An Introduction into the bison industry: My experiences and vision for the new SDSU bison teaching program
An Introduction into the bison industry: My experiences and vision for the new SDSU bison teaching program
By Dr. Philip Urso, Assistant Professor of Bison Studies, South Dakota State University
Entering the bison industry was truly a memorable experience. Many of you may know me at this point, but for those who do not, I came to South Dakota State University’s (SDSU) Department of Animal Science and the Center of Excellence for Bison Studies in November of 2023 to lead the bison teaching program. This was prime time to network as the National Bison Association’s (NBA) national conference, Dakota Territory Buffalo Association’s annual conference, the South Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society’s annual conference were all taking place in the upcoming months. I am grateful for that timing, as my time and rolodex has been filled with wonderful people that bring great joy to my life. The producers, administrators, researchers, and academics in the field of bison studies have been the most welcoming and generous people I have ever known in any industry. When I was interviewing for this position, I had a vision of what I wanted the program to look like. I want to discuss that vision and what it has morphed into today based on the people I have worked with thus far.
To create a sustainable program for one of our most sustainable ruminant species requires many moving parts. One goal is to generate interest in bison within the student base. The students at South Dakota State are some of the best in the world, especially when it comes to agriculture. Before I arrived, there was plenty of buzz from the industry regarding bison work. Drs. Kristi Cammack, Jeff Martin, Amanda Blair, and countless others from SDSU and all over the continent, have generated meaningful data that have advanced the industry greatly. The effort naturally turned into discussions on teaching courses in bison studies to foster the next generation of researchers and producers. Selling this vision to the students at SDSU has been very positive. There are already two bison-focused classes on the books on campus: Current Issues in the Bison Industry and Introduction to Bison Management. Both classes have generated great interest in the student population and are at near maximum capacity. Another course, Advanced Bison Production, is being developed at the time of writing this letter. The former course will focus on bringing in industry experts from all facets of production to talk with students about major issues and events within the industry. Introduction to Bison Management will teach students the basic of ranching for profit, the history of bison in North America, and how to effectively manage populations today. Advanced Bison Production is working closely with large producers to get students hands-on experience in the field, working bison. These hands-on courses and the species they focus on inherently drive interest to many and have especially done so with our students.
Another channel of building a bison program is having students enjoy the courses they take, spread the good word about them, and eventually enter the industry in a meaningful way. The techniques and topics built into these courses are geared specifically to help generate sustainability by creating opportunities that students want to be a part of. Balancing hands-on work with solid coursework is something that is important to me, as it helps create graduates that will enter the field and be the most productive in our industry. On the topic of hands-on experiences, internships are a crucial component that lives within the vision of the program as well. Any and all opportunities that students could gain working with a producer is an opportunity that I plan to build into any student’s coursework. I encourage any producer reading this to please reach out if you need a summer laborer, manager, feeder, etc., and I would be more than happy to introduce some of the best at SDSU.
One aspect that has grown into great importance to me as well during my time at SDSU is the relationship between our field and Tribal Nations. SDSU is making great efforts to become a great option for Native American and Alaska Native students, and bison is a great outlet for collaboration. SDSU is home to the American Indian and Indigenous Student Center and the Wokini Initiative. Both of which have been very enjoyable to work with, and I am excited to continue our work together. Bison hold major cultural significance to all North Americans, and especially Native Americans and Alaska Natives. It is my goal within my courses to dedicate time to take students to some of our Tribal Nations in South Dakota, work with some of our national groups such as the Tanka Fund and Intertribal Buffalo Council, and create opportunities for our students to grow within this important part of the buffalo community.
All of this work is happening simultaneously with research. Part of a great curriculum are the opportunities and interest we can generate in conducting research. My position is mostly research based, and there are many projects being conducted by myself and others that will directly impact the producers of this incredible industry. One project is an investigation into the mineral and nutrition needs of bison on the east of the Mississippi. There is so much being accomplished, and potential for continued advancements as the bison program grows at SDSU. Thank you to the buffalo community for welcoming me with open arms. There will be more to come, as we are just getting started.