Betting on Bison

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Roaming K balances grain, livestock & legacy

By Mary Loggan

Keegan Kitzul farms at the crossroads of old and new on the Prairies. As co-owner of Roaming K Bison and a fifth-generation farmer near Foam Lake, Sask., he’s helping guide both his family’s operation and the province’s bison industry.

Better Farming recently connected with Kitzul to talk about his family’s long history on the land and how shifting into bison has created a more balanced operation for both the farm and the people running it.

Farm beginnings

Kitzul Farms traces its roots back to 1903, when Kitzul’s ancestors arrived from Ukraine and began farming the same yard site the family still operates today.

“I’m a fifth-generation farmer on this land. The farm originally started as a mixed farm — grain, livestock, poultry, you name it — and we still own both original homesteads.”

For many years, cattle and grain were interrelated on the operation, but the family later transitioned to grain-only production.

The return to livestock came in 2000, when his parents, Dale and Laurie, decided it was time to diversify again.

“Dad was thinking about elk, and my grandpa wanted bison,” Kitzul recalls.

“My grandpa passed away in the fall of ‘99, and in 2000, my parents bought bison. It started as more of a hobby, to feel out a new industry, and it turned into a really good fit.”

Today, Roaming K Bison has grown that initial venture into a large-scale herd integrated with the farm’s grain operation.

“Fast forward to 2026 and we’re running around 1,200 head in the bison operation while still grain farming,” he says.

The 32-year-old farms alongside his parents and with his wife Kendall.

“My 20-month-old son will be the sixth generation here, so we’re very much a generational farm.”

Investing in bison

For the Kitzuls, bison are both a business decision and an ecological tool.

“Grain farming has always been very up and down, so diversification is key to having a thriving farm business,” Kitzul says.

“Bison have been a really good way to do that.”

He points to the animals’ hardiness and their fit with the Prairie landscape as major advantages over other livestock.

“They’re made for this land. They’re very hardy, very efficient grazers and quite hands-off compared to other species. You’re not out feeding them every single day in the winter, and they’re a natural grazer on the Prairies, so they’re just a good fit for a farm like ours.”

The shift into bison also meant committing to different infrastructure and marketing models. Handling facilities must be heavier and designed to work with the herd’s behaviour.

“Bison are still a wild animal, and you have to respect that.

“They’re not something you just push like cattle; you set your facility up so they can naturally flow where they’re supposed to go. Once one goes, they all go.”

Solid-sided alleys, potash belting, and thoughtful layout all help keep stress and risk down when animals are brought in once a year for weaning and processing.

On the marketing side, the family has leaned into the sector’s niche, relationship-driven nature.

“The bison industry is not a commodity — it’s very producer-based,” Kitzul says.

“It’s always been talked about as around 0.8 per cent of the beef industry, so it’s a small, niche market. You’re often dealing producer to producer rather than through a big commodity system.”

That niche became a surprising strength during the pandemic.

“A lot of people say COVID-19 hurt their business, but it actually helped the bison industry.

“When slaughter plants shut down — and there were shortages of beef, pork and poultry — bison was what was left in the meat case. People bought it because it was there, tried it, liked it and kept coming back. That really grew our market.”

As president of the Saskatchewan Bison Association, Kitzul has also taken on an industry leadership role.

After returning to the farm full-time about 11 years ago, he began attending producer events and was nominated onto the board.

“I thought, why not? I’ve always been passionate about the bison industry, and once I was home full-time, I could really get involved,” he says.

“Over the years, my interest in the association and my vision for the future just kept growing. It came down to stepping up and taking on a leadership role, and it’s been great.

“I’m proud of our industry and proud of our board. We’ve got a very young board here in Saskatchewan, so there’s a lot of vision for the future.”

Challenges

Like most livestock producers across Western Canada, the Kitzuls were hit hard by the drought and severe hail storms during the summer.

“In 2021 when basically all of North America was in a drought, that was probably the worst thing we’ve gone through, along with the hail storm we got at the same time," Kitzul says.

“It hit the whole livestock sector — bison, cattle, everything. Prices weren’t great, feed costs were through the roof, and there were compounded years of drought in a lot of regions. For us, it was really our first true drought, and it wasn’t easy.”

Water quickly became the top priority.

“We live in an area that’s usually pretty wet with lots of sloughs and marginal land, and that year we didn’t have a drop of water on the farm by late summer,” he recalls.

“We spent that summer and into late fall hauling water. When government water infrastructure programs came out, we took full advantage of the dugout program, and now we have a dugout on every pasture we own. Water should never be an issue again.”

Beyond water, the drought forced a renewed focus on grass and herd management.

“Pasture management is huge — trying not to overgraze to the point you hurt your pastures, but also being willing to pull animals off and feed them carry-over hay if you have to,” Kitzul explains. “You want to save your grass so you’re not dealing with the same problem the next year.”

Herd health and reproductive performance also demanded attention.

“With bison, breeding is late-July into August, so in a drought, you really have to make sure herd health is up.

“If you need to supplement with some grain to keep conception rates up, you do it. During the drought, many herds saw conception rates plummet due to stress. Herd management, pasture management and water management — those are the big pieces you have to stay on top of.

“When you have livestock, that trumps everything. You have live animals to look after, and you really have to take care of them.”

Looking to the future

Despite recent challenges, Kitzul is optimistic about both Roaming K Bison and the wider bison industry.

“We plan to keep growing the herd to a level that’s still manageable,” he says.

“The marketers have done such a good job building demand for bison that now it’s up to producers to supply it. Unless something political happens, I don’t see prices crashing or huge swings. The outlook for livestock, and bison in particular, is really good.”

While he acknowledges livestock is more labour-intensive than grain, he sees clear rewards.

“Livestock farming is more hands-on, but for those who want to do it, the reward is there, and it’s only getting better. It is 100 per cent worth it.”

Demographics remain a concern, as in the rest of agriculture, but Kitzul sees encouraging signs.

“There are more people exiting agriculture than getting in; that’s just the reality,” he says.

“We’re still losing more producers than we’re gaining through retirement and people getting out, but new people are coming in, and some who left 10 or 20 years ago are getting back into bison.

“With where grain farming is today, I think more people will look back across the fence and say maybe we should be in bison again.”

He also highlights new entrants, including First Nations groups now acquiring herds.

“We’re working with a lot of first-time bison producers, including First Nation groups,” he notes. “They want to get in; they just need the education to do it properly.

“The industry has a lot of room for growth, and I’m strongly optimistic we’re going to keep growing. It just takes time; you can’t rush it.”

For prospective producers, his advice is straightforward. “The biggest thing for anyone new is to go and talk to producers,” he says.

“Go to industry events, find someone who can be a good mentor. Everyone in this industry is willing to teach — new people have to be willing to step out of their comfort zone and ask for help.

“The goal is always to keep building something that lasts.” BF