Our Ranch

Cyrus Bison Ranch

The Cyrus Bison Ranch, with herds located on two Alberta locations (Bonnyville and Chipman), is dedicated to the Natural, Ethical, and Respectful raising of bison. Our over 300 bison roam free in their natural prairie environment with plenty of bush and pasture to graze on year round. Our mission and evolving ranch practices work to provide:r

Natural - no sprayed chemicals, no steroids, grass-fed and free-range bison producing the healthiest meat product
Ethical - natural experience for our herds, roam freely -plenty of open space, limited human interaction.
Respectful - a stress-free environment to grow up in. Our herds are treated with respect and dignity and we are constantly working to develop new methods to give the herds the highest quality of life as they move from prairie to plate.

Who We Are

Cyrus Bison Inc. is owned and operated by Dr. Nathaniel Ostashewski and his wife Susan Ostashewski, both born and raised in rural Alberta. Nathaniel is also an Athabasca University Professor and Susan is a retired Fitness Instructor in rural Alberta. Both Nathaniel and Susan have been passionate about Ukrainian Dance and have taken that passion in another direction - bison ranching! Raising 6 children, being grandparents, and being involved in the family farm keep them busy as most Albertans are!

Our History

Bison ranching and grain farming started with the Ostashewski family farm operated in the Lamont, Alberta. With roots in Biggar, Saskatchewan and Star, Alberta - Bill and Marcella Ostashewski began farming full time in 1974 raising cattle, grain, chickens and eggs for sale. Marcella's dream was to bring Bison into the farm operations and in 2004 O'Honey Farms did so in a big way, starting with almost 100 bison cows 10 km east of Elk Island National Park. The Elk Island Park is home to the most genetically pure herds of Plains and Wood Bison in the World, and these majestic animals were always in Marcella's mind as she often made trips to Edmonton through Hwy 16 that cuts through the park. While Marcella is no longer with us, Bill Ostashewski continues to operate a bison ranch and is know in the Lamont area as the Honey and Bison guy or Buffalo Bill. Bill, a retired school teacher of 43 years with Edmonton Catholic Schools, still grows a large garden and manages 200 bison.

In 2010, Nathaniel and Susan Ostashewski decided to continue the family farm tradition and take on Bison ranching as part of their rural life. Their bison ranch includes 300 Bison cows in six herds - a Purebred Wood Bison herd, a Purebred Plains Bison herd, and several Commercial Bison Cross herds. In 2014 the Ostashewski's were thrilled to purchase some of the Wood Bison from Elk Island Park which form the basis of their Purebred Woods Herd. Preserving bison genetics, producing natural bison meat for tables in North America, and exploring ways in which to utilize bison fiber in clothing with our Partners United By Blue are the goals of the Cyrus Bison operation.