meat sales. Located within a high traffic wildlife area and steep to rolling hills, establishing the ranch took a lot of planning and work. www.jgbison.com
Hot Spring State Park: Inhabiting the park since 1916, the Hot Springs State Park bison herd is the central herd for the Wyoming State Parks. The herd is comprised of two breeding bulls, 13 cows, and an annual calf crop. During the late fall and winter months, the park bison are fed a daily supplement to insure good health. The Park conducts an annual roundup to ensure the herd is a good condition and to receive annual vaccinations.
Buffalo Grass Tannery: They are a family-run tannery in historic Thermopolis, WY. They cater to not only single-hide customers, but taxidermists, licensed trappers, craftsmen, and large-volume producers alike. They tan everything from foxes to bison and pride themselves on being one of the best in the industry. www.kirbycreektannery.com
Merlin’s Hide Out: Started in 1999, they established Merlin’s Hide Out with the goal of handcrafting high quality fur products made for everyday use. They create fur garments and home décor to help keep our customers warm and comfortable for generations to come. Every hide, coat, pillow, and more are created meticulously, under the attention of Merlin. www.merlinshideout.com
Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative: The Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative was founded by Jason Baldes in early 2022 to be a local entity providing reconnection to Buffalo. The acquisition of new property gave the Initiative a headquarters and a beginning — a spark to ignite their community’s re-connection with Buffalo and their role in their lives, their health, and their history. Their mission is “Land rematriation, community revitalization, and youth education through restoration of conservation Buffalo.” www.windriverbuffalo.org