Bison World: The National Bison Association's Magazine for Bison Producers
Profile updated November 2026
Bison World is the magazine of the National Bison Association (NBA), the Westminster, Colorado, organization that brings together bison ranchers, marketers and enthusiasts to celebrate the animal's heritage and build a sustainable industry. Published in seasonal issues and edited by longtime NBA communicator Karen Conley, it covers ranch profiles, markets, herd health and policy for producers across North America.
| Publisher | National Bison Association |
|---|---|
| Address | 8690 Wolff Court, #200, Westminster, Colorado 80031 |
| Frequency | Quarterly seasonal issues (Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall) |
| Editor | Karen Conley |
| Executive Director | Jim Matheson |
| North American herd | About 385,000 bison in private, public and tribal herds (NBA estimate, 2019) |
| Official website | NationalBison.org |
History of Bison World
Bison World has long served as the National Bison Association's printed link with its members, published in numbered seasonal issues such as Winter 2018 and Fall 2023. The association's stated mission is to bring stakeholders together to celebrate the heritage of the American bison, educate, and build a sustainable future for the industry.
The magazine has followed the industry's growth from a handful of pioneering ranches to a commercial meat sector with national retail distribution. It has featured ranchers, processors and craftspeople alike; a Spring 2021 issue, for example, profiled a leather workshop that makes goods from bison hides.
Karen Conley has been the association's longtime voice, serving as NBA spokeswoman in national coverage of the industry and as Bison World editor. In 2019 the association estimated about 385,000 bison in North American herds and set a goal of one million bison in the United States.
Bison World Today
The NBA's 2024 year-end report lists Conley as Bison World editor alongside Executive Director Jim Matheson, bookkeeper Barb Dowdy and program manager Lydia Whitman. That year the association held six member conferences with more than 1,100 attendees, four regional summer conferences and an International Bison Health Symposium in Brookings, South Dakota.
The association also lobbies Congress and federal agencies; in 2024 a 17-member delegation held 41 meetings in two days, and the Senate's fiscal 2025 budget included $2 million for research on malignant catarrhal fever in bison. A $5 million producer marketing grant program was planned for 2025, and National Bison Day was marked on November 2.
What Bison World Is Publishing Now
Ranch and herd
Producer profiles, handling, grazing, herd health and disease research, including malignant catarrhal fever.
Markets
Live bison pricing, meat marketing, processing and consumer promotion.
Association and policy
Conferences, the NBA Growth Fund, cost share programs and lobbying in Washington.
Bison World Editors and Staff
The National Bison Association's 2024 year-end report lists:
- Karen Conley - Bison World Editor
- Jim Matheson - Executive Director
- Lydia Whitman - Program Manager
- Barb Dowdy - Bookkeeper
Members also get access to a member portal with a bison resource library and market data.
Who Reads Bison World
Readers are bison ranchers, from small family herds to large commercial operations, along with tribal herd managers, processors, marketers and conservation groups. The 2017 Census of Agriculture ranked South Dakota first in bison numbers, followed by Nebraska, Montana, Idaho and North Dakota; USDA NASS Quick Stats and the Census of Agriculture provide state-level bison data.
Bison World readers work with animals that can jump a six-foot fence and do not care about your schedule, so they know humility. For the downtime between roundups, farm.FM offers ranch humor, farm satire and farm humor in a dry Western voice. Its farm jokes are best told from the other side of a very strong gate.
If the name is new to you, farm.FM is the nation's first satirical farm site, with Tractor Tunes country music for farmers on the side. One of its regular writers keeps a whole archive of stories like that.
Bison World Sources and Agriculture Authority Links
- National Bison Association: 2024 Year End Report - staff, programs and events.
- KSHB/AP: Bison a bright spot for agriculture - herd numbers and state rankings.
- Buffalo Billfold Company: Featured in Bison World - an example of the magazine's features.
- USDA NASS: Census of Agriculture - bison inventory by state.
- USDA NASS Quick Stats - livestock statistics database.
Bison World FAQ
Who publishes Bison World?
The National Bison Association, based in Westminster, Colorado.
Who edits Bison World?
Karen Conley, the association's longtime communications voice.
How often is Bison World published?
In seasonal quarterly issues.
How many bison are in North America?
The National Bison Association estimated about 385,000 in private, public and tribal herds in 2019.
For the ranchers bringing bison back to American grasslands, Bison World is the association's quarterly gathering place.