Introducing Buffalo Jerky from Patagonia Provisions

jill Blogging 20 Comments

Dear Wild Idea Buffalo Customers,

About five years ago we received a call from Patagonia stating that they were interested in starting an environmentally sustainable food line for their future sister company, Patagonia Provisions. They were specifically interested in us making Buffalo Jerky for them.

Because of our mutual, greater missions of sustainable foods and the environment as a whole, it looked like we might be a good fit.  We were thrilled to gain their attention, but before we could get started there would be many visits from their team inspecting the way we treated the land, the animals, and our employee’s.

Dan Panoramic 2 rswm*
We welcomed their visits, and gave tours of our ranching operations, explaining our grassland conservation efforts and prairie restoration practices.  We discussed our goals of having an intact, healthy prairie eco-system that was rich in bio-diversity.

Dan & Scientist rswm

We talked about how much carbon the grasses sequester and store safely in the ground. That grazing the grasslands regenerates the soil and produces healthy grassland pastures.

Sunset Pano rswm

Since we had a captive audience that was interested, we prattled on about species diversity, the microbes, the plants, and the variety of ground nesting birds that use the prairie to raise their young.

Ducks on Pond rswm

Burrowing Owls 2 rswm
They watched the buffalo roam and graze across the prairie, much like their ancestor’s did years ago. We explained our sourcing set up with other ranchers that raise their bison to our criteria, including neighboring Native American bison producers. They viewed our humane, stress free, field harvests, paying close attention to our care and respect for the animals.

Smoky Morning rswm*

Harvester w Carcass & Guys rswm

During other visits, they toured our processing plant and interviewed our employees. They reviewed our safety regulations and inspection documentation.  And, they tasted our Wild Idea Buffalo products, raised on water, grass, and sunshine.

Chris White Eagle rswm

CRR Panoramic rswm
We passed all of the requirements to move forward and started perfecting our Buffalo Jerky recipe. Patagonia Provisions provided scientific food experts, to consult with us along the way, insuring that the product would be as safe as it is healthy and delicious.  The end result is a great tasting jerky!

Top Round Sliced rswm

The sustainable food movement continues to grow because of people like you. People who care about the foods they eat, how it is raised, and the impact it has on our environment. But as the sustainable awareness grows, so will industrial agricultures powerful, hearty appetite. It will take all of us to keep them at bay and it will take all of us to introduce people to a new (old) way of thinking about food, and one that doesn’t come with an IOU.

Patagonia Jerky rswm

That’s why we are exhilarated and inspired to be associated with the good folks at Patagonia Provisions. If you get the chance, check out their site at patagoniaprovisions.com. Better yet, order some of their meaty, lightly seasoned, Buffalo Jerky!

We want to thank you all for being grassland ambassadors, and for your past and continued support. Together, we can make a difference, one bite at a time.

Very best from the prairie.

Dan & Jill O’Brien

Comments 20

    1. Post
      Author
      Jill O'Brien

      Hi Brandy. Go to the Patagonia Provisions web-site to order. As for information on our company and product, please peruse through our web-site for our story and our products that we offer.

  1. Crista Worthy

    I received Patagonia’s latest “catalog” just last week. It only had a pair of wool sweaters for sale. Instead, the entire beautifully-photographed catalog told all about Wild Idea Buffalo, what you are doing, and how you are helping our environment. Then they told a story about wool sheepherders in Patagonia, similarly beautifully photographed. Kudos to Wild Idea, and kudos to Patagonia, a truly responsible company that is doing great things like you are. Looks like a match made in heaven to me!

  2. Linda Anding

    This presentation is awesome!! Love the photos and still appreciate all you are still pursuing Wild Idea!…. Congrats with Patagonia too! Thank you!!

  3. Gayle Marsh

    I received an email this past week from Patagonia Provisions announcing your buffalo jerky. Of course I had to look you up and what I found was such a wonderful surprise. I’m working my way through your blogs and on my second Dan O’Brien book. Your stories give me hope for the future!

    Congratulations to you and best wishes for much success.

    A new fan from San Rafael, CA

  4. Andrew

    This stuff is awesome. Got on to this idea through Patagonia, and just received Bison Steak Strips and Kippered Jerky and I and my family ate up what I thought would last us for about a month in about an hour. Our Lab did pitch in to help (she was in extremis, smelling it). Simplest way I can think to describe it is that it tastes like the grass fed/range fed beef (though a bit richer, and sweeter) that I used to get in Australia when I lived there in the ’70s. That stuff was the real deal; unadulterated. Seems like this is too. A miracle that folks in the US can do that in 2015; good on you.

    Best wishes from Texas.

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