Flocchini Family Bison Ranching Legacy

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Happy Bison Month yet again!

And we are back! Hope you enjoyed Dad's piece yesterday, those Sunday reads are fun and long....

Have bison rancher royalty in here today. One of the biggest legacy families in the industry. Just flipping wonderful people as well. Always look forward to spending time with them whenever we can.

Hope you have a truly great day!

Ron & T, and the crew here at the BWC

Starts Wed!!

Someone got a head start this weekend, and managed to get tossed.

Remember, always give the fluffy cows plenty of space, they are wild animals who don't always appreciate people in their environment

If you haven't competed in this before, remember, the pros always start with the horns...

The Flocchini Family: Pioneers of Bison Ranching and Dedicated Stewards of the National Buffalo Foundation

In the rolling prairies of northeastern Wyoming, one family has quietly shaped the modern story of the American bison for more than six decades. The Flocchini family’s journey—from San Francisco butchers to operators of one of North America’s largest and oldest bison ranches—embodies generations of hard work, innovation, and deep respect for the land and the animals they steward. As dear friends to many in our community, their story is one of family legacy, sustainable ranching, and meaningful leadership in the broader bison industry, particularly through their longstanding involvement with the National Buffalo Foundation (NBF).

The Flocchini story begins with Armando “Flo” Flocchini Sr. (1908–1992), an Italian immigrant who built a successful meat business in California. In the 1930s, he purchased an interest in the Durham Meat Company, where he worked as a butcher. The family expanded the business significantly over the decades, eventually handling large-scale cattle feeding operations.

In 1965, Armando Sr. purchased the historic B-Bar-B Buffalo Ranch near Wright, Wyoming—a sprawling 55,000-acre property that came with an existing herd of bison. He renamed it Durham Ranch, and the family’s commitment to bison was born. Bison were already present on the land when the Flocchinis arrived, and the operation quickly became one of the largest and most enduring single-family bison ranches in North America.

Armando Sr. himself was inducted into the NBF Hall of Fame in 1990, recognizing his early support for bison organizations and his pioneering work cleaning up brucellosis in the Durham Ranch herd through rigorous testing and management (achieving certified-free status in 1973 without government reimbursement).

Today, the ranch maintains a herd of approximately 2,000–2,200 bison (with numbers historically reaching as high as 5,000) that roam freely across the vast open range. The animals descend in part from Yellowstone National Park stock, giving the meat a distinctive connection to Wyoming’s wild heritage.

The family has always prioritized responsible, regenerative practices. They emulate how bison would have ranged naturally, using Holistic Resource Management principles. The ranch emphasizes land health, animal welfare, and traceability—no antibiotics or hormones are used. Everything born on the ranch stays until processing.

The family’s Sierra Meat & Seafood operation in Reno distributes these premium products. Several members of the extended Flocchini family, including Chris Flocchini who serves as president and chief operating officer, work there to ensure the legacy of quality and craftsmanship continues. Sierra Meat & Seafood serves over 1,000 active partners—including numerous casinos and restaurants—with high-quality specialty and exotic proteins such as bison from their own Durham Ranch, Wagyu beef, elk, venison, and more, along with seafood and handcrafted sausages through Flocchini Family Provisions.

Multi-Generational Stewardship. Four generations of Flocchinis have now been involved. Armando Sr.’s sons, Armando Jr. (“Bud”) Flocchini and Richard Flocchini, joined the family meat business in the 1950s and 1960s and helped expand the Wyoming operation. Today, the ranch is led by John Flocchini, grandson of Armando Sr.

John has managed the ranch since 1980 after earning a degree in agriculture from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He is supported by his wife Gaylynn, a truly amazing woman,and their family, including daughters such as Erin Flocchini. Durham ranch offers educational tours that allow visitors to safely experience the herd up close, fostering greater public appreciation for bison and sustainable ranching. John often notes a simple guiding philosophy: “What makes animals happy on the Flocchini family’s side of the fence makes customers happy on the other side of that fence.”

John and Bud Flocchini’s Leadership with the National Buffalo Foundation. Beyond their own ranch, the Flocchini family has been instrumental in advancing the entire bison industry.

Bud Flocchini has been a steady, influential voice. He was inducted into the National Buffalo Foundation’s Buffalo Hall of Fame in 1996 for his instrumental and composed leadership during the challenging merger process that unified the American Bison Association and the National Buffalo Association—helping give the industry a stronger, single voice. Bud has served the NBF in key officer roles, including as Treasurer, and remains an active leader committed to the organization’s mission.

John Flocchini is a founding board member of the National Buffalo Foundation. He served as its President for several years and continues to serve as a Director. His contributions extend across the industry: he previously served 10 years on the board of the National Bison Association, holding positions including Secretary/Treasurer, Vice President, and President, and remains active on various committees. John’s leadership has helped direct resources toward critical research on bison health, genetics, and sustainability—issues that directly benefit producers like the Flocchinis and the broader community.

Together, John and Bud’s work with the NBF exemplifies quiet, effective leadership: advancing science, fostering unity, and ensuring the bison industry remains economically viable and culturally significant for future generations.

A Lasting Legacy. The Flocchini family’s story is more than ranching—it is a testament to grit, multi-generational vision, and genuine care for both animals and people. From the bustling butcher shops to the wide-open spaces of Wyoming and the distribution channels of Sierra Meat & Seafood in Reno, they have helped transform bison from a near-vanished icon into a thriving, sustainable protein source while championing the organizations that support the entire industry.

Their involvement with the National Buffalo Foundation has helped fund research, preserve history, and build partnerships that strengthen bison producers nationwide.As dear friends, we are grateful for the Flocchinis’ example of stewardship, integrity, and community.

Their work ensures that the thunder of bison hooves continues to echo across the American West for generations to come.

Check out Durham Ranch Here- I have a small problem with their smoked bison jerky... everytime I open a bag, it evaporates so fast... truly amazing stuff.

Sierra Meats is an amazing site, so many wondeful things, I always get excited by something on their "push list" never know what you are going to find.