Montezuma County Launches Community Bison Program to Combat Food Insecurity with Locally Sourced Protein
Montezuma County, Colorado, has initiated the Community Bison Program, a new effort aimed at addressing food insecurity and promoting 'food sovereignty' by providing locally sourced, sustainable bison protein to residents in need. The program, spearheaded by the newly formed nonprofit Farming Hands Initiative and funded by a $48,950 grant from the LOR Foundation, involves raising a herd of bison to supply local food banks. The plan emphasizes building a long-term, consistent supply of high-quality protein that is not dependent on distant supply chains or fluctuating commodity prices. The first bison harvest is anticipated for this winter or spring, with the meat to be processed at USDA-inspected facilities and distributed to local food banks, including potential collaboration with the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. Janna Neely, founder of Farming Hands Initiative, envisions the program expanding beyond her father-in-law's ranch to include other local producers and potentially a giant greenhouse for vegetable supp... 
