Bison, Burgers and Best Management Practices

By: Carly Hamilton, USDA NRCS Public Affairs Specialist 

When driving through Rochester, Indiana, most people wouldn’t expect to see a herd of Bison. But at White Oaks Bison Farm, the National Mammal of the United States are a common sight. 

Founded by Terry and Courtney Engstrand in 2021, White Oaks is a pillar of Northern Indiana’s agricultural and culinary communities. Housing 22 head of high-quality American Bison on approximately 17 acres, with plans to expand, White Oaks provides meat, bones, hides, tours, advice and more to the residents of Fulton County and beyond. But when they began their voyage into bison farming, they never expected that their journey would lead to where they are today. 

Having grown up hunting and dining in the Mountain West, Terry had already decided he loved bison. At the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Engstrands had begun building their custom home on Courtney’s family land and started tossing around the idea of raising a few bison for personal consumption due to the food shortages and lack of quality cuts of meat in their local stores. But then the universe stepped in and made the decision for them – they’d start raising bison very soon. 

During a meal at a diner, Terry found himself sitting next to an agronomist with the National Park Service. “This guy leans over, and he says, ‘did you say you're thinking about raising bison? well, I can get you in contact with some people,’’ Terry explained. Right there in the diner, the agronomist connected the Engstrands with a farm hosting a bison sale in Colorado and a nutritionist who gave them advice on how to feed and manage their herd. “So [Courtney’s] dad built us some fence, and like six weeks later we drove out there and picked up ten really, really good bison,” Terry said.

Those ten bison changed the Engstrand’s lives. From meat sales and tours of their operation to international food competitions, White Oaks has really taken center stage in the meat industry. 

In 2022, the Engstrands realized that there might be a better way to feed their bison other than just hay – grass-fed bison on a rotational grazing system. Moreover, the animals needed additional water access now that they were going to be grazing more of the pasture. Through the National Bison Association’s annual meeting, Terry and Courtney learned about the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and became interested in exploring options in Indiana for assistance getting started. “We got a hold of [the NRCS office] and said ‘hey, we’re out at this conference and they were talking about that there may be some funding for us to get started,” explained Terry. 

Once they returned from the conference, they hit the ground running with the NRCS Service Center in Fulton County, Indiana. The Engstrands entered into an Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) contract in 2022, and again in 2024 after seeing success with their first.

For their first contract, White Oaks planted a cool season grass mixture in their pastures and installed a livestock watering facility to increase their bison’s access to water throughout the season. After seeing an improvement in their bison and an increase in need for farm tours and products, White Oaks decided to apply for an additional EQIP contract so they could add 17 more acres of pasture planted with warm and cool season grasses and implement a rotational grazing system. 

Warm season grasses offer grazing opportunities in the warmer months for bison, in addition to a diverse and high-quality hay mix. Cool season grasses offer a similar grazing opportunity in the cooler months and combining both can extend the grazing season throughout the year. 

White Oaks has become a leader in the bison community, offering a space for fellow bison farmers and enthusiasts to visit, learn and discuss habits and best management practices. Through tours, workshops and social media, the Engstrands have been able to help others interested in raising bison learn more about the animal and educate those who may never have seen bison. 

In addition to tours and workshops for fellow farmers and community members, White Oaks recently became the subject of a unique food experience – a gourmet cooking experience. Joannes Richard, winner of the 2023 World Burger Championship, and his Team Burger France wanted to showcase bison meat to his audience of food lovers and did so through a gourmet cooking video at White Oaks Bison Farm. “They brought 11 people from France; three gourmet chefs and private chefs…and they shot a 45-minute cooking episode right here in our kitchen,” Terry explained. 

The team had the opportunity to learn about bison and cook with fresh bison meat and other local ingredients, all from the Rochester community. Experiences like this help put White Oaks on the map, amplifying their mission and educating the public about bison in America. 

White Oaks isn’t done – they’re planning further expansion and adding more bison to their herd whenever they can. Through programs like EQIP, the Engstrands have the opportunity to expand their operation and make it as sustainable and long-lasting as possible. With improved fencing, there’s little concern of bison escaping and with improved pasture, the bison have plenty of natural, fresh grasses to eat and enjoy.

 “They’re beautiful [animals], and we enjoy having them,” the Engstrands said. “We enjoy sharing them and educating schools and the public with them.” 

For more information about White Oaks Bison Farm, visit whiteoaksbisonfarm.com or find them on Facebook.