Putting Performance—and the Producer’s Program—on the Table
Introduced in 2023, the DTBA Stack the Deck Performance Show & Sale continued DTBA’s long tradition of finding innovative ways to showcase quality bison, recognize producers, and give buyers meaningful information when selecting breeding stock.
Stack the Deck took a different approach to performance. Rather than placing animals from different ranches into a common feeding program, consignors raised and developed their animals within their own ranch environments and management systems. Producers provided information about their animals and programs—including weights, nutrition and management, vaccination programs, genetics or pedigree, environmental conditions, and breeding soundness information—giving buyers a broader look at both the animal and the operation behind it.
The program paired that production information with a fun, interactive show format. Staying true to its name, Stack the Deck used a poker theme, with awards including King High, Queen High, Full House and Dealer’s Choice/People’s Choice. The format invited producers and attendees to take part in evaluating and celebrating the animals while keeping the focus on education, camaraderie and friendly competition.
Stack the Deck also provided DTBA members with an important marketing opportunity. Consignors could showcase their ranch programs and genetics to fellow producers while offering breeding-quality animals through the sale held in conjunction with the annual DTBA Winter Conference.
From its inaugural event in 2023 through its third annual show and sale in 2025, Stack the Deck represented another chapter in DTBA’s evolving approach to breeding-stock competition—combining performance information, producer knowledge, ranch management, marketing and community in a format uniquely its own.
Like the DTBA programs that came before it, Stack the Deck reflected the association’s willingness to try new ideas, learn from its producers, and continually evolve its Show & Sale programs.
Putting the cards on the table—showcasing the animal, the program behind it, and the producer’s commitment to building better bison for the future of the bison industry.