The bison or more than just the National Mammal.

 It is a symbol of freedom, independence, strength, resiliency and self-sufficiency.

One of the greatest characteristics of the bison, according to a story passed down for generations, is how it reacts to incoming and impending storms. Unlike their close relative, the cow, who huddle together and retreat from a storm; the bison heads directly into the storm to limit their exposure and suffering.

Too often, we are the cows in this story. We prolong our suffering, increase our stress and anxiety by running from any storm we may see before us. We should heed the bison’s instinctive nature and face life’s challenges head on. Our daily lives are filled with difficulties, some of which we can control and some we cannot; but we can choose how we react to them. We can run from life’s storms, trying to avoid them and put as much distance as we can between them or we can fearlessly face them reducing our pain and hardship. Life is about choices. Choose your pain.

This is the spirit of the American farmer and rancher. Embodying the characteristics of the bison by facing life’s challenges head on by moving into the storm; it’s symbolism of the vast and untamed lands of the American frontier and living life on one's own terms.