There's a moment every new rancher has, usually early on, when you realize how much you don't know.

For us, that moment came quickly. We're first-generation bison ranchers. Nobody in our family grew up raising bison. We knew the land, we knew the valley and we knew we wanted to do this right. But knowing you want to do something right and knowing how are two different things.

That's where other ranchers came in.

Joining the Montana Bison Association

Early on, we joined the Montana Bison Association, a community of ranchers across the state who raise bison and share what they know.

From Dillon to Lolo, we've been learning from people who've raised bison for generations. Some have been doing it longer than we've been alive. Their experience is worth more than any book or video.

What we've learned so far

Every conversation teaches us something. A few of the lessons that have stuck:

Bison are not cattle. We've heard this one over and over, and it's true. Bison need different fencing, different handling and a different mindset. The ranchers who succeed with bison are the ones who respect what makes them different.

Patience wins. Bison don't like to be rushed. Whether you're moving them to a new pasture or just checking on the herd, slow and calm gets better results than fast and loud.

Watch more than you work. Experienced ranchers seem to spend a lot of time just watching their herds. They notice small changes in behavior long before those changes become problems. We're trying to build that habit.

Take care of the grass, and the grass takes care of the herd. Good pasture management came up again and again: rotating where the herd grazes, giving land time to recover and paying attention to water.

Ask questions. Nobody has made us feel foolish for not knowing something. The bison community is generous with its knowledge, and we've learned that the best thing a new rancher can do is ask.

Paying it forward

One of the things we admire most about the ranchers we've met is how willing they are to share. Someday, we hope to be that for someone else: the family down the road who can say, here's what worked for us, and here's what didn't.

In a way, that's part of what these ranch notes are for. We're documenting the journey as it happens, mistakes and all, so that people can see what it really looks like to start a bison ranch from scratch.

Neighbors, too

We'd be remiss not to mention Troy Westre and Bitterroot Bison, where our first 24 animals came from. Starting a herd with animals raised just up the road, by people who know this valley, gave us a head start we're grateful for.

The more we learn, the more we realize that ranching has never really been a solo project. It takes a family, and it takes a community.

Thanks to everyone who's helped us along the way.