Kansas bison producer Dick Gehring was recently honored as the National Bison Association’s (NBA) 2022 Member of the Year.
Awarded each year during the association’s Winter Conference, the Member of the Year is presented to a member who goes above and beyond. In the months leading up to the award, the NBA Past Presidents’ Council receives member of the year nominations from fellow NBA members and then votes on the recipient.
Gehring, who operates Black Kettle Buffalo near Moundridge, KS, is a long-time member, current Chair of the NBA Commercial Marketers Committee, and past president of the NBA. Nominees noted his commitment to the organization through service on the Board of Directors as well as numerous committee and his work with the Gold Trophy Show and sale. On the home front, Gehring has been involved with the Kansas Buffalo Association (KBA) for many years and spearheads the group’s annual auction each December. He also does consulting and is always available to answer questions and lend his support to producers both new and established. One nominee noted his strong work ethic and his mentorship, noting they could only hope to have Gehring’s grit and determination.
Gehring’s tireless dedication to all things bison garnered him accolades from many in the bison community. As part of his service to the NBA, Gehring still serves on the Past Presidents’ Council, making the voting on nominations a little tricky for the rest of the group. Past Presidents’ Council Chair, Gail Griffin, who did the honors of presenting the award, noted that there was some evasive maneuvering done to keep Gehring in the dark about being this year’s recipient.
Gehring received the award during the association’s annual fundraiser dinner, in which 500 of his friends and colleagues in the bison community celebrated the recognition. The group went on to raise nearly $70,000 that evening for the NBA and its partner foundations, the National Buffalo Foundation and the Throlson American Bison Foundation.
Courtesy photo.
The National Bison Association represents nearly 1,200 bison ranchers, marketers and enthusiasts. The vision of the NBA is a community bound by the heritage of the American Bison. The mission of the National Bison Association is to bring together stakeholders to celebrate the heritage of American bison, to educate, and to create a sustainable future for our industry. More information on the association can be found at www.bisoncentral.com.
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