America's Finest Red Meat
Dr. John Hughes
Bringing Bison Back to the Land—and the Table
Great Bison was founded by Dr. John Hughes, D.O., with a vision of restoring one of America’s most important native animals while offering people a naturally lean, nutrient-rich alternative to conventional beef.
Raised outside of Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Hughes now considers both Aspen and Telluride home. His years in Colorado deepened his connection to the Western landscape and inspired a simple but powerful belief: bringing bison back to the table can help bring bison back to the land.
Restoring a Natural Relationship
For thousands of years, bison, wolves and Indigenous peoples were interconnected parts of North America’s natural ecosystem. Bison nourished people, supported predators and helped shape the health and diversity of the grasslands.
Colonization, commercial hunting and government-supported eradication campaigns brought both bison and wolves close to extinction, disrupting relationships that had existed across the continent for generations. They were largely replaced by domestic cattle—animals that did not evolve within these native ecosystems and can be vulnerable to conflicts with wolves.
Through his nonprofit, The Sacred Wolf Foundation, Dr. Hughes supports the restoration of wolves, bison and the natural balance they once helped maintain. Great Bison extends that mission by creating greater demand for responsibly raised bison and encouraging their return to Colorado’s working landscapes.
A Better Choice for the Body and the Land
Dr. Hughes is also the founder of Aspen Integrative Medicine and TBI Therapy, where his work focuses on whole-person health, nutrition and longevity. His medical background led him to explore bison as a naturally lean source of high-quality protein, iron, zinc and vitamin B12.
Great Bison was created to make this remarkable meat more accessible to restaurants, chefs and families throughout Aspen and Telluride. Every purchase supports a food system centered on better nutrition, responsible land stewardship and the return of an iconic native species.
Fifth World Medicine
Dr. Hughes is the author of Fifth World Medicine, a book that invites readers to reconsider modern health through a more connected, holistic and land-conscious perspective. Drawing inspiration from Indigenous wisdom, nature and whole-person medicine, the book reflects the same guiding principle behind Great Bison: human health cannot be separated from the health of the land.