The Buffalo Wool Company draws on more than 40 years of family bison ranching experience to produce performance knitwear from the animal's ultra-fine undercoat. Founded by Ron Miskin, a director on the board of the National Bison Association, the company has built a reputation among military special forces operators, Iditarod mushers, and outdoor professionals who depend on reliable gear in punishing conditions.
"My family started raising bison in the 1980s, long before most people understood how remarkable these animals are. When we discovered that the soft undercoat fiber could be turned into something people actually rely on in life-or-death situations, we knew we had found our mission." — Ron Miskin, Founder, The Buffalo Wool Company
Buffalo, New York - October 31, 2026 - The Buffalo Wool Company today shared new details about the multi-generational ranching story behind its line of bison-fiber knitwear, underscoring how a family operation that began more than four decades ago has grown into a respected name among outdoor professionals and extreme-environment operators.
Ron Miskin, who founded the company and currently serves as a director on the board of the National Bison Association, has spent more than 20 years working in the bison industry. His family first began raising the animals in the 1980s, a period when commercial bison ranching was neither widely practiced nor particularly profitable. At the time, most ranchers focused on meat production and had little awareness of the commercial potential locked inside the animal's dense, insulating undercoat.
That undercoat — a layer of ultra-fine fiber that bison naturally shed each spring — became the foundation of The Buffalo Wool Company. Miskin and his team developed processes for collecting, cleaning, and spinning the fiber into yarn suitable for performance knitwear. The resulting products occupy a distinctive niche: garments made from a domestic fiber that performs in conditions ranging from sub-zero Arctic temperatures to desert heat.
The company's client base reflects the seriousness of the product. Military special forces personnel have adopted the knitwear for field use, drawn by the fiber's ability to regulate body temperature and resist moisture. Most mushers competing in the Iditarod, the grueling sled-dog race across Alaska, wear Buffalo Wool Company gear during the event. Adventurers, researchers, and workers who spend extended periods in harsh climates have also turned to the brand.
Miskin notes that the original motivation for the business was economic as much as it was creative. Bison ranchers in the early years of the modern industry struggled to generate sufficient revenue per animal. By creating a market for the fiber — a byproduct that was previously discarded or ignored — The Buffalo Wool Company provided ranchers with an additional income stream. That mission continues today, with the company sourcing fiber from ranching partners and contributing to the broader economic viability of bison operations.
The bison industry itself represents one of the quieter success stories in American agriculture. From near-extinction in the late 19th century, the North American bison population has rebounded to an estimated 500,000 animals, with private ranchers managing the vast majority of the herd. Organizations such as the National Bison Association have played a central role in establishing standards, advocating for the industry, and connecting producers with consumers. Miskin's involvement on the association's board gives The Buffalo Wool Company a direct connection to the industry's leadership and direction.
The company has attracted media attention over the years, including coverage in The Wall Street Journal and a notable interview with Carl Higbie on Newsmax. Those appearances have helped introduce a wider audience to the concept of bison fiber as a serious performance material rather than a novelty.
Looking ahead, The Buffalo Wool Company plans to continue expanding its product line while maintaining the fiber quality and sourcing relationships that have defined the brand. The company sees growing interest from consumers who value domestically sourced materials, traceable supply chains, and products built for function rather than fashion alone.
About Us
The Buffalo Wool Company produces performance knitwear made from the ultra-fine undercoat of American bison. Founded by Ron Miskin, the company sources its fiber from bison ranchers and serves outdoor professionals, military personnel, and anyone who demands reliable gear in extreme environments.
CONTACT: https://www.thebuffalowoolco.com